Stjärna “Jul” Aged Aquavit
Lynnwood, Washington, United States
- ABV
- 40%
- Base spirit
- Unknown
- Color
- Gold
- Style
- Barrel-Aged Aquavit, Christmas Edition
- Maturation
- 1 year in Ex-Gin cask Temple Woodcut Gin
Stjärna “Jul” Aged Aquavit is a limited seasonal expression of Temple Distilling Company’s Stjärna Aquavit, first released on December 7, 2024. The release came from a single cask that had previously held Temple’s Woodcut gin, in which the standard Stjärna Aquavit was matured for approximately one year.
Temple states that the maturation softened Stjärna’s prominent star-anise character while developing its existing caraway, orange-peel and baking-spice notes. After ageing, the aquavit was macerated with additional holiday mulling spices and given a touch of sweetness, making it a distinct seasonal expression rather than simply a barrel-aged version of the standard spirit. Temple later described the finished release as showing notes of star anise, cloves, cinnamon and orange.
The name “Jul” means Christmas, reflecting the holiday theme of the release. Production was limited to just 130 bottles. By July 16, 2026, the distillery reported that only two bottles of the original release remained.
Temple recommends Stjärna “Jul” both as a sipping spirit and as an alternative to gin in holiday cocktails. At its December 2024 launch, the distillery served a special Jul Like It cocktail made with Stjärna “Jul”, Lillet Blanc, lemon and honey syrup. Another documented house recipe, the Garden Club, combines the aquavit with honey syrup, bergamot-and-tea liqueur and lime.
About the producer
Temple Distilling Company
Lynnwood, Washington, United States
Temple Distilling Company grew from a project developed by A.J. and Jamie Temple, Pacific Northwest natives and high-school sweethearts who began researching the idea of opening a distillery in 2013. The company was established in 2014, and its stills went into operation the following year. In 2015 Temple also opened its distillery and tasting room in Lynnwood, Washington, with the official grand opening held on October 31. The business remains family owned and operated by A.J. and Jamie.
Gin was the distillery’s original focus. Founder and head distiller A.J. Temple approached spirit production from a culinary perspective, developing botanical recipes through small experimental distillations before scaling them to the main still. Temple uses a custom bain-marie-style pot still, whose indirect heating provides gentle, even heat and allows fresh citrus peel and other botanicals to be macerated directly in the still.
Over time, the range expanded beyond Chapter One and Woodcut gins to include liqueurs, aquavit and, more recently, whiskey. Aquavit has a personal connection to A.J.’s Swedish ancestry: the first short run of Stjärna Aquavit appeared in 2018 and later returned as part of the regular range. Stjärna subsequently became the basis for the limited Stjärna “Jul” Aged Aquavit. Temple continues to distill its spirits on site and holds an active federal distilled-spirits permit under the Temple Distilling name.