Taking inspiration from a pivotal trip to Denmark, Summer and Robyn Cleveland founded Norden Aquavit in 2018 in Chelsea, Michigan. The name 'Norden' is Scandinavian for 'of the north', paying homage to both the birthplace of Aquavit as well as their location in northern Michigan. Here they create spirits that speak unmistakably of Michigan terroir, while sourcing and foraging local ingredients.
Though not required, Norden Aquavit follows the E.U. regulatory guidelines for their production: the spirit must be either dill or caraway forward, meet standards for alcohol and sweetness (not sweet!), and be of agricultural origin. Alongside these rigorous standards of quality, they use ingredients that are reminiscent of gin aromas and flavors, as well as botanicals that are rarely seen in spirits, such as sumac and clary sage.
Norden Aquavit's spirits are distilled using organically grown corn from the Midwest as a base, and all botanicals are left in the copper-pot still for a 22 hour maceration prior to distillation. Their fresh, botanical and citrus-forward character gives these Aquavits a unique versatility, allowing them to be enjoyed neat or as a special cocktail ingredient.
Products:
