DIFFERENT BY DESIGN
The Spirit of Aquavit is a celebrated symbol of Nordic hospitality and tradition that dates back centuries. Inspired by our heritage, pioneer old-world makers, and the abundant natural beauty that surrounds us in the Great Lakes State of Michigan, our goal is to share the rich history of the category while challenging perceptions of where and how it can be made while remaining authentic.
OUR APPROACH MAY BE DIFFERENT, BUT THE OUTCOME IS TIMELESS.
WHAT’S IN
A NAME?
norden: A word commonly understood throughout Scandinavia, means northern or “of the north”.
Chosen as not only as a symbol of our sense of place, “NORDEN” subtly pays homage to the birthplace of Aquavit in a way that’s simple to communicate. While the north here in Michigan may vary from that of our ancestors, the spirit of discovery and determination remains the same.
Early exploration of regional expressions throughout Scandinavia, The United States, and beyond was critical in order to gain a deeper connection to Aquavit than any book or folklore could provide. During our journey we began to assemble new ideas of what we could bring to the category and soon a desire to bring those ideas to life was born.
Never content with simple American-Made replicas, today we craft classically inspired Aquavit enhanced by unique blends of botanicals from our own backyard and around the world for the quintessentially modern experience. While creating spirits with balance and complexity is our goal for cocktail mixing, every batch must be exceptional on its own first. To that end we remain firmly anchored in and informed by tradition of Aquavit as a sipping spirit above all else.
A departure from the industrial mainstream, our processes harken back to the hands-on methods of small-batch botanical spirits pioneers. Honest and accountable, everything we produce is a resounding call to a time when quality was achieved through innovation, attention to detail, and a life-long dedication to one’s craft.
BALANCED, COMPLEX…AND EXCEPTIONAL, ALL ON ITS OWN
It took years of researching, traveling, sampling, blending, mixing, drinking, and talking until the sun came up before our vision was realized. Countless experimentations with botanical combinations during arduous trial runs eventually landed 10 defining botanicals into our Original Taffel Style recipe. From there we honed the details of our distillation techniques and set standards we could reproduce for generations to come. What we share today is a culmination of these efforts.
Meticulously distilled in a copper pot-still with organic grain spirits, pure Michigan water, and hand-selected botanicals, NORDEN AQUAVIT – ORIGINAL TAFFEL STYLE was awarded DOUBLE GOLD + BEST AQUAVIT at the renowned San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
MEET THE FOUNDERS
Summer Ransom-Cleveland is a lifelong Michigander. After earning a BA in Journalism she spent over 20 years in retail merchandising, most recently as Visual-Director for a multi-national lifestyle brand. Through her work She’s traveled to nearly every state in America. During time away from home she fostered a profound appreciation for the sacrifices made by her family when they emigrated to America and is proud to honor their heritage. She is our direct link to all things Scandinavian and has Aquavit in her blood. Her Grandparents hail from Sigtuna, one of the oldest towns in Sweden!
Distiller, Robyn Cleveland was raised in Berkeley, California. Following a career path in the arts, he spent much of his early 20’s bartending in Brooklyn, NY.
Upon meeting Summer and moving to Michigan he helped found the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild-Detroit Chapter and served as its first President. Over the course of 14 years behind the bar he had the opportunity to visit and study at distilleries all over the world. The experiences of these trips led to a deep respect for traditional spirits and a desire to share their stories. His first taste of Aquavit came during a 3 week stay in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2003–It’s safe to say he’s been hooked ever since.
THE SPIRIT OF AQUAVIT
A BOTANICAL SPIRIT ORIGINALLY FROM THE NORDICS
A storied element of Scandinavian culture, Aquavit has roots reaching back well over 500 years. Originally regarded as an arcane decoction herbs and spices, then later becoming a symbol of the region during times of celebration, its legacy is as widespread and well-traveled as the people
who first conceived it.
Today Aquavit can be made anywhere in the world and is chiefly defined by the botanicals used to flavor it. European Commission legislation (that we follow) states the dominant flavor MUST come from caraway or dill through distillation.
SEE TASTING NOTES FOR MORE ON THE FLAVORS OF AQUAVIT
BRIEF HISTORY
While prior evidence of adding herbs and spices to distilled spirits exists in Scandinavia, the earliest surviving written reference to AQUAVIT appeared in 1531.
Earning its name from the Latin AQUA-VITAE, meaning “water of life” the crude mixtures, thought to have mystical powers, were favored my monks and alchemists alike. Originally reserved for the “upper class” the noble spirit became more refined over time and evolved into a refreshing and revered staple within the region.
The soothing notes of caraway and dill found in traditional Aquavits are a welcome pairing with rich foods. For this reason no traditional Scandinavian lunch, Midsummer party, or Holiday get-together is complete without at least one bottle on the table.
