Aquavit Line

The aging method, in which Linie Aquavit crosses the equator twice during a four-month sea voyage, has become legendary. It dates back to 1805, when the Norwegian schooner "Trondhiems Prøve" sailed to the West Indies with a cargo of aquavit barrels. Five of the barrels could not be sold and thus returned to Norway after a second crossing of the equator. A small sensation was revealed when the returned aquavit was tasted: it was noticeably milder, more refined, and spicier than before departure. This change in flavor was attributed to the long sea voyage, during which the barrels were stored on the deck of the schooner. The fluctuations in temperature and humidity, the salty sea air, the constant swell of the oceans, and the long aging in wooden barrels clearly had a decidedly positive influence on the quality of the aquavit. Today, more than 1,000 casks of Linie Aquavit mature at any given time as deck cargo at sea. Each bottle of Linie Aquavit features details of its four-month circumnavigation of the globe, including departure and arrival dates, printed on the inside of the front label. Every sip of this aquavit thus evokes memories of the voyage. With its unique equatorial maturation and distinctive flavor imparted by aging and sea travel, Linie has garnered numerous international awards, most recently Gold at the IWSC in London in 2008 and Double Gold at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition in 2009.