ISCO Barrel Aged Aquavit
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
- ABV
- 42%
- Base spirit
- Rye, Corn
- Color
- Gold
- Style
- Barrel-Aged Aquavit
- Maturation
- 1 year in Ex-Gin cask Patina Barrel Aged Gin Oak
ISCO Barrel-Aged Aquavit is the aged expression of the aquavit produced by the Industrious Spirit Company (ISCO). The spirit begins with a rye-based mash created by fermenting organic corn together with malted rye. After fermentation, the mash is distilled along with caraway seed and multiple loaves of heavily seeded rye bread that were custom-made for ISCO by the now-closed Wayland Bakery in Providence.
Unlike ISCO’s unaged aquavit, which is infused with fresh local dill, the Barrel-Aged Aquavit is rested for one year. The maturation takes place in barrels that previously held ISCO’s Blue Velvet Blue Corn Bourbon and Patina Barrel Aged Gin, before being used for aging the aquavit itself. This sequence of prior fills contributes to the resulting flavor profile.
According to ISCO’s tasting notes, the aged aquavit features aromas of rye, caraway, vanilla, and caramel, followed by flavors of cumin and candied fennel on the palate. It can be enjoyed neat or incorporated into cocktails. Suggested uses include adding it to hot cider, using it in a Collins in place of gin, or substituting it for vodka in a Mule.
The Barrel-Aged Aquavit was introduced in January 2024 alongside ISCO’s unaged aquavit. Both expressions were featured at the distillery’s Winter-Blues-Be-Gone Party in Providence on January 25, 2024.
About the producer
ISCO Spirits
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
ISCO Spirits, formally The Industrious Spirit Company, operates in Providence, Rhode Island, where it opened its distillery in 2020. The company was co-founded by Manya Rubinstein, Dan Neff, Doug Randall and John Curtin. Its Providence facility occupies part of a former industrial mill complex associated historically with Providence Steel and Iron Company.
ISCO produces its spirits on site, carrying out mashing, fermentation, distillation, bottling and packaging at the Providence facility. The company has emphasized organic and regeneratively farmed grains and has developed a broad range including vodka, gin, bourbon, aquavit and experimental specialty spirits.
Aquavit forms both a regular and experimental part of the range. ISCO’s standard Fresh Dill Aquavit is a caraway-forward spirit made with dill, while limited releases have extended the category into unconventional recipes such as Everything Bagel Aquavit and Banana Bread Aquavit. The latter retains caraway as its defining aquavit botanical but combines it with a corn-based spirit, actual banana bread and roasted bananas.
