Vidda dry gin

We are Norwegians. We walk over mountains and hills, through forests, around fjords to our cabins. When we walk we think, mostly about the things we will do when we are done walking. Like eating. And drinking.

So it was on one of our treks through the mountains; surrounded by Norway’s majestic beauty, we saw herbs, spices, berries and lots of ice.

Thirsty friends on a mountain walk. Chatting about gin. Carrying ice from a frozen lake. Mixing drinks at the cabin. This was the inspiration for Vidda, our interpretation of a traditional London dry gin infused with natural botanical from Norway’s wilderness.

Vidda is the Norwegian name for mountain plateau. The botanicals we use in this gin you will also find there. The mountains have a lot of great things to offer, but an abundance of citrus and coriander is not one of them. By using only botanicals, you will find there we have created a gin that are both floral and herbal. It has a clear back bone of juniper and pine that is softened by the fruitiness from bilberries. When you taste Vidda Tørr gin you are getting the true smell and taste of the Norwegian mountains. That’s why we couldn’t bring our self to put the name of a foreign city on the label. Tørr means dry in Norwegian.

Someone once called the potato the grape of the north. We don’t know about that, but it is the natural ingredient to base a true Nordic spirit on. To us it was a given decision to use Norwegian potato spirit as the base for Vidda, like all our spirits. This makes Vidda not only a gin from Norway, but a genuine Norwegian gin.

To best capture and preserve the aromas of the botanical we combine two techniques in the same distillation. Some of the botanicals we place directly into the pot. Others, like the lighter floral and herbal plants, we have in a vapour basket.

Making a London dry gin with only ingredients that grow naturally in the Norwegian climate has not been the easiest thing we have done. We have learned a lot on the way. And we have received recognition for our effort. In 2020 we can finally say we have succeeded. By winning The Gin Master we can say that Vidda Tørr gin is recognised as one of the best gins in the world. Not a bad result  from a hike with friends.

THE BOTANICALS WE USE IN VIDDA DRY GIN

Juniper - Citrus aromas with hints of spruce, resin, grass, wax and wood.

Meadowsweet - A wide range of aromas ranging from honey and hay to almonds and vanilla. Contributes a slight bitterness to the taste.

Heather - This gives floral aromas, with some slightly earthy tones and honey.

Angelica - Contributes structure to the distillate. The plant can be called the distiller's salt as it is an important flavour enhancer for the other plants in the aquavit.

Elderflower - Light floral and sweet tones. Aroma of citrus, lychee and pear. Used to add high notes.

Yarrow - Bittersweet with aromas of sage and liquorice.

Blueberries - Rich and sour aroma of berries. Adds fruitiness to the gin.

Chamomile flower - Recognized by a strong, sweet floral scent and a hint of tobacco.

Wormwood - Gives notes of warm herbs and mint bitterness. Appears floral and perfumed.

Sorrel - Gives a menthol-like feel with a hint of pepper.

Pine shoots - Gives notes of citrus and herbs such as rosemary.

TASTING NOTE

Nose - Nicely concentrated aroma characterized by juniper, fresh herbs, flowers and spices.

Taste - Gin with a creamy and full-bodied mouthfeel and complex palate of juniper, flowers and herbs such as mint and rosemary.

Aftertaste - Light, floral tone; blueberries and a long finish with herbs like fresh mint.