26 SCANDINAVIAN BREWERS’ REVIEW . VOL.65 NO.3 2008 arTicle NorwaY’S larGesT ProdUcer OF AQUaviT Halvor HEUch, ProdUCT DeveloPMenT ManaGer and DisTiller, ArcUS, E-Mail:
[email protected] Brewmasters and engineers are not restricted to the brewing and soft drinks industries; they also have options in other related industries such as the manufacturing of distilled spirits and aquavit. The ageing of Norwegian aquavit resembles that of specialty beer, as this account from Norway’s largest producer of aquavit, Arcus, points out. WHO WE ARE bottles increased steadily. This Arcus AS is a private company and put the returnable bottle system the former production plant of the under pressure, with the end result old state owned wine monopoly being what we know today; only (Vinmonopolet), established in new glass is used. We do not have 1922. As a direct consequence of this any returnable bottle deposit on monopolisation, all private distiller- wine bottles anymore, and this ies and wine merchants in Norway also resulted in Norway’s only were forced to sell their companies glasswork closing down. to the new state owned company; Today, the wine monopoly only the idea being that no private person should profit from selling has the sole right to sell wine and spirits to the Norwegians. alcohol, as this would lead to higher alcohol consumption. In the beginning, the monopoly had a somewhat limited product Arcus has a large portfolio, and the product range includes range, focusing mainly on wine, due to prohibition. But after wine from all over the world both in bottles and in bulk for our 1927, Norway opened up for the sales of spirits again, and own brands.