Spirit production in Norway stems from the 16th century, when the virtuous men of the cloth made the first attempts at distillation. The distilled spirit was considered to be medicinal - "aqua vitae" - the water of life that provided relief and cure for most diseases
The word aquavit is derived from aqua vitae, which in Scandinavia is synonymous with a spirit scented with caraway, dill, together with other spices and herbs. To a great extent aquavit has become a spirit that is served on traditional occasions, and is Scandinavia’s main contribution to the international beverage culture.
Through the centuries, aquavit production has developed into a modern industry, though many of the products have a history stretching back to the early 19th century.
For more of the history of aquavit in Norway go to "Our history"-section.