Reykjavik Eimverk Distillery Tour: A Detailed Review

If you find yourself in Reykjavik and have even just a little interest in how spirits get made, then, like, taking a tour of the Eimverk Distillery might be just what you’re after. What makes it particularly interesting is that it’s Iceland’s first and, seemingly, only whisky distillery. You can visit to see how they use local ingredients to craft their whiskies, gins, and vodkas. I went along for a look, and thought I’d offer my thoughts so, you too can decide if it should be on your Iceland to-do list. Getting a taste of Iceland through its spirits? Yeah, it’s a rather cool idea, alright!

A Glimpse into Icelandic Spirit Production

So, Eimverk Distillery seems pretty dedicated to using Icelandic ingredients. I mean, that’s actually very interesting because, apparently, what they’re doing has a massive impact on the character of their drinks. Rather than importing grains, they actually use barley grown in Iceland. As a matter of fact, this stuff gives their whisky a distinctive flavor – quite earthy and robust, you know? It actually makes them stand apart from many of your more typical Scotch whiskies, which tend to rely on imported ingredients more often than not. I think you can tell they pour effort into trying to reflect Iceland’s character in their products.

The tour takes you through all the stages of production, just a little bit from malting all the way through to bottling. Apparently, the guides give, like, really easy explanations. Even if you don’t actually know anything about distilling (like me, really), you’ll be able to follow along. So, they walk you through how they mash, ferment, and distill their spirits, and there are visual aids to better show how stuff actually works. And actually witnessing how everything occurs is, you know, very insightful and gives one appreciation of how stuff works, okay?

The Tasting Experience

What is the best bit? It’s gotta be the tasting, and really that is included in the tour. That part gives you a taste – literally – of what Eimverk does. Of course, you will try their Floki whisky, their Vor gin, and their Ólafsson vodka. Also, there is opportunity for guidance, as you are led through the flavor profiles, okay? The whiskies have a profile that leans more on that Icelandic barley – it’s sort of grainy with just a little hint of sweetness. As for the gin, this one has some notes of local herbs that give it just that bit of uniqueness. It just is something completely other!

I have got to say, that the tasting part is, actually, very educational because of getting to see how the terroir (it’s actually a big word, so look it up!) of Iceland comes through the spirits. Like, the way the barley grows on the island influences the overall character of the whisky, okay? That is the type of thing I hadn’t ever even thought about! That really, for me, set Eimverk apart. That their commitment to actually highlighting local characteristics just gives you insight to their values as producers of drinks and their overall understanding of what goes in to Icelandic culture. You’ll notice that is completely unlike just simply drinking, say, just a regular drink somewhere else, alright?

Tour Logistics: Getting There and Booking

To actually reach the Eimverk Distillery, it sits in a little industrial area. It’s actually outside of Reykjavik’s center, so that might mean you’re having to grab either a taxi or even just jump on a bus. Arguably, public transport can be quite useful, yet it can take a while if, in fact, you don’t get on the correct route. Alternatively, renting a car is also worth a punt and can actually make things that little bit easier if one wants some exploration time after one has taken the tour. Apparently, tours have quite the popularity and are relatively booked up pretty quick. Just be sure to get booked in advance, okay? This probably gives them better scheduling flexibility so it’s worth checking what times are on offer ahead of your visit to avoid disappointment.

Tours generally last, possibly, ninety minutes, so that could depend, though. You might want to budget roughly two hours if, that is, you’re including some travel. What you need to consider are prices that vary, depending if there are discounts available. Actually, many tour packages out of Reykjavik sometimes give you these extras, like for example including access, so do compare everything on offer, okay? Checking is certainly important, because you might get a little money off by simply searching on websites or travel guides. Getting a small saving gives a little something back!

What Makes Eimverk Unique?

You will come across other distilleries, but something that separates Eimverk is, arguably, its local emphasis, okay? They don’t simply just make spirits. I get the sense they put in the time to really showcase Iceland. Right from the locally-grown barley to making use of the pure Icelandic water. Apparently, there’s something truly unique to the drink itself. Their processes and dedication give what you expect of mass-produced international spirits and, I think, actually gives something truly different.

I suspect if you think you’re only going to see how distilling is performed, that’s something you might encounter pretty much everywhere else, alright? However, the passion in what goes into preserving cultural expression here really shines through. So, the Eimverk’s commitment and that ethos does actually create something really quite unique in the area. Also, talking with the people behind production gives you some background as to their overall values in how that translates to not just making a drink but sharing Icelandic values and heritage, too it’s almost like getting a history lesson! In some respects, one feels like one contributes to overall small-scale industry that exists only on Iceland itself, so you’re basically directly helping this small country’s economy, which is a good thing to support in fairness, I think!

Is the Tour Worth Your Time and Money?

Alright, so should you bother? Very well, if, for example, you dig a little deeper than the tourist hotspots then checking out the Eimverk Distillery is just a little worthwhile, in a way. In particular, those that have particular passion for craft drinks will see what’s on offer and consider whether Iceland provides anything to add. Also, others might like it simply because it supports ethical small industry, right? Well, arguably this offers just a little slice that is both tangible and authentic, so it may well be for you! What I would say is it definitely sets itself apart from any old tour so what makes this a recommendation is, mostly, its charm!

So, if you want to consider time involved or that associated cost, it could be something that provides value overall. I want to say its relatively compact duration probably lets you schedule to be there for perhaps a single morning or single afternoon, okay? It would be my consideration when thinking of wider day trips where I would want a particular objective (I quite like being on time!). Just also know that transport overall has its own impacts here – either additional spend to get there, or even more so to rent yourself transport privately. At the end of the day, getting there has some logistics depending if, in fact, your overall group actually wants the flexibility I highlighted earlier. All things considered, checking this place out might make something memorable in the diary from Reykjavik that just adds to memories – I really did consider it worthwhile overall, so, as I said, if these things add up it could be worth checking out!