Ursa Major AKavit
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
- ABV
- 40%
- Base spirit
- Cane Sugar
- Color
- Pale Gold
- Style
- Unaged Aquavit
Ursa Major AKavit is an American aquavit produced by Ursa Major Distilling in Fairbanks, Alaska. The standard bottling is 40% ABV / 80 proof, and the bottle is labelled “AKAVIT – Handcrafted.” A product photograph used by the distillery’s Alaska distributor also carries the statement “Distilled from cane sugar,” making cane sugar the strongest product-specific evidence for its base spirit.
The botanical profile is centered on caraway and dill. Alaska Craft Distributing, which represents the distillery, describes these as the principal aquavit flavors and says they are supplemented by Alaskan botanicals, giving the spirit additional pine-like and spicy notes. The individual Alaskan botanicals are not identified in that description.
The product is marketed under the stylized name AKavit. It is likely that the capitalized “AK” is intended as a reference to Alaska’s postal abbreviation. The spelling appears consistently on the bottle and in the distillery’s current product range. The spirit has a pale golden tint in current bottle photographs.
The spirit has documented use in Alaska cocktail programs. Spenard Roadhouse has served a Valhalla Toddy combining Ursa Major AKavit with Earl Grey tea, honey and lemon, while Borealis Basecamp has listed an Alaskan Winter made with Ursa Major AKavit, Aperol and lime juice.
This expression forms the base for the distillery’s limited Oak-Finished AKavit, a separate small-batch release aged in oak and bottled in very limited quantities.
About the producer
Ursa Major Distilling
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Ursa Major Distilling began in Fairbanks in 2012, when self-taught distiller Rob Borland started producing spirits. The company released its first vodka in 2013, followed by gin and rum, and later added AKavit to its range. Ursa Major describes itself as the first distillery in Fairbanks and the third established in Alaska. Its retail outlet and tasting room opened in the Greater Ester Industrial Area in 2015.
The distillery operates at 2922 Parks Highway in Fairbanks and remains a small family-run producer of AKavit, vodka, gin, rum, barrel-aged spirits and canned cocktails. Alaska licensing records identify Big Bear Enterprises LLC as the business behind Ursa Major Distilling, while federal permit records also connect the operation with Rob Borland.
AKavit has become one of the distillery’s regular spirits and remains in its current range. Ursa Major is also described by Alaska tourism sources as Fairbanks’ first legal distillery.
