Over the past few articles, we’ve highlighted some interesting distilleries, and many more are cropping up on a near daily basis. There are many incredible facilities around the world, and we could go on for days trying to thumb through all of them to find the most interesting. From locations and scenery, to the people and product, there’s loads of personality within these spirit operations everywhere. Today, we are going to take a peek at three unique distillery experiences.

Aurora Spirits

If you ever find yourself deep within the Lyngen Alps of Norway, embracing the deep inlet fjords, arctic wilderness, and beautiful borealis that the area’s known for, you might want to put the Aurora Spirit Distillery on your to-do list.

This facility is the “world’s most northernmost whisky distillery” located in coastal Norway. What makes this operation so special is the location. Nested within the beautiful mountains and aforementioned coasts, Aurora Spirits Distillery found its home inside of an old fort used back in World War II. In addition, they age their whisky in an underground bunker just 30 feet from the sea which mitigates the frigid Arctic cold.

Anybody of any age could go on a tour with a knowledgeable staff on hand to guide one through the historic building, and sight seeing the vast Norwegian scenery. They focus on peated and unpeated malts alike, which are homed in various sized and finished casks. Visitors over the age of 20 could taste test their wide selection of gin, vodka, aquavit, and whiskey. Be sure to try their signature Bivrost whiskey, made from nordic barley and fermented with glacial meltwater.

Breckenridge Distillery

Since we talked about the northernmost distillery above, I thought it’d be fitting to mention the highest one. This is an equivocal statement depending on who we’re talking to; it’s sitting 9,600 feet above sea level in the mountains of Colorado, and “high” could also refer to their “Mary Jane” laws in the state, so take this information as you will. One thing is for certain, this bar has an uphill battle when it comes to producing spirits (or up mountain I should say, pun intended).

Because the distillery is so high in elevation, the high altitude has strange effects on whiskey making. Mountain air holds very little moisture, which causes the evaporation process to speed up, thus causing a loss in profit by about 25 percent in their maturing barrels. In addition, temperatures swing wildly in the mountains, which brings fluctuations in humidity and barometric pressure, making a consistently performing operation challenging. This doesn’t stop production however. Breckenridge Bourbon is their award winning golden goose; they’re known for the high-rye mash and American-style make.

Aside from the spirits, you might notice the art lining the facilities from head to toe. From the bar to the bathrooms, there’s artistry everywhere! Recently, the founder of the distillery, Nolt, hired a graffiti artist named Detour, to paint a mural on a series of barrels. These would be sold as a single barrel collection, but you could also see them on the labels of their products.

Breckenridge has been awarded the Best American Blended title four times from 2016 to 2019, Colorado’s Distillery of the year in ‘19, and Brand Innovator of the year by Icons of Whisky (see also ‘14 Unmissable Colorado Whisky Distilleries You Should Check Out‘). If you find yourself romping around in the Colorado Mountains, Breckenridge Distillery is certainly a place to check out for their art and craft alike (or spirits rather, pun intended).

Maine Craft Distillery:

Portland, Maine? Do you know where that is? Aside from my dry pop culture reference, this beautiful coastal state is known for its serenity, scenery, and even signature spirits! Maine Craft Distillery embraces a complete hand made and home grown experience.

This small-craft production is best known for its uniquely exclusive to Maine brand of moonshine. Now, you’re probably thinking this spirit is a century old practice found in Appalachia, what’s Maine have to offer? They have a distinct spin to this twist on the old classic which they coined as “Blueshine.” This is a blend of Maine’s most renowned ingredients, blueberries, moonshine, and maple syrup.

Maine Craft Distillery wants to provide what they call a complete “farm to flask” Blueshine experience with a complete exclusively local taste. When visiting this distillery, you could expect a tour, tasting, and small plates to pair. Give “Mr. McGregor’s Medicine,” and their “Common Ground” a taste when here. If you find yourself in the Pine Tree State, they also have canned cocktails and drinks that line local liquor stores, such as their Maine Mule, Cranberry Island Cocktail, and Blueshine Lemonade.

Conclusion:

You don’t have to go global to find an extraordinary distillery; in fact, supporting local could be both a rewarding and uniquely local experience. If you find yourself abroad, be sure to get a literal taste of the local culture by touring their distilleries!