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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