Distillery tours
Distillery Tours in Norway
Plan a distillery tour in Norway: 6 distilleries to visit, with tastings and experiences you can book directly. Expect Gin, Craft Spirits, Single Malt and more. Highlights include OSS Craft Distillery, Det Norske Brenneri, Myken Distillery.
6distilleries
OSS Craft Distillery
Bergen's first legal distillery in centuries
Berentsens Brygghus & Destilleri
Brewery and distillery on Norway's southwest coast
About distillery tours in Norway
Norway's distilling scene is young, characterful and shaped by geography. Until the state spirits monopoly was relaxed in the mid-2000s, private distilling was effectively off limits, so almost every Norwegian craft distillery has emerged within the last two decades. What they lack in age they make up for in identity, drawing on dramatic island, coastal and fjord settings, and on aquavit, the caraway-and-dill-led spirit that is a protected Nordic specialty. Det Norske Brenneri in Grimstad was among the pioneers, gaining one of the first private licences and championing Norwegian aquavit traditions. On the west coast, the scene gets genuinely remote: Myken Distillery sits on a tiny island with a handful of residents, Feddie Ocean Distillery on the island of Fedje is the country's certified organic, women-owned distillery, and OSS Craft Distillery near Bergen produces the well-known Bareksten botanical gin. Add Geiranger Brenneri, set amid the celebrated UNESCO fjord, and Berentsens Brygghus & Destilleri in Rogaland, a long-established family firm, and you have a network of distilleries that double as reasons to explore some of Norway's most beautiful corners. Gin, whisky and vodka all feature, but it is aquavit that gives the country its distinctive signature.
Top regions to explore
The west coast is the heartland of Norwegian craft distilling and the most rewarding for travellers. Near Bergen, OSS Craft Distillery offers an accessible base for the region, while Feddie Ocean Distillery on Fedje rewards those who make the island journey with an organic, sustainability-focused experience. Geiranger Brenneri sits within one of Norway's most famous fjord landscapes, making a distillery visit part of a wider scenic adventure. Further north, Myken Distillery occupies a remote island and is a genuine pilgrimage for spirits enthusiasts. In the south, Det Norske Brenneri in Grimstad and Berentsens Brygghus & Destilleri in Rogaland anchor the more established, easily reached end of the scene.
Planning a distillery trip
Norwegian distilleries are typically small and tour-based, so pre-booking is the norm rather than the exception. Many run guided tours of around an hour to ninety minutes that include the production story and a tasting, and several of the island distilleries require planning around ferry timetables. Geiranger Brenneri, for instance, structures visits around its fjord setting, while Berentsens runs private guided tours by pre-booking only. Aim for one or two distilleries within a region rather than trying to cover the whole country, and treat each visit as part of a broader exploration of the surrounding landscape.
Getting around
Norway is large and mountainous, so distances between distilleries are considerable and the country's geography defines how you travel. The west coast involves a memorable mix of driving, tunnels, bridges and ferries, and the island distilleries such as Myken and Feddie are reached by boat, so check sailing schedules carefully. A car is invaluable for the mainland, while Bergen makes a practical gateway to the west-coast scene. Build generous time into your itinerary; the journeys themselves, through fjords and along the coast, are very much part of the experience.
Frequently asked
- What spirit is Norway best known for?
- Aquavit, a caraway and dill-forward spirit that is a protected Nordic specialty. Many Norwegian distilleries make their own version, and it remains the country's signature spirit alongside a fast-growing range of gins and whiskies.
- Why is Norwegian craft distilling so new?
- Private spirits production was heavily restricted under a state monopoly until reforms in the mid-2000s. Det Norske Brenneri was among the first to gain a private licence, and almost all the country's craft distilleries have appeared since.
- Are the island distilleries worth the effort to reach?
- For enthusiasts, very much so. Myken Distillery sits on a tiny island, and Feddie Ocean Distillery on Fedje offers an organic, women-owned story. Both require ferry planning but reward visitors with a real sense of place.
- Do I need to book distillery tours in Norway?
- Almost always. Norwegian distilleries tend to be small and run scheduled or by-appointment tours, with several, such as Berentsens, available by pre-booking only.
- Which distillery is easiest to combine with sightseeing?
- Geiranger Brenneri is set within the famous Geirangerfjord area, making it a natural addition to a fjord-touring itinerary, while OSS Craft Distillery near Bergen is convenient for the western city.
- When is the best time to visit?
- Late spring through summer offers the longest daylight, the most reliable ferry connections and the easiest travel conditions, especially for the west-coast and island distilleries.