Riktig Aquavit Caraway
Seattle, Washington, United States
- ABV
- 40%
- Base spirit
- Unknown
- Color
- Unknown
- Style
- Unaged Aquavit
Riktig Aquavit Caraway was a Norwegian-style aquavit produced by Old Ballard Liquor Co. in Seattle, Washington. It formed part of the distillery’s core aquavit range and was built around a pronounced caraway character, complemented by mustard seed and additional spices whose identities were not publicly disclosed.
Unlike several of Old Ballard’s lighter aquavits, Riktig was matured with locally sourced alder wood. The producer used alder as a regional interpretation of the wood-aged tradition associated with Norwegian aquavit, giving the spirit a distinct place within Old Ballard’s Scandinavian-inspired range. Contemporary descriptions characterize it as a richer, more robust expression intended particularly for pairing with hearty foods.
Riktig was bottled at 40% ABV. Production ended when Old Ballard Liquor Co. ceased distilling in 2018, before the business itself closed in February 2019.
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.
