Hovdenak Distillery

Hovdenak Distillery is a small Icelandic spirits producer based in Hafnarfjörður. The company was founded in 2018 after several years of private experimentation with distilling and brewing by Hákon Freyr Hovdenak. The distillery takes its name from the Hovdenak family’s Norwegian surname. Hákon Freyr developed the project together with Erling, combining practical experience in spiritmaking with the work of establishing and operating the distillery.

The distillery itself was designed and assembled largely by its owners, with help from friends. One of its most distinctive technical features is the use of vacuum distillation, which allows spirits to be distilled at lower temperatures than in conventional systems and helps preserve delicate aromas. Hovdenak Distillery also uses geothermal energy for heating, reflecting its emphasis on efficient, locally adapted production.

The company’s first commercial release was Stuðlaberg Gin. Its range later expanded to include Loki Vodka, Hvítserkur Rum, Rökkvi coffee liqueur and Askur Aquavit, alongside other small-batch spirits.

Askur Aquavit is one of the distillery’s most distinctive products. Flavoured with caraway and dill, it is matured for one year in approximately 50-year-old Oloroso sherry casks and released in limited annual batches. The combination of traditional aquavit botanicals with extended sherry-cask maturation gives Askur a style that differs markedly from unaged Nordic aquavit.

Hovdenak Distillery ehf. continues to operate in Hafnarfjörður, producing and bottling small-batch Icelandic spirits.