Comments on: Barely Brennivín http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/ Quenching your thirst with sips, nips and tipples. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:30:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Sean a http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-273201 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:10:07 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-273201 Well despite what some may think there are two main brands of this drink one which any self repecting Icelander would never touch much less drink that is marketed for tourist, This is the one that fast nasty. The other one however fast much like candy and is found in most Icelandic homes. It is not realy told to outsiders that one tastes better then the other as they want to keep it a secret of Iceland. It is also the more expense one and cost around $ 60us to import. Well despite what some may think there are two main brands of this drink one which any self repecting Icelander would never touch much less drink that is marketed for tourist, This is the one that fast nasty. The other one however fast much like candy and is found in most Icelandic homes. It is not realy told to outsiders that one tastes better then the other as they want to keep it a secret of Iceland. It is also the more expense one and cost around $ 60us to import.

]]> by: Andri http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-272571 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:21:12 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-272571 I'm an Icelander so I hope I can educate you a bit about this spirit. :) It was first brewed, at least legally, after the prohibition. Even though the prohibition was lifted, the government wanted to discourage drinking, so they put the black label on it (it was brewed for the governments alcohol and tobacco store, which is still the only place to by alcohol in Iceland). When other spirits were imported, the cheap, strong brennivín was mostly drunk by towns drunks. We still say someone is "into the brennivin" when implying they are alcoholics. So this gave our schnapps the rep of being a horrible hobo drink, and many Icelanders really believe this. I can't say I'm more than an occasional drinker (of this particular beverage that is) but it's really worth trying. as for cocktail recipies...It is usually drunk as a schnapps or a chaser with beer, but, and stay with me, some pour it into cold milk with ice and even mix in nestle quick for a chocolaty taste! I’m an Icelander so I hope I can educate you a bit about this spirit. :)
It was first brewed, at least legally, after the prohibition. Even though the prohibition was lifted, the government wanted to discourage drinking, so they put the black label on it (it was brewed for the governments alcohol and tobacco store, which is still the only place to by alcohol in Iceland).
When other spirits were imported, the cheap, strong brennivín was mostly drunk by towns drunks. We still say someone is “into the brennivin” when implying they are alcoholics.
So this gave our schnapps the rep of being a horrible hobo drink, and many Icelanders really believe this.
I can’t say I’m more than an occasional drinker (of this particular beverage that is) but it’s really worth trying.
as for cocktail recipies…It is usually drunk as a schnapps or a chaser with beer, but, and stay with me, some pour it into cold milk with ice and even mix in nestle quick for a chocolaty taste!

]]> by: John http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-251681 Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:15:51 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-251681 Brennivin can be *really* nice! And yes, it does depend on the brand. I tried several varieties in Iceland, and they ranged from pretty rough to very smooth and warming (a real plus when the temperature's -20C). The infused caraway makes it a unique, exciting and very pleasant taste. btw - 'brennivin' probably translates better as 'burnt wine'... which is exactly the origin of the word 'brandy'. Brennivin can be *really* nice! And yes, it does depend on the brand. I tried several varieties in Iceland, and they ranged from pretty rough to very smooth and warming (a real plus when the temperature’s -20C). The infused caraway makes it a unique, exciting and very pleasant taste.

btw - ‘brennivin’ probably translates better as ‘burnt wine’… which is exactly the origin of the word ‘brandy’.

]]> by: hildur http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-216659 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:29:59 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-216659 The Limited Edition Brennivin which is aged 8 years in oak barrels is smoother and has a less sharp kick to it. Both the limited edition and the usual Brennivín is nothing but pleasure to drink. I think evryone should try it. As for the shark meat though.... try sniffing a baby's nappy when full of urine. That is how it tastes. The Limited Edition Brennivin which is aged 8 years in oak barrels is smoother and has a less sharp kick to it. Both the limited edition and the usual Brennivín is nothing but pleasure to drink. I think evryone should try it. As for the shark meat though…. try sniffing a baby’s nappy when full of urine. That is how it tastes.

]]> by: Curtis http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-198803 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:49:30 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-198803 I was wondering were to pick some Brennivin up here in the us..i called every liquor warehouse i could find and most of them had never heard of it I was wondering were to pick some Brennivin up here in the us..i called every liquor warehouse i could find and most of them had never heard of it

]]> by: Meltdown in Iceland « NotionsCapital http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-196216 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:04:35 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-196216 [...] Fewer local customers will be buying imported wines and liquor this weekend; more will buy the local potato-based Brennivin. The financial drunk of uncontrolled financial deregulation is ending with a messy, crushing Sunday hangover. [...] […] Fewer local customers will be buying imported wines and liquor this weekend; more will buy the local potato-based Brennivin. The financial drunk of uncontrolled financial deregulation is ending with a messy, crushing Sunday hangover. […]

]]> by: John http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-155426 Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:34:55 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-155426 Brennivin is one of the best liquors I've ever had. I don't know why it's called Black Death. Even my wife (who is a rum drinker) likes it. On a recent trip to Iceland we brought back 2 and a half liters of it. Based on how quick we are going through it, our next trip may be sooner than planned. Brennivin is one of the best liquors I’ve ever had. I don’t know why it’s called Black Death. Even my wife (who is a rum drinker) likes it. On a recent trip to Iceland we brought back 2 and a half liters of it. Based on how quick we are going through it, our next trip may be sooner than planned.

]]> by: Sal http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-147782 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:09:00 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-147782 My husband works in the UK for an Icelandic company and the boss has bought him a bottle of Brennivin back from Iceland. I am very eager to experiment, so if anyone knows of any good cocktail recipies or mixers (I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to drinking it straight, then all suggestions would be gratefully received...... Thanks. My husband works in the UK for an Icelandic company and the boss has bought him a bottle of Brennivin back from Iceland. I am very eager to experiment, so if anyone knows of any good cocktail recipies or mixers (I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to drinking it straight, then all suggestions would be gratefully received…… Thanks.

]]> by: Andrew http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-123137 Sat, 31 May 2008 03:44:27 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-123137 I just got back from Iceland this evening...im sitting in JFK airport waiting for my connecting flight at the moment...anyway, I bought a hip flask bottle of Brennivin in anticipation of trying harkarl (which is not bad actually, i had it frozen at a nice restaurant, and they said that its supposed to be served frozen which masks a lot of the ammonia)...Brennivin was similarly a lot better than I expected, very smooth and the light licorice taste was nice actually...at a duty free store at the airport, I picked up another bottle to bring home as well as a bottle of the special Limited Edition Brennivin which is aged 8 years in oak barrels...I'll let you know how that one is when I try it...I havent found any website that even mentions the aged one, so im pretty excited to try it I just got back from Iceland this evening…im sitting in JFK airport waiting for my connecting flight at the moment…anyway, I bought a hip flask bottle of Brennivin in anticipation of trying harkarl (which is not bad actually, i had it frozen at a nice restaurant, and they said that its supposed to be served frozen which masks a lot of the ammonia)…Brennivin was similarly a lot better than I expected, very smooth and the light licorice taste was nice actually…at a duty free store at the airport, I picked up another bottle to bring home as well as a bottle of the special Limited Edition Brennivin which is aged 8 years in oak barrels…I’ll let you know how that one is when I try it…I havent found any website that even mentions the aged one, so im pretty excited to try it

]]> by: Matt http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-99870 Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:20:04 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/11/22/barely-brennivin/#comment-99870 I picked up a bottle of Brennivin at a moving sale in Costa Rica. It came with a gift set of 6 Brennivin shot glasses. it was the best $18 I ever spent on a bottle of liquor. it was the smooth and had a slight taste of anise or licorice, but not enough to turn me off(I hate licorice flavored liquors). My inlaws and I finished a bottle in 25 minutes.I am looking to buy more. Anybody who knows where to buy it in Costa Rica or Los Angeles, please let me know. I picked up a bottle of Brennivin at a moving sale in Costa Rica. It came with a gift set of 6 Brennivin shot glasses. it was the best $18 I ever spent on a bottle of liquor. it was the smooth and had a slight taste of anise or licorice, but not enough to turn me off(I hate licorice flavored liquors). My inlaws and I finished a bottle in 25 minutes.I am looking to buy more. Anybody who knows where to buy it in Costa Rica or Los Angeles, please let me know.

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