The trend of locally produced gin in Sweden springs from a number of catalysts. Apart from the exploding interest in artisan small scale production and handcraft in general, for health-oriented and sustainability aware Swedes, the gin, which is free from additives and artificial flavoring, could be seen as particularly appealing. The number of Swedish gin producers has doubled from 15 to 30 in five years.
Listed below are seven Swedish gin and tonic producers that drive the development forward by offering Swedish taste experiences in liquid form.
Spirit of Hven – historical heritage
Organic Navy Strength Gin is a unique distillate made from scratch on the island of Hven in the middle of Öresund. It’s made using many hundreds of years heritage adapted to modern day distillation techniques, beverage culture and flavors. Bestseller Spirit of Hven Organic Navy Strength Gin is barrel-aged in oak for three years and has flavors of juniper berries, coriander, cardamom, orange and lemon zest. After bottling the bottles are waxed by hand with ocean blue wax.
Stockholms Bränneri
One of the few Swedish distilleries that produce the latest trend in gin: pink gin. Stockholms Bränneri’s Pink Gin , which won Silver at IWSC 2018, gets character from rhubarb and rose petals. It is meant to be a light, fresh and flowery gin, but with a classic dry gin character. In addition to rhubarb and rose petals it is distilled with juniper, coriander, heather, elderflower, angelica, long pepper and lemon peel. After distillation it is steeped with lingonberries to give additional character and its pink color.
The clean stylish bottle-design only is worth a taste of Stockholms Bränneri’s Dry Gin. It is meant to be a Scandinavian take on a traditional dry gin with its characteristics from seven organic botanicals. The blend gives the gin a delicate flowery taste parallel to the classic juniper and citrus notes. This makes it perfect for classic gin cocktails, but also ideal to enjoy neat or in a Dry Martini.
Norrtelje Brenneri
Norrtelje Brenneri AB was established in 2001 by husband-and-wife team Richard Jansson and Kristina Anerfält-Jansson. The distillery is situated on a farm in the heart of the Roslagen archipelago, north of Stockholm. After extensive renovation and remodeling of the barn, the distillery was ready in 2002.
Organic Roslags Gin EKO which was launched in 2015 is an exclusive London Dry Gin. It is flavored with juniper berries, red grapefruit, coriander and rose petals, as well as local ingredients: hand-picked rowanberries and juniper berries from the Stockholm archipelago. It’s a soft gin that can be enjoyed as a juniper berry-shot or as a base in gin and tonic with fresh grapefruit as a twist.
Mackmyra
Lab Distillery Organic Gin by Mackmyra is a modern, artisan-produced gin with a classic taste incorporating Swedish flavors and carefully selected organic ingredients distilled in the traditional copper pot-still at Mackmyra Bruk. Organic Gin was developed to be used for classic gin cocktails or dry martinis. It’s made with the botanicals Juniper, coriander, lemon, elder flower, lingonberry and mango.
Hernö Gin
Hernö Dry Gin is Hernö Gins bestseller in Sweden and has become very popular on several foreign markets. It is a round and smooth London dry gin, awarded with IWSC World’s best London Dry Gin and World’s best Gin & Tonic but is also very enjoyable on its own. A rich and lightly oily texture characterizes Hernö Gin. Fresh, crunchy green and spicy notes of coriander. A mellow sweetness combined with vanilla and cassia bark.
Hernö Old Tom Gin has got a stronger flavor to it than Hernö Dry Gin. It’s been nominated by IWSC as the world’s best gin two years in a row. It is full-bodied with woody spice followed by bright, juicy, juniper and floral notes.
Two of the most established Swedish tonic brands, Swedish Tonic and Ekobryggeriet are known for hand brewing their tonic, and using organic and natural raw ingredients.
Swedish Tonic
Swedish Tonic Syrup is a hand brewed Tonic Syrup crafted with some of the finest natural ingredients such as chinchona bark for bitterness, agave for sweetness, citrus for pleasure and dried junipers for a kick. “It´s a perfect fit for the trend seeking individual or just to excite at the dinner party,” according to Swedish Tonic.
Swedish Tonic Water is a hand brewed organic tonic with natural ingredients such as cinchona bark – which gives it its unique amber color-, agave syrup, refreshing citrus, juniper and fresh sparkling water.
Ekobryggeriet / The Nordic Soda Company
Tonic brand Ekobryggeriet, which is owned by the Nordic Soda Company, offers Sweden’s leading organic premium tonics. The tonic is produced in Österlen, in the south of Sweden, and contains organic sugar, natural aromas water and citric acid.
Their Organic premium Tonic flavors are inspired by Nordic nature and culture. In the two bestsellers and the flavors that Ekobryggeriet are most known for, you can feel the taste of forest in the Spruce Shoots tonic and the taste of summer garden in their Rhubarb tonic.
Read more about Swedish gin here or why not Swedish beer.
