Old Ballard Taffel Aquavit
Seattle, Washington, United States
- ABV
- 40%
- Base spirit
- Unknown
- Color
- Unknown
- Style
- Unaged Aquavit
Old Ballard Taffel Aquavit was a clear, caraway-led aquavit produced by Old Ballard Liquor Co. in Seattle, Washington. It represented the distillery’s interpretation of the traditional Scandinavian taffel style, a clear and unaged form of aquavit historically associated especially with Denmark.
At Old Ballard, the taffel spirit also functioned as an important production base. Contemporary coverage described the distillery’s aquavits as often beginning with a distilled clear spirit flavored with caraway, after which additional botanicals could be introduced to create other expressions. This made the Taffel both a standalone aquavit and part of the broader production logic behind Old Ballard’s unusually diverse range.
The documented miniature was bottled at 40% ABV. Production ceased after Old Ballard ended its distilling operations in 2018.
About the producer
Old Ballard Liquor Co.
Seattle, Washington, United States
Old Ballard Liquor Co. was a small distillery established in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, an area with longstanding Scandinavian cultural ties. The company opened in the summer of 2013 under its owner and distiller, known publicly as Lexi, and made aquavit the central part of its spirits program.
Rather than producing a single house aquavit, Old Ballard developed a broad range inspired by different Scandinavian styles and seasonal ingredients. Its principal expressions included the Norwegian-style Riktig, the citrus-led Älskar, and the dill-focused Midsommar, alongside limited releases such as spruce-tip, licorice, holiday-spice and cask-strength aquavits. The distillery’s production approach commonly began with a clear distilled aquavit base and, depending on the expression, could include further botanical infusion or wood treatment.
In 2016, the distillery expanded its Ballard premises with a Scandinavian café. Two years later, Old Ballard discontinued distilling and shifted the site toward a Nordic restaurant and bar concept. The business ultimately closed in February 2019, ending a roughly six-year period in which aquavit had been its defining product category.
