Flavor Profile
O.P. Anderson Aquavit is a Swedish style aquavit, as it features a strong fennel note in addition to the standard caraway aquavit character. Created by Carl Anderson in 1891, he named it in honor of his father— a man of many talents: government council member in Gothenburg, Sweden, seaman and ship owner, liquor factory owner.
The aquavit itself has a long and storied history in Sweden. It is one of the best selling and oldest brands in the company.
It is distilled from a base of Swedish wheat. Botanically O.P Anderson Aquavit features aniseed (not star anise), caraway and fennel. After distillation it is aged in oak barrels for a minimum of six months.
Tasting Notes
Beautiful delicate nose. O.P. Anderson Aquavit has a creamy, intense fennel-forward nose. Hints of vanillin, toasted fennel seed, caraway and even a hint of toasted dill seed. While quintessentially spicy, it’s creamy on the nose and emphasizes some of the lighter, fruitier sides of those botanicals.
Sipped, fennel and aniseed shine through on the first half of the palate. It’s vivid with hints of vanilla beans, garam masala, and dried fennel pods. The oak character is subtle. On the finish there’s some residual tannins that leave a pleasant astringency. The finish is heavier with caraway seed— perhaps the only moment while sipping that O.P. Anderson Aquavit tastes like the Aquavit cliche.
On the palate, O.P. Anderson Aquavit is smooth, balanced and among the most easy to sip aquavits I’ve tried.
Overall, O.P. Anderson Aquavit
For people who don’t like aquavit, O.P. Anderson Aquavit is an ideal gateway to the style.
The balance of the aging process, botanical blend and smoothness of the base spirit makes it clearly evident why O.P. Anderson Aquavit is an enduring favorite in Sweden.
Highly Recommended.
Awards
