OHD Norwegian Wood Vodka Norway 70 cl 41%

On the seventeenth of May Norwegians decorate with birch, and through winter they burn birch logs. The tree is woven so deeply into the country that distilling it starts to look like the obvious move. Oslo Håndverksdestilleri does exactly that, by letting the leaves ride along in the copper still.

Expert description

Norwegian Wood Birch Vodka is a Norwegian Vodka from Oslo Håndverksdestilleri, distilled from potatoes with birch leaves, meadowsweet and elderflower, bottled at 41%.

The distillery was founded in Oslo in 2015 and makes gin, aquavit and bitters alongside the vodka. The house position is that spirits need not be as neutral as possible, and that is the whole explanation for this bottle. The brief for the recipe was that it should be good enough to drink neat, have character enough to give a Martini personality, and still be mild enough to be called a vodka.

The base is potato, which supplies the creamy texture. During the final distillation three plants join the copper still. Birch leaves lend fresh herbal character, meadowsweet contributes softness and sweet tones and is called the vanilla of the Nordics for good reason, and elderflower lays the bright top notes over the top.

Meadowsweet does more than sweeten. The plant also brings a light bitterness, and that is what keeps the sweetness in check so the vodka never tips over into liqueur. The balance between the three plants is why it works in a small glass and a tall one alike.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light and floral. Fresh herbs report first, then elderflower and a trace of pear.

Palate

Creamy and round with obvious plant character. The birch gives something green, and the meadowsweet lays honey and almond underneath it.

Finish

Long and sweetish with a clear thread of vanilla and a light bitterness right at the end.

Specifications

Name: Norwegian Wood Birch Vodka
Distillery: Oslo Håndverksdestilleri
Region/Country: Oslo, Norway
Type: Norwegian Vodka
ABV: 41%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Copper still with birch leaves, meadowsweet and elderflower
EAN no.: 50701550
Serving suggestion: Neat in a small glass at cool room temperature, or in a Vodka Tonic where the elderflower gets room to move.

Flavour profile

Creamy · Herbal · Floral · Sweetish finish

Did you know?

The same vodka is sold in Norway under the name Norwegian Mood. The distillery uses both names in its own communication, so you may come across the bottle in two guises with precisely the same liquid inside.

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Frequently asked questions about Norwegian Wood Birch Vodka

Is this a flavoured vodka?

Not in the sense of flavouring added afterwards. The plants go into the copper still during the final distillation, so the flavour is distilled into the spirit. The method is the same one used for gin, but the quantities are kept far lower.

What does the potato base do?

It gives body and a creamy mouthfeel. Potato carries less of the light grain note and more of a round, almost fatty texture, which is why potato vodka is so often described as soft. Here the texture works as a bed for the plants.

What is meadowsweet, exactly?

A wild plant from damp Nordic meadows with a strong, honeyed scent. It is called the vanilla of the Nordics because the aroma runs from hay and honey to almond and vanilla. At the same time it carries a small bitterness that keeps the sweetness balanced.

How is it best served?

Cool, but not ice cold. The freezer shuts down both the elderflower and the vanilla, and then the whole point is lost. Fridge temperature in a small glass is plenty, and give it a minute before you put your nose in.

Which drinks work?

The ones that give the plants room. A Vodka Tonic ends up close to a gin and tonic in tone, a Martini picks up a floral edge, and a plain highball with soda and lemon lifts the birch. Steer clear of heavy, creamy drinks.

What else does Oslo Håndverksdestilleri make?

Gin, aquavit and bitters. The house has several gin expressions, a Christmas aquavit and a bitter, and it gathers botanicals such as elderflower, meadowsweet, chamomile, angelica, juniper and caraway in and around Oslo. The vodka is the most neutral thing they produce.

What characterises Norwegian Vodka?

Water, potato and a willingness to add flavour. Norwegian distilleries have grown up over recent decades and often lean on herbs and berries from the nearby landscape, where the big international brands chase neutrality. Compare it with the other Vodka brands.