Westerwälder Aquavit
Nistertal, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Westerwälder Aquavit is produced by Birkenhof-Brennerei, a family-run grain distillery located in Nistertal in the Westerwald region of Germany.
The aquavit follows a traditional northern-European style. Its base consists of an aromatic caraway distillate combined with a refined Kornbrand. The recipe includes caraway as the dominant botanical, complemented by dill and fennel. These three components define the character of the spirit. Some descriptions also note a faint citrus note, often interpreted as a hint of orange.
Westerwälder Aquavit is clear in appearance and bottled at 40% ABV. It is intended to be served chilled, although it also shows a broader aromatic profile at room temperature. In both cases, the spice trio of caraway, dill and fennel remains the central element.
Production and bottling are carried out by Birkenhof-Brennerei itself. The aquavit fits into the distillery’s long-standing focus on grain-based spirits and regional specialties, making it an example of a German interpretation of aquavit produced outside the traditional Scandinavian regions, while still following the classic formula of a caraway-led spirit supported by additional herbs.
Bottle gallery
About the producer
Birkenhof Brennerei
Nistertal, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Birkenhof-Brennerei is a family-owned distillery located in Nistertal, in the Westerwald region of Germany. It was founded in 1848 by a farmer, and the business has been passed down through generations – today it is operated by the descendants under the Klöckner family name.
From its beginnings as a simple grain distillery, Birkenhof has expanded over time: today it produces a wide array of spirits – from traditional grain brandies and Korn, to fruit brandies, liqueurs, gin, rum, and even whisky under the label Fading Hill.
The distillery describes itself as a “working distillery” – all stages of production are handled on site: from the milling or processing of grains or fruits, through mash – distillation – maturation – to bottling. Even the warehouses and casks are part of their own infrastructure.
Birkenhof is not only a production facility, but also a destination: each year around 20 000 visitors come for tours, tastings, workshops and events.
In recent years the distillery has received multiple awards. It was named “Best Distillery in Germany” twice by the Frankfurt International Trophy (2022 and 2023), and has won several state honorary awards as well as federal-level honours.