Lögberg-Heimskringla - 08.03.1985, Page 2

2-WINNIPEG, FÖSTUDAGUR 8. IVIARZ 1985
Brennivín
Iceland's National Drink Fondly
Known as Bláck Death
by Illugi Jökulsson
photos by Páll Stefánsson
Courtesy News from Iceland
Accounts by foreign visitors to
Iceland sometimes contain the allu-
sion that the Icelanders drink quite
a lot. This is actually wrong. To the
contrary, according to official
statistics, Icelanders are among the
European nations whose consump-
tion of alcohol is the lowest. It is true,
however, that théy are prone to im-
bibe rather generously when they go
out on the town, and on such occa-
sions no kind of liquor is more
popular than the Icelandic brennivín,
which literally means burnt (ihat is,
distilledj wine, but is sometimes
referred to as Black Death.
The drink bearing that impressive,
name is a relative of the various
kinds of schnapps in other countries
but is a purely Icelandic product; it
has been on the market for nearly fif-
ty years. Its prehistory is that short-
ly after the turn of the century pro-
hibition legislation was enacted in
Iceland, and for many years all sale
of alcoholic beverages was totally
outlawed. In 1922, however, under
pressure from wine-producing
trading partners, such as Spain and
Portugal, imports of table wines were
begun under the auspices of a state
monopoly. Twelve years later the
prohibition law was finally repealed
after a national referendum in which
the majority of the voters declared
themselves in favour of importation
and distillation of strong drinks.
Trade in alcohol was not given free,
however, but was handled, as the
wines before, by the State Wine and
Spirit Authority. An extraordinary
relic of the prohibition era is the fact
that the sale of strong beer in Iceland
is still prohibited, and at regular in-
tervals heated debates erupt on
whether or not to permit the sale of
beer that has more than 2.25%
alcohol contents. This has not yet
been done.
Secret Formula
As soon as the result of the national
While the formula for brennivín
has never been modified or re-
vealed, there is no secret that it
uses the best water in the world.
referendum was known, the State
Wine and Spirit Authority began
preparing production of its own
brands of liquor. At the present, the
autþority — which several years ago
was merged with the State Tobacco
Authority and is now called the State
Wine, Spirit and Tobacco Authority,
or ÁTVR — produces more than ten
kinds, but the first of these was the
Icelandic brennivín. The initial bot-
tle of it was filled on February 1,
1935, and it is still preserved as a
treasure by the director of the ÁTVR.
There are probably few liquor pro-
ducers who are still in possession of
their first distilled bottles.
Two intellectuals, Dr. Kristinn
Stefánsson and Dr. Jón Vestdal, are
credited with making the formula for
the Icelandic brennivín, and it has
never been modified. The brennivín
is blended from alcohol and water,
with the addition of various
flavoured substances, which of
course are the secret of the producer.
Some people think they detect a hint
of caraway taste in the brennivín, but
the main reason for its quality —
which is generally acknowledged —
is without doubt the pristine Icelan-
dic water. Icelanders boast that
nowhere in the world is there more
wholesome water to be found, and
that, of course, is reflected in the
liquor.
Beloved Black Labels
It was very soon after production
began that the brennivín acquired the
popular name Black Death — rather
a sardonic appellation considering
the fact that in the late Middle Ages
the plague called Black Death came
close to exterminating the nation
once and for all. But this "pet" name
was derived from the labels that grac-
ed the brennivín bottles. They were,
and still are, black and unassuming,
with only the brand name and the
logo of the ÁTVR. It is pure myth,
however, that the labels were initial-
ly marked with skull and crossbones
to warn people what kind of poison
the contents were! Some people com-
plained that the labels were
ferociously ugly, so the ÁTVR in
1958 had new labels put on the bren-
nivín bottles, as colourful as anyone
could ask for. But then it happened
that the people rose up and protested,
demanding their black labels back!
Some say that at no time in recent
history did Iceland come closer to a
revolution. Of course, the ÁTVR gave
in, and before you could say skál, the
old, black labels were back in place.
Since then, everything has been calm
and peaceful!
The Icelandic brennivín soon
became very popular within the na-
tion, for it is a flavorful, substantial
drink. True, the sales have been sub-
ject to fluctuations as more foreign li-
quors have been added to the shelves
of ÁTVR stores, but in the long run
the brennivín has withstood all
assaults on its preeminence with fly-
ing colours. A good example of the
ups and downs is the record of the
past decade or so. In 1971 the sale of
brennivín amounted to 102,000
litres, but oqly eight years later, in
1979, it had taken a giant leap up to
442,522 litres. Since then, it has again
contracted a bit, and in 1983 the sales
of the Icelandic brennivín at the
ÁTVR came to 303,000 litres. For
comparison it may be mentioned that
in 1983 sales in Iceland of foreign
brands of vodka were 302,000 litres,
while whisky sales were 140,000
litres. so, the Icelandic brennivín is
still by far the best-selling single
brand of alcoholic beverages.
Hard Liquor Popular
It should also be mentioned that in
the same year, that is, 1983, a total
of 3 million litres of strong drinks,
fortified wines and table wines were
sold in the "State,” as the Icelanders
cali the ÁTVR liquor stores. Figuring
Continued on page 7
Question of
the Week
--------------«------—
Have you ever tried Icelandic
Brennivín?
Ólöf Helga Þór, Winnipeg: "Yes,
but only once a year at Þorrablót."
No picture available.
Mr. Snorri Jónasson, Winnipeg:
"Yes, I have and I like it. I am cer-
tain that I will have some more in
Iceland this summer but I plan to go
again this year!
Mr. Ernest Stefansson, Gimli:
"No, I don't think I have."
Professor William Koolage: "Yes,
I have. I found it very tasty and
nutritious. You must have had quite
a bit yourself, judging from your
size!"
Besides being mixed in cocktails and with water or soft drinks, bren-
nivín is also drunk as a schnapps with herring or the Icelandic delicacy
fermented shark.
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