Photo by John Garland // Growler Magazine
Back when the Minnesota distilling industry was just a glimmer on the horizon, Gamle Ode was already bringing new-age aquavit to the upper Midwest. Michael McCarron has built a well rounded lineup of aquavits with help from the distillers at 45th Parallel, and his latest bottling takes advantage of 45th Parallel’s growing reputation for whiskey.
Holiday on Rye Aquavit (left, above) is Gamle Ode’s fourth aquavit. It is the same base spirit as their regular Holiday Aquavit (right, above), which draws from dill, caraway, juniper, mint, allspice and orange peels to create a powerful musk. This special holiday version has spent 18 months aging in oak barrels that had previously held 45th Parallel’s New Richmond Rye Whiskey.
The spirit is bottled at 100-proof and tastes like a middle-ground between rye whiskey and barrel gin. It’d be great with a splash of soda and a squeeze of orange, or use it like a rye whiskey with vermouth in a Manhattan.
This limited-edition run (only 438 bottles made) is available now at the 45th Parallel Distillery in New Richmond. Small amounts may filter out to select Metro bottle shops in the coming weeks through Vinocopia, Gamle Ode’s Minnesota distributor.
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