Voyageur Aquavit
Duluth, Minnesota, United States
- ABV
- 46%
- Base spirit
- Unknown
- Color
- Pale Gold
- Style
- Barrel-Aged Aquavit
- Maturation
- At least 1 year in Ex-Cognac cask
Voyageur Aquavit is a barrel-matured American aquavit produced by Vikre Distillery in Duluth, Minnesota. It was introduced in 2015 as Vikre’s first aged spirit. The distillery was already calling it its “new Voyageur Cognac-Cask aged Aquavit” in July 2015, and an August post describes a launch celebration for the product.
Voyageur begins from the same aquavit family as Vikre’s unaged Øvrevann but is matured for more than a year in used Cognac barrels. Vikre describes the casks as “seasoned Cognac barrels” and positions the resulting style as closer to Norwegian barrel-aged aquavit. The name pays tribute to the French voyageurs associated with the early European history of the Lake Superior region and Duluth.
A detailed Vikre description from 2015 lists the distillery’s aquavit botanicals as caraway, cardamom, fennel, cloves, ginger, pink peppercorn and citrus peels. Contemporary descriptions of Voyageur characterize it as the barrel-matured counterpart of the same aquavit, while later product material continues to emphasize caraway and cardamom.
The bottling strength has changed over time. The original Voyageur was documented at 43% ABV / 86 proof: an official Vikre bottle photograph from the period shows 43% ABV, and the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition recorded the same strength. Current distribution information lists Voyageur at 46% ABV / 92 proof, still in a 750 ml bottle.
The Cognac maturation gives the spirit a light golden colour. Vikre’s current tasting description emphasizes gentle spice, fruit blossom and oak. The distillery specifically documents its use in an Old Fashioned or Manhattan, as well as recipes including the Scandinavian Sidecar, Norwegian Coffee and Snow Bird.
Voyageur received a Silver Medal at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Wine Enthusiast has also described it as a year-round bottling in the general style of a Norwegian juleakevitt, rather than a separate annual Christmas release.
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.