Brändö Destilleri AB — Norrbotten vodka and whisky from Brändön, Luleå

PRODUCTS

Norrbottens Whisky Brändö Destilleri

Single malt whisky from Norrbotten malt. Double Cask maturation for 6–8 years in Swedish oak and sherry casks. 46% ABV, non-chill filtered.

Single malt, from specially developed Norrbotten malt.
First edition, only 500 bottles in clear glass, prelim.
Swedish oak, 6–8 year Double Cask with a sherry cask finish.
Craft, non-chill filtered, 46%, natural colour.
30+ years of experience, developed with master distiller and whisky author Ian Smiley.

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Barley field with combine harvester — The organic barley in Haparanda that will be malted by Warbro Kvarn. Photo: Åsa Pesula.

The Norrbotten malt

At Pesulagården in Haparanda, in the Torne Valley, the organic barley is grown just a stone's throw from the Arctic Circle. Despite the northern climate, the barley can be malted, which is done by Warbro Kvarn.

The farm is run by the Pesula family in Övre Kukkola by the Torne River. Besides the KRAV-certified organic barley, they make everything from their own ice cream from the farm's milk to mustard and rapeseed oil, and call themselves the world's northernmost producer of the latter two. The light summer nights under the midnight sun give the crops a character of their own.

Warbro Kvarn at Linds Gård outside Katrineholm processes organic heritage grain. It started in 2002 as a family business in the pink mill in Warbro, which gave the company its name. They work with about 20 KRAV-certified growers and value traceability all the way from field to bag. Since 2024 they have had a new, partly solar-powered facility, built after a devastating fire in 2022.

Oak cask being toasted over an open flame — Photo of Thorslundkagge toasting an oak cask.

The Swedish oak cask

The cask holds 300 litres and is made by Thorslundkagge, a Swedish cooperage where the craft has Swedish oak at its core. Professional skill and modern specialist technology produce casks of the highest quality in every detail, and founder Johan Thorslund became, in 1997, the first person in Sweden in 50 years to receive a master cooper's certificate.

Swedish oak grows slowly and is therefore known for being spicy and intense, which is why the cask is prepared with vodka, so as not to over-oak the whisky. With the same thought we have chosen a heavy toast over charring, to bring out notes of caramel, pepper and toasted bread, and to let the malt's own character take centre stage ahead of smoke.

The total maturation time is stated provisionally as a range, to leave room to judge when the oak has given the desired notes and when the whisky has breathed itself softer. The finish in a sherry cask is meant to add sweetness and complexity that rounds off the strength of the Swedish oak.

Ian Smiley

Co-developer of recipe and methodology

30+ years of experience – the whisky is being developed together with master distiller and whisky author Ian Smiley.

Ian has over 30 years of experience in the drinks industry and has worked with distilleries all over the world. He is the author of the book The Distiller's Guide to Whiskey, which combines the science of distillation with practical methods for making high-quality spirits. He developed the recipe for our vodka and is now working with us on developing the Swedish single malt whisky from Norrbotten barley. With that experience behind us, we have a good foundation for making a really good whisky.

Norrbottens Vodka Brändö Destilleri

Sweden's northernmost spirit – made entirely from scratch, without purchased neutral spirit.

Norrbottens Vodka is a handcrafted ultra-premium vodka, distilled from organic barley from the Torne Valley and soft water from Brändön. In a self-developed distillation column containing copper, built by founder Viktor Björklund, who holds a master's degree in mechanical engineering, the vodka is made to be as pure as possible, in order to give a smooth taste.

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Silver Medal 2025 International Spirits Challenge ISC
Gold Medal 2024 Global Spirits Masters
Silver Medal 2024 International Spirits Challenge ISC
Silver Medal 2023 International Wine & Spirit Competition IWSC

PRESS & MEDIA

News coverage of the distillery

Norrbottens-Kuriren

Viktor has rebuilt the distillery and is starting a new company

How the distillery continues to develop and paves the way for new, innovative projects.

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ATL Lantbrukets Affärstidning

24-year-old makes vodka from northern Swedish barley

A report on the craft and the origin of the ingredients in the Torne Valley.

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Norrbottens-Kuriren

Shock – the hit bottle is too heavy for Systembolaget

The article on the challenges and demand surrounding the unique bottle design.

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Sveriges Radio P4

Awarded in London – now vodka-Viktor wants to conquer the world

Sveriges Radio reports on the international successes and the continued push.

Listen at Sveriges Radio →

Norrbottens-Kuriren

Hectic start for the small distillery on Brändön

"People pushed and bottles ended up on the floor" – on the huge interest at the launch.

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Norrbottens-Kuriren

Strong spirits from Luleå praised by the experts

How the drink from Luleå was received by international spirits experts and sommeliers.

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Land

23-year-old Viktor makes a hit with Norrbotten vodka

Read about the start-up and the success of the locally produced spirit from Brändön.

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Norrbottens-Kuriren

22-year-old from Luleå built his own distillery

The story of how the journey started and the building of the distillery on Brändön.

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CRAFT & PHILOSOPHY

About Brändö Destilleri

Brändö Destilleri AB is a small-scale distillery located in the countryside on Brändön outside Luleå. With a burning passion for the craft, we make Sweden's northernmost spirit entirely from scratch – without purchased neutral spirit. By processing local organic barley we have full control over the whole chain, from crushing to the finished bottle.

"Norrbotten in a bottle"

Already at 16 I found distillation and the technology behind it fascinating, long before I had even sipped any alcohol.

Being able to separate two different liquids from each other using heat and cold felt almost magical, and I wanted to learn everything about it.

After many years of dreaming, saving and planning, I decided to give it a chance, and when I turned 20 I started my own distillery.

The road to today has been far from straight, but what I always knew was that I wanted to stay in my home region and create something for the pride that I and so many others feel for Norrbotten.

With that in mind, I have created a product that celebrates Norrbotten through its unique design and by being made from Norrbotten, organic barley.

Norrbotten in a bottle, quite simply.

Viktor Björklund

DOCUMENTARY & PRESENTATION

World's Youngest Master Distiller

Watch the feature on how Viktor Björklund took the step of starting his own distillery and developing award-winning craft spirits in Norrbotten.

Welcome toBrändö Destilleri

Norrbottens Whisky Brändö Destilleri

The Norrbotten malt

The Swedish oak cask

Ian Smiley

Norrbottens Vodka Brändö Destilleri

News coverage of the distillery

Viktor has rebuilt the distillery and is starting a new company

24-year-old makes vodka from northern Swedish barley

Shock – the hit bottle is too heavy for Systembolaget

Awarded in London – now vodka-Viktor wants to conquer the world

Hectic start for the small distillery on Brändön

Strong spirits from Luleå praised by the experts

23-year-old Viktor makes a hit with Norrbotten vodka

22-year-old from Luleå built his own distillery

About Brändö Destilleri

"Norrbotten in a bottle"

World's Youngest Master Distiller

Contact & Visits

Welcome to
Brändö Destilleri