World Aquavit Day – Honoring traditions and creating new rituals
April 13, 2025, marks the first-ever World Aquavit Day, a global celebration of the iconic Nordic spirit with a history dating back to the 16th century.
For generations, Aquavit has been a cherished part of Nordic holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Midsummer. Now, its role is being reimagined. World Aquavit Day invites people worldwide to discover the versatility of this spirit and make it their own. The launch of World Aquavit Day is kickstarted by the “How Do You Aqua?” campaign, encouraging personal expression and celebration in whichever way feels right – perhaps in an innovative cocktail, served neat, or paired with food. There are no rules, just endless opportunities to explore and enjoy Aquavit.
April 13th was chosen to commemorate the first documented reference to Aquavit in Norway, found in a letter from 1531. This letter, from the Danish Lord of Bergenhus fortress, Eske Bille, to Olav Engelbrektsson, the last Roman Catholic Archbishop of Norway, contains one of the earliest known references to "aquavit."
Today, Anora is the world’s largest Aquavit producer, owning over 40 different Aquavit brands from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Anora has won numerous industry awards for the brands it produces as well as the prestigious award of Aquavit Producer of the Year at the ISC awards. As the world’s largest aquavit producer, Anora is a nurturer of Scandinavian heritage and tradition, deeply rooted in the region's culture.
“Aquavit is a true Nordic gift, offering rich and diverse experiences. It's the only spirit designed to pair with food, enhancing flavors beautifully. It also makes a great base for unique cocktails, while cask-aged varieties are perfect for sipping neat. In my opinion, Aquavit is the world's most versatile spirit” says Jonas Odland, Aquavit Master Blender at Anora.
We at Anora want to celebrate Aquavit and the many ways to enjoy this spirit by asking – How Do You Aqua?
“We encourage producers of aquavit, bars and restaurants serving aquavit and aquavit lovers all over the world to join us on this World Aquavit Day and show the versatility of this spirit and the many ways it can be enjoyed”, says Mika Raukko, Marketing Director, Nordic Brands at Anora.
The World Aquavit Day is not only a celebration of history but also an invitation to create something new. Anora will be presenting the latest innovations within the category in May.
Please join in on April 13th to put a modern twist on an age-old spirit and show your way to Aqua by using the hashtags #WAD, #howdoyouaqua, #worldaquavitday and by using the logo from our press kit.
For more information:
Mika Raukko
Marketing Director, Nordic Brands
mika.raukko@anora.com
Anora is a leading wine and spirits brand house in the Nordic region and a global industry forerunner in sustainability. Our market-leading portfolio consists of our own iconic Nordic brands and a wide range of prominent international partner wines and spirits. We export to close to 30 markets globally. Anora Group also includes Anora Industrial and logistics company Vectura. In 2024, Anora’s net sales were EUR 692.0 million and the company employs about 1,200 professionals. Anora’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
