Swedish Gin & Distilleries
On This Page: Swedish Gin and Distillery directory, reviews and tasting notes, distillery tours in Sweden, interviews with Swedish distillers, and G&T garnishes for gins from Sweden.
|
With a global reputation for high quality, pure and natural products, it can be seen to be no surprise that the small number of Swedish Gins have already gained a strong reputation around the world. Strict alcohol laws in Sweden restrict drinks over 3.5% ABV to only being available from government-owned Systembolaget shops and to purchasers over the age of 20. While this limits the expansion of the gin industry, it has not limited the quality of the spirits, many of which feature traditional Swedish botanicals such as dill and caraway. Read on to discover some of the best Swedish gins available!
|
Swedish Gin Reviews - A to Z
Hernö Gin
|
Based in the village of Dala near Harnosand in southern Sweden, Hernö Distillery was the first gin distillery to be launched in Sweden when it was opened in 2011 by distiller Jon's Hillgren. Their Dry Gin features lingon berries, vanilla, meadowsweet, cassia, lemon and black pepper, as well as water from Jon's own well. The distillery, which boasts a range including an Old Tom, Aged Gin, Navy Strength Gin and Sloe Gin, is open for tours and tastings, and there is also a Hernö Gin Bar in Stockholm.
|
JÜST Gin
|
Launched in 2019, JÜST Gin (pronounced Yust) is produced next to Lake Boren in Borensberg, South Sweden. Founder and vodka producer, Rolf Munding, along with two master craftsmen, began experimenting with the iconic Swedish herb Dill, which is commonly used in Swedish cooking recipes. The result was JÜST Dill Gin, a London Dry Gin with Swedish character. In fact, the word 'dill' comes from the old Norse word 'dylla' meaning to soothe or lull.
|
Ragnarok Gin
|
Ragnarok Gin was launched in 2012 and is distilled in a copper pot still using a base spirit of Swedish winter barley from the fields surrounding the distillery in Northern Sweden. Classic Gin botanicals are used in the recipe alongside traditional Swedish ingredients including lingonberries, caraway seeds and dill. In Norse mythology, Ragnarok is the series of events which lead to the death of multiple gods, the flooding of the whole world, and then the re-emergence of a new and fertile world to be repopulated by two human beings.
|
Strane Gin
|
Based in Hunnebostrand in Southwest Sweden, Strane Gin is produced in-house in a 100L pot still at the Smogen Whiskey Distillery. To create Strane gin, three spirits are distilled and then blended, the first with juniper, the second with citrus, and the third with herbs and the distillery's two secret ingredients. The botanicals used included basil, mint, sage, cinnamon, sweet almond, lime, and lemon peel.
|
For more Swedish Gins try: Blekinge Gin, Brygga Gin, First Gin, Hellström Gin, Linhell's Gin, Lydén Dry Gin, Norrbottens Dry Gin, Purity Gin, Revsunds Gin, Roslags Gin, Spirit of Hven Gin, Stockholms Bränneri Gin, Tevsjö Gin.
Award-Winning Swedish Gins
The recent Swedish winners of the 'Best Nordic Gin' Award in The Gin Guide Awards are:
Award-Winning Swedish Gins
The recent Swedish winners of the 'Best Nordic Gin' Award in The Gin Guide Awards are:
- Winner 2022: København Lounge Gin - Nordic Distillery
- Winner 2021: Roslags Gin Havtorn - Norrtelje Brenneri
- Winner 2019: Strane Merchant Strength Gin - Smogen Distillery
Swedish Mixers
Swedish Tonic
|
Swedish Tonic was launched in 2021 and now boasts a range of Tonic Waters, Tonic Syrups and Mixers made in Stockholm. Their Original Tonic Water is made with real cinchona bark, citrus and Swedish sugar, and the extended range includes a Grapefruit Tonic, Elderflower Tonic, Raspberry Tonic and Rosemary Tonic, as well as Lemonade, Ruby Lemonade and Ginger Beer.
|
Swedish Distilleries & Tours
There are 3 distilleries in Sweden which are open for tours and/or tastings, and they are wonderful experiences for gin lovers living in or visiting these areas:
|
Meet the Makers
Get to know some of the finest gin creators and distillers from Sweden in our 'Meet the Maker' interviews. Find out how they created and launched their gin, how it's made, what botanicals are used, how best to serve their gins and what they have planned for the future:
|
|
The Inside Scoop
With Jakob Vallentin of Nordic Gin House
We caught up with Jakob Vallentin, Founder of Nordic Gin House - a collaboration between Nordic distilleries and industry experts that facilitates the export and distribution of Nordic gin - to find out more about the Nordic gin industry and how and why it has evolved in recent years:
Over the last 4 - 5 years, all Nordic countries have reached 30 - 40 different distilleries in each country. Most of them are hobby business, but for about 20% of the producers a global adventure just started. Nordic Gins are ready to take on the growing global premium gin market. The focus is on handcrafted, small batch Nordic gins with local authenticity - distinct national gins distilled based on gin traditions and with a genuine experience of juniper.
Gin's current boom in the Nordic area can be attributed to a number of factors: generational shifts in consumption habits, a new-found quest for 'authenticity', plus a revolution in the way that the spirit - and the gin and tonic especially - is presented.
Keep in mind that the Nordic countries have a great environment for innovative businesses. Even if globally we are small, we have a great reputation worldwide and in 2020 Nordic Gin House even began exporting Nordic gins to China. We have clean air and water, we look after ourselves, and people from other countries tend to appreciate our minimalistic design and work-life balance, not to mention other factors, such as our culture and TV productions. The world consider us to be producers of good quality brands - who'd have thought 20 years ago that we would have some of the world's best restaurants in Copenhagen. So people have high expectations for Nordic Gin House brands, but at the same time the statistics show that consumers are happy to pay extra if they feel that a gin is local, authentic and not mass produced.
Over the last 4 - 5 years, all Nordic countries have reached 30 - 40 different distilleries in each country. Most of them are hobby business, but for about 20% of the producers a global adventure just started. Nordic Gins are ready to take on the growing global premium gin market. The focus is on handcrafted, small batch Nordic gins with local authenticity - distinct national gins distilled based on gin traditions and with a genuine experience of juniper.
Gin's current boom in the Nordic area can be attributed to a number of factors: generational shifts in consumption habits, a new-found quest for 'authenticity', plus a revolution in the way that the spirit - and the gin and tonic especially - is presented.
Keep in mind that the Nordic countries have a great environment for innovative businesses. Even if globally we are small, we have a great reputation worldwide and in 2020 Nordic Gin House even began exporting Nordic gins to China. We have clean air and water, we look after ourselves, and people from other countries tend to appreciate our minimalistic design and work-life balance, not to mention other factors, such as our culture and TV productions. The world consider us to be producers of good quality brands - who'd have thought 20 years ago that we would have some of the world's best restaurants in Copenhagen. So people have high expectations for Nordic Gin House brands, but at the same time the statistics show that consumers are happy to pay extra if they feel that a gin is local, authentic and not mass produced.
