Øvrevann Aquavit
Duluth, Minnesota, United States
- ABV
- 45%
- Base spirit
- Unknown
- Color
- Clear
- Style
- Unaged Aquavit
Øvrevann Aquavit is an unaged American aquavit produced by Vikre Distillery in Duluth, Minnesota. It was released in May 2014, in time for Norwegian Constitution Day on May 17, after having been part of the distillery’s plans since before production began. Vikre had filed a U.S. trademark application for the name Øvrevann Aquavit in October 2013.
The aquavit is built around caraway and cardamom, with its spice profile inspired by Scandinavian sweet rye bread. Vikre’s current description also names fennel and citrus, while a detailed distillery article from 2015 gives the fuller botanical list as caraway, cardamom, fennel, cloves, ginger, pink peppercorn and citrus peels. The spirit is unaged; Vikre describes it as its taffel-style aquavit, contrasting it with the cognac-cask-matured Voyageur Aquavit.
The name refers directly to Lake Superior. Vikre explains Øvrevann as Norwegian for “Upper Lake,” echoing the French name Le Lac Supérieur and the English name Lake Superior. The U.S. trademark record gives the more literal translation “Upper Water.” Lake Superior also has a practical connection to Vikre’s spirits: the distillery uses the lake’s water in production.
The product’s strength has changed over time. Contemporary records from 2016 document Øvrevann at 44% ABV / 88 proof, including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and an independent review from that year. More recent product references list it at 45% ABV / 90 proof. A 750 ml bottle remains commercially documented.
Øvrevann received a Silver Medal and Best of Category in the aquavit category at the 2015 American Distilling Institute Craft American Spirits Competition, followed by a Silver Medal at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Wine Enthusiast reviewed the 2016 bottling at 90 points.
The distillery has documented Øvrevann extensively in cocktails. Its own recipes include the Tomas Collins, gimlets, aquavit sours, espresso martinis and numerous seasonal drinks; the current product page specifically recommends it for a gimlet or as the spirit in an espresso martini.
About the producer
Vikre Distillery
Duluth, Minnesota, United States
Vikre Distillery was founded in Duluth, Minnesota, in 2013 by Emily and Joel Vikre. The couple had been living in Boston before deciding to return to Duluth and establish a distillery inspired by the landscape and water of Lake Superior. Vikre received its federal distilling license in September 2013 and released its first three gins in February 2014; Øvrevann Aquavit followed a few months later. The distillery operates in Duluth’s Canal Park, near the Aerial Lift Bridge.
Emily Vikre, who grew up in Duluth and holds both U.S. and Norwegian citizenship, directs much of the distillery’s flavor and product development, while Joel Vikre is co-founder and oversees much of its equipment and technical work. Aquavit has had a particular role in the company from the beginning: Emily grew up with aquavit at family holiday celebrations, and Øvrevann was planned as one of Vikre’s earliest spirits. The range later expanded with Voyageur Aquavit, matured for more than a year in Cognac barrels.
Vikre’s early production setup combined its own distilling equipment with a local brewing partnership. Bent Paddle Brewing Company produced an all-malted-barley distiller’s beer for Vikre; after stripping, the low wines went through the spirit still three times to produce a high-proof neutral spirit used for the early gins and aquavits. The distillery remains active, and both Øvrevann and Voyageur are part of its current spirits range.
