Aurora Spirit

About the distillery

Aurora Spirit is located by the Lyngen Fjord in Northern Norway and calls itself the world’s northernmost distillery. Here, whisky, gin, vodka, and aquavit meet the Arctic surroundings, and visitors can get right up close to the production through guided tours of the still house, warehouses, and the old NATO bunker. It’s a place where raw materials, climate, and location play a clear role in the experience.

History

Aurora Spirit began its journey in January 2016, when construction was started. Already by June, the distillery was completed, and at the grand opening, more than one hundred guests attended. In September of the same year came the first distillation, and the first Bivrost products were vodka, gin, and clear aquavit. The following year, the first whisky casks were laid in the NATO bunker, which became part of the distillery’s early maturation story.

In the years that followed, the company was gradually expanded both organizationally and physically. Benedict Skelton joined in 2018 as head of R&D, and in 2019 the distillery began a collaboration with local farmers on Arctic barley. The first major whisky anniversary came in 2020, when Niflheim was launched in May. Later, a new brewhouse followed, along with own house brews for future whisky, independent charring and coopering of used casks, as well as a significant capacity expansion in 2025. In the same year, a new warehouse and a tasting experience in Tromsø also opened.

Raw materials and production

At the core of the production is a broad spirits setup in which whisky is made alongside vodka, aquavit, and gin. The distillery works with Arctic barley through a collaboration with local farmers, and in 2021 the first brewhouse arrived, making it possible to brew in-house for upcoming whisky. This points to a process in which working with raw materials and brewing in-house has become an integrated part of development.

A special feature is the handling of casks. In 2022, the distillery began itself to char and repair used casks, and maturation takes place in several different rooms, including the Viking Warehouse and the former NATO bunker. Even the guided tours make active use of the production environment, as guests move through the still house, production, and cold storage. The whole tells the story of a production that is both practically rooted in the location and consciously focused on its own craftsmanship.

Maturation and cask types

Maturation is closely tied to the distillery’s unique storage rooms. The first whisky casks were laid in the NATO bunker, and later the casks were moved to Viking Warehouse, which was completed in 2021. In 2022, the distillery began itself to char and repair used casks, which provides more active control over the wood’s development. The material does not describe specific cask types for the whisky, but it clearly shows that the storage is based on reused casks, Arctic conditions, and a desire to control the final part of the craftsmanship themselves.

Whiskies

Aurora Spirit works with several spirits types, but the whisky story has become increasingly important since the first release in 2020. Here, Niflheim stands as the historical milestone, while later projects show a development toward more specialized editions, including a whisky made exclusively on Arctic barley. The lineup appears to range from core releases and special experiments to more limited projects, where the raw material and the Arctic starting point are allowed to set the direction. It’s a range that emphasizes place, raw material, and small batches rather than mass production.

General taste profile

Visit the distillery

Aurora Spirit can be visited year-round during seasonal opening hours, and pre-booking is recommended because drop-ins are not guaranteed. The short Arctic Whisky Experience lasts one hour and includes three tastings, while the Select Cask Experience takes an hour and a half and goes deeper into the whisky with tasting directly from special casks. The Founder’s Experience lasts two hours and is led by co-founder Tor Petter W. Christensen, with tastings including, among other things, single cask whiskies, vodka, aquavit, and gin. The tours go through the still house, production, the NATO bunker, and Viking Warehouse, and guests should dress warmly for the outdoor sections between buildings.

The listed opening hours are: Seasonal opening: January–March Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday 11:00–15:30; April–mid-June Thursday and Saturday 11:00–15:30; mid-June–mid-August Monday–Saturday 11:30–16:00; September–November Thursday and Saturday 11:00–15:30; December Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday 11:00–15:30. Closed on 1 January as well as 24, 25, and 26 December. Drop-ins are not recommended, and booking is recommended.

Philosophy and craftsmanship

Aurora Spirit connects its distillery with the place, the people, and the development over time. The anniversary story highlights craftsmanship, people and place, and in practice this is seen in the collaboration with local farmers on Arctic barley, in the distillery’s own cask processes, and in the ongoing expansion of capacity. The distillery doesn’t only work on producing spirits, but also on shaping the entire chain from raw material to cask and onward to the visitor experience.

Prices and recognitions

• Distillery Consumer Award (2019, Won)

• International awards (2023, 2 prizes won)

Latest news

10-year anniversary with new releases and events – 2026

Aurora Spirit marks 10 years with activities and releases, including a culture festival at the distillery, a limited gin called Bjørgs Secret, a whisky based on the 2020 Arctic barley harvest, and a Christmas aquavit called Gjermunds Spesial.