The makers of York Gin have officially expanded their horizons with the launch of a new Viking-inspired vodka, timed to coincide with the city’s Jorvik Viking Festival. The 866 Viking Vodka makes its debut today, Tuesday 17th February, at a special tasting event held at the historic Barley Hall.
The spirit is designed to bridge the gap between Scandinavia and Yorkshire. It is crafted from a neutral grain spirit distilled in Yorkshire using crops from local farms, but it takes its character from botanicals once central to the Viking world. The recipe features sea buckthorn, a hardy plant known to survive brutal winters on the Scandinavian coast, alongside a blend of berries that were a staple of the Norse diet.
The name comes from 866, the year the Vikings permanently settled in what is now York and named their settlement Jorvik. Even the bottle’s design pays homage to this heritage with the York Gin cat appearing on the tamper seal. Felines were an important aspect of Viking culture, serving as frequent wedding gifts and appearing in legends as the animals that pulled the chariot of the Norse god Freya.
York Distillery director Natalie Hall said: “We’re delighted with this new vodka. It resonates with our city’s history – but more importantly it’s a beautiful and characterful vodka. Developed and made in York, it’s another spirit to make the city proud.”
The new spirit was developed at York Distillery, the boutique distillery which also holds tasting experiences and gin-making classes. For those looking to sample the new arrival, 866 Viking Vodka is available from the York Gin shop at 12 Pavement. Tickets for the official festival tasting session are available through the Jorvik Viking Festival website.
