History

Oss Craft Distillery is located in Oslo? sorry, no, in Bergen, Norway, and operates as the distillery for Bareksten Spirits. The distillery runs Bareksten Gin and related products, where the base spirit is primarily potato-based and distilled with pure Norwegian water. Bareksten Spirits was launched around 2015 by Stig Bareksten, described as a person with a deep connection to Norwegian nature and folklore.

Inspired by Norwegian folk elements such as elves and the Huldra, Bareksten Gin has gained international recognition and won a double-gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The production of Bareksten Gins more than quintupled in 2018, and Gin Guild has followed Stig Bareksten and his plans for Norwegian gin.

Oss Craft Distillery highlights Nordic, natural and organic ingredients as the basis for its flavor profile, and the company's history is closely linked with Norwegian nature and folklore.

Production/Manufacturing

Bareksten Gin is produced at Oss Craft Distillery in Bergen. The base spirit is potato-based, and the distillation is carried out with a focus on preserving a smooth mouthfeel through the use of pure Norwegian water.

An important technical detail is the production of Double Gin: a gin where the juniper is distilled on its own in an initial phase, and nine other botanicals are distilled together in a separate still, after which it is blended. This explains the term Double Gin.

The distillation takes place with small stills and a goal of high quality and an intense juniper note. Bareksten has planned an expansion of capacity from two to six stills (600 liter sizes) to meet growth in exports and demand (2018 mentioned in the material).

The production environment is described as Nordic, natural and organic with a strong relation to local ingredients and berries from Norwegian nature.

Products/ Whisky Series

Bareksten Botanical Gin (46% ABV)

The black bottle hints at the deep forests where the majority of the botanicals are sourced. 26 botanicals are used, 19 of which are local; key botanicals include Juniper, Lingon Berries, Elderberries, Blueberries, Chamomile Flowers, Mint and Elderflower. Serving tips and description are presented in the brand's materials.

Bareksten Navy Strength Gin (58% ABV)

A strong edition of Bareksten Botanical Gin; botanicals include Juniper, Lingon Berries, Elderberries, Blueberries, Chamomile Flowers, Mint, Elderflower and the like. Known for being a higher ABV edition of the brand's botanical gin.

Bareksten Old Tom Gin (44% ABV)

Old Tom variation with botanicals such as Juniper, Lingon Berries, Elderberries, Blueberries, Chamomile Flowers, Mint and Elderflower. Notes and recommended uses include classic martini-inspired ideas.

Bareksten Double Gin (44% ABV)

This gin is produced using a two-part distillation method: the juniper is distilled separately from the nine other botanicals, after which the blend is assembled. The production is described as an expression grounded in Norwegian naturalness and local ingredients.

Notes

• All Bareksten products are distilled at Oss Craft Distillery in Bergen, Norway.
• The production philosophy emphasizes Nordic ingredients, natural and organic ingredients, as well as a potato-based base for a smooth mouthfeel.

Visits/Experiences

Information about concrete tours or visit experiences is not explicitly indicated in the available content. However, the distillery's Norwegian nature inspiration and the brand's narrative branding around Stig Bareksten and Norwegian folklore are mentioned as part of the brand experience.

Philosophy

Oss Craft Distillery highlights Nordic, natural and organic ingredients as the core of their flavor and production. Inspiration comes from Norwegian forests and folklore, including the Huldra legends and the dark, deep forest, which is reflected in Bareksten Gin's dark, ambitious expression and powerful botanical profiles. An artistic and craft approach to distillation is combined with experience from the bartender and brand ambassador role of founder Stig Bareksten. The aim has been to produce a gin that can stand internationally while telling a Nordic story through flavor and identity.

Notes on historical events

• Bareksten Gin has gained international recognition, including a double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• The production of Bareksten Botanical Gin reached about 200,000 bottles in 2018, and the company exports to 17 countries (European markets such as the UK and Italy, as well as further expansion to the USA and Australia).

The sources for the above information are all drawn from publicly available material about Oss Craft Distillery and Bareksten Spirits, including product descriptions and company presentations.