Sheringham Akvavit
Langford, British Columbia, Canada
Sheringham Akvavit is a Canadian interpretation of the traditional Nordic spirit, crafted by Sheringham Distillery on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Bottled at 42% ABV, it combines dill, caraway, star anise, angelica, lemon, orris root, and sustainably harvested local winged kelp. The kelp gives the spirit a distinctive hint of the ocean and helps capture the character of Canada’s West Coast.
The idea was to create an akvavit that reflects the landscape and flavours of the Pacific Northwest. Master Distiller Jason MacIsaac developed the profile after tasting a wide range of akvavits and experimenting with different combinations before settling on the final recipe.
This distinctly Canadian take on a Nordic classic has received considerable recognition. In 2018, Sheringham Akvavit won Gold Medal and Best in Class at the inaugural Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition, where it was also named Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year. The judges praised its fresh dill on the nose, rye-bread-like caraway and toast flavours, rich texture, lingering finish, and overall balance.
Sheringham Akvavit has also been a consistent favourite with audiences at BC Distilled, taking first place in the Akvavit category in 2017, 2018, and 2019. In 2019, it additionally received a Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
The distillery recommends serving the Akvavit chilled as a sipper, while also highlighting its versatility in cocktails. Sheringham’s own recipes include Akvavit & Tonic, Northern Sip, and The Saigon Skål Club, offering different ways to experience this Canadian expression of a traditional Scandinavian spirit.
Bottle gallery
About the producer
Sheringham Distillery
Langford, British Columbia, Canada
Sheringham Distillery is a Canadian craft distillery founded in 2015 by Jason and Alayne MacIsaac on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
The distillery began in the couple’s home garage in Shirley, B.C. The area has a connection to the Sheringham name: it was originally named Sheringham in 1846, before the name was shortened to Shirley in 1893 so that it would fit on a postage stamp. The distillery takes its name from this earlier history of the area.
After operating in Shirley for three years, Sheringham moved to Sooke, B.C. in 2018 as the business expanded and required more production space. In April 2023, the distillery moved again, this time from Sooke to Langford, where its production facility is located today.
Jason MacIsaac is the company’s Co-Founder and Master Distiller. He is a classically trained chef and spent more than 20 years working with flavour profiles in professional kitchens. Sheringham describes its distilling approach as chef-driven, applying the principles of balancing ingredients and flavours to spirits production.
Alayne MacIsaac is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. Her background includes sales and business ownership, and she oversees areas including strategy, brand development, sales and company growth.
The distillery’s products include gin, akvavit, whisky, vodka and liqueurs. Its approach also includes the use of local and sustainably sourced ingredients where possible. One example is winged kelp, sustainably harvested by marine biologist Amanda Swiminer of Dakini Tidal Wilds in Shirley, B.C. The kelp is used in both Sheringham’s Seaside Gin and Akvavit, where it contributes an ocean-related note to the spirits.
