Bareksten - mythical gins from the Norwegian forests
History of the brand
The Bareksten brand is an unfamiliar concept, so we want to tell you its story, which is also the story of a man who wanted to create something unique in the world of alcohol. Stig Bareksten is responsible for the unique Bareksten gins and spirits. From the looks of it, this gentleman is a very interesting man. Let's take a closer look at his story.
His first encounter with alcohol was when, as a teenage sailor, he smuggled home a bottle of Stroh rum. According to the young Stroh, it tasted terrible, but it was during this period that his interest was sparked. After moving to Oslo and subsequently graduating from the BAS bartending school in London in the mid-1990s, his bartending skills became a local attraction and earned him the title of Norwegian champion behind the bar. Twice. But most of his time was spent travelling, visiting producers, talking to distillers and experimenting with the knowledge he had gained.
In his bartending years, during which he also worked as a brand ambassador in the industry, he was able to visit many distilleries around the world. He has always been interested in the story behind the brands and how the ingredients and production methods influence the taste of the product. For many years he distilled all kinds of flowers and roots in his own kitchen, mostly at night when other family members were asleep. With this experience .
The fascination with harvesting began while founding and working with Det Norske Brenneri in Grimstad on the south coast of Norway. Here he developed his first commercial spirits based on a variety of products he found on mountain tops and in deep forests, behind bus stops and at roundabouts in the centre of Oslo. In 2015, he discovered an abandoned biofuel factory next to Flesland Airport in his hometown of Bergen and set up his own shop.
At that time, Stig found a recipe from the mid-19th century in a book and started working with it. Over time, he created what we call the Bareksten gin base line. It was probably more traditional than most of what is commonly classified as traditional. It became an authentic, almost old-fashioned gin. But it was a fantastic starting point. Oss Craft Distillery's first product took nearly five years to develop before it was launched. At least 250 distillations took place before Bareksten Gin was found and the Stig finally dared to put his name on the bottles!
Another selling aspect is that the brand is based on Stig as a person. He travels the world to tell his story, according to him people like to meet the man behind the brand; it's real and not created by marketers. The product reflects the Norwegians - with a "dark" expression, but with a playful soul. And when gin drinkers find that the contents taste as elegant as the packaging looks, it wins them over. And we're confident it will win you over too!
Get to know the Bareksten line of gins and spirits!
Bareksten Botanical Gin
The gin is distilled in small batches, resulting in a very strong product with a sublime fruity expression. It has a traditional base line, but you will find hints of wild blueberries, cranberries, rhubarb, elderflower, mint and 20 other different ingredients.
With long hours of daylight, warm days and cool nights, Norway has perhaps the best conditions in the world for growing herbs and wild berries. 18 of the 26 botanicals used in Bareksten grow in the area around the distillery. The basic product, which is potatoes, is also locally sourced.
The awards this Gin won immediately after release speak for themselves, namely: Double Gold Medal in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition - 2017, and it has repeated the success in 2020 as well.
Bareksten Old Tom Gin
Bareksten takes inspiration from the Norwegian forests, Nordic and organic herbs, potatoes and berries form the basis of this gin's unique flavour.
Old Tom Gin is slightly sweeter than Bareksten's other gins, with more subtle nuances and a slight juniper influence in the flavour. On the nose there is a distinct earthy aroma and floral notes.
The palate is full-bodied with a pleasant spicy finish. The subtle sweetness and fruity notes persist until the end. The bottles are filled at 44 % alcohol.
Bareksten Botanical Aquavit
Bareksten Botanical Aquavit is made from a potato-based spirit flavoured with classic aquavit botanicals such as cumin, fennel and aniseed. It is then rested for 24 months in ex-sherry Oloroso casks.
The traditional drink aquavit is derived from the Latin aqua vitae, meaning water of life. The first written mention of it in Norway dates back to 1531. The drink was used as a panacea for indigestion and was served mainly at Scandinavian celebrations and feasts.
The distillate is bottled at 46 % alcohol. The best way to enjoy this drink is to sip it slowly, especially after a good meal.
Bareksten Navy Strength Gin
The breathtaking and dramatic Bareksten Navy Strength Gin also comes in a high alcohol strength form.
The gin is made with the finest ingredients such as: juniper berries, angelica root, liquorice root and other mysterious herbs. This gin has a very rich and complex flavour, characterised by subtle notes of citrus fruits and spices. Moreover, its characteristic feature is its high alcohol level of up to 58 %.
In 2022, this gin was awarded a prize in the London Spirits Competition - scoring an amazing 98 points to become Gin of the Year.
Bareksten Illsint Absinth
Bareksten Illsint Absinth is made from plant substances and has the main properties of wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium) as well as the properties of some medicinal and culinary herbs. The base of absinthe is aniseed and spices, which give it a pleasantly sweet and creamy taste.
Due to its high alcohol content, we do not recommend drinking absinthe neat! We recommend drinking it in the traditional way.
Pour 25 ml of absinthe into a glass and place a slotted spoon on the rim of the glass. Then place a sugar cube on the spoon and slowly pour cold water over it until the sugar dissolves. The absinthe will turn white during this process, which is normal. Cheers!
In the video below you can see Stig Bareksten himself and his tasting of Bareksten Botanical Aquavit:
If you want to purchase something unique from Bareksten for yourself or a loved one, don't hesitate! Just click here and you can order right away!
