Distillery profile

Himkok

Explore the distillery's history, craft, production, and the distinctive character of its whiskies.

Last updated
Show on map All distilleries

HIMKOK

About the distillery

HIMKOK is located in Storgata in Oslo and is both a bar and a distillery. Here, aquavit, gin, and vodka are distilled on-site, and the house is built around Norwegian culture, local availability, and a clear Nordic style. It’s an urban place with an industrial, but controlled, production—where the hybrid still and hands-on flavor control are an important part of its identity.

History

HIMKOK is described as a place that works with Norwegian culture through cocktails and spirit distilled on-site. Over the past eight years, the venue has made a name for itself on the international cocktails scene by combining Norwegian traditions with modern techniques. It has been part of World's 50 Best Bars for six years, and in 2018 it received the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award. The distillery on Storgata is part of this development and serves as a physical expression of the house’s own spirit production. Here, it’s not only the bar that carries the story of the place, but also the distillation: a Norwegian townhouse that has made in-house production a central part of its profile.

Ingredients and production

The production at HIMKOK is based on a 180-liter hybrid copper still from Christian Carl. The still can be used as a traditional pot still or connected to a 6-plate column, so the distillation can shift between more aromatic and more rectified expressions. The base spirit is a highly rectified neutral ethanol at 96% ABV from Hoff, a Norwegian company that processes, ferments, and distills potatoes. The spirit is blended with water to the desired strength, after which spices are added. Some spices come from Norway, others are imported, and they are selected based on quality and the desired flavor profile. The distillation also works with spices both in the still and in a vapor chamber, and precise cuts are made to control flavor and mouthfeel. Safety is built into the facility, including ventilation systems, gas and fume monitoring, pressure relief valves, and automatic shutdown in the event of deviations.

Whiskeys

The documented spirits range from the house includes aquavit, gin, and vodka, which are distilled on-site. In addition, ready-to-drink products are mentioned as a separate product category, but they don’t belong to the distillery’s core assortment of distilled spirits. The overall impression is of a house working clearly at the Nordic end of the spectrum, where ingredients, precision, and spicing are what drive the expression.

Whisky style and flavor profile

HIMKOK’s production points to a style with distinct spiced nuances, light aromas, and clean Nordic precision. The highly rectified base ethanol and the precise cuts provide a clean canvas, while spices in both the still and the vapor chamber add depth and complexity. At the same time, there’s a focus on highlighting the desired mouthfeel and aroma rather than heavy sweetness, which fits the house’s Nordic profile.

Visit the distillery

HIMKOK can be visited in Oslo, where opening hours are Monday to Wednesday 17:00-00:00, Thursday to Saturday 17:00-03:00, and Sunday 17:00-00:00. Guests can book a table, and the venue lists both phone and email as contact options. The visit is connected to the bar and event atmosphere around the house, which also includes courses and other services.

The stated opening hours are Mon to Wed: 17:00 - 00:00; Thu to Sat: 17:00 - 03:00; Sunday: 17:00 - 00:00.
See times and book a visit.

Philosophy and craftsmanship

HIMKOK’s expressed philosophy is to connect Norwegian culture with craftsmanship, innovation, and pride. The house emphasizes authenticity, modern methods, and a data-driven, empirical approach to production. At the same time, sustainability and local availability are highlighted, and local ingredients are used when possible.

Sustainability

Sustainable and empirical production methods.
Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award in 2018.

Awards and recognition

  • The World's 50 Best Bars (Member for 6 years)

  • Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award (2018, Awarded)