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Whose: Atle Minothi (44)
What: Aquatic ambassador at Anora.
Why: Christmas is the high season of the aquavit.
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Good day, Mr. Aquatic Ambassador. Bit of a title huh? What is a typical working day like for an Aquavit ambassador?
– Good day! I’m actually the only one with that title in the whole world. And of course I wear it with great pride. The job is about being an external face for the Norwegian akevitte. And then it is first and foremost important to get out into the field and spread the message about a Norwegian drinking culture with roots going back to the 16th century. Norwegian raw materials are in the air like never before, so there is no shortage of places that want visitors. Especially before Christmas, the calendar gets packed.
It’s that time of year again, when we have to choose drinks for the Christmas meal. And aquavit is, as always, a clear favorite with many. But it is not easy to choose in a jungle of noble drinks. How much do we have to choose from?
– You can get almost 400 varieties at the pole. And there has been a small explosion in recent years. Although it will take a while to get back to the heyday when 11,000 small farm distilleries were registered in the country. It was in 1833 and with a population of only 900,000. We will probably not return there, but for those who think there are enough aquavits now, just count the red wines for sale. There are over 15,000. So being the spirits nation that we are after all, we still have a way to go. But in any case, quality is more important than quantity. We make a fantastic spirit in this country that is noticed far beyond the country’s borders, and we must certainly be proud of that.
Norwegian aquevit can be described as a balance between spice and barrel notes. So you should ideally feel both parts when you taste.
— Atle Minothi, aquavit ambassador
How many new types come out each year?
– This year, there have been almost 100 new aquavits on the market. Some are new and others are new vintages.
Now that you taste aquavits, what do you focus on then?
– Norwegian aquevit can be described as a balance between spice and barrel notes. So you should ideally feel both parts when you taste. You can then use many different spices apart from caraway or dill, and also many types of barrels. So the scope is large. And then it must always be assessed against what it will be used for. It can be both exciting with a classic aquavit style that is well made, but also a new and exciting flavor that adds something new to the category.
We think of aquavit first and foremost for Christmas food on Christmas Eve. What else can you drink aquavit for?
– The akevitten and the Christmas food go together like a glove. All our beloved and traditional meals find their best match in the akevitten. The food and akevitten have developed together in Norway for 500 years, so you can probably say that the concept is well-tested and approved. Both the flavor and alcohol in the aquavit balance smoked, raked, salted, pickled and cured food in an ideal way. But aquavit is also suitable for shellfish in the summer and a grilled burger with blue cheese and caramelized onions. Or in cocktails or as avec. There is an aquavit for most things.
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Do you have to have food for aquavit?
– In fact, akevitten is one of the few spirits categories in the world that is mostly used for food. But not everyone knows that aquavit is also perfect in cocktails, so if you want to try something new, I recommend Lysholm Blank 52 and tonic as an aperitif for the Christmas party. A so-called Aqua Tonic, or AT. Serve with star anise as a topping. Perhaps it is the start of a new tradition?
How important is the glass?
– It should definitely have a tulip shape for the sake of taste. Riedel has a very good glass. Otherwise, a good gift idea for those who only have shot glasses in the cupboard.
So the avoidable question. Should aquavit be served cold or at room temperature?
– You can serve an uncooked aquavit slightly chilled. It is also common for the Swedish and Danish Akevites. But our barrel-aged Norwegians are served at room temperature, or more precisely 16–18 degrees.
What kind of aquavit do you drink with your Christmas dinner?
– With us, it has always been Gilde Christmas ice cream for the ribs. For pork chops we have the Løiten Linie (which has a little extra flavor) and for the lutefish the round and elegant Gammel Opland.
You were also appointed honorary member of Norske Akevitters Venner. What does that mean to you?
– A great honour, but I am humble enough to understand that it is the movement that moves the mountain, not an individual member. Now we are probably bigger than both Venstre and MDG, so that says something about both the interest in the akevitte and the power behind the association. 8,000 members cannot be misunderstood. Aquavit is culture!
Which book has meant the most to you?
– I read “Stoner” by John Williams some time ago and it was thought-provoking about what is defined today as being a successful person. A fairly ordinary life can contain great wealth. Something to think about for generation achievement.
What makes you happy?
– My family, my friends, an exciting job and a huge portion of oysters served with a chilled clear aquavit.
Who was your childhood hero?
– I grew up in a social democratic family. We took the May Day train and looked up to Gro and Gerhardsen. But there was also room for “He-man”, and then I was very interested in adventurers like Nansen and Amundsen. I am quite a dreamer and have many times seen myself standing with the flag at the North Pole. But have never been further north than Tromsø.
What do you dislike most about yourself?
– Too stubborn.
What do you do when you poop?
– I love splurging on really good food made with the best ingredients. When you otherwise have to be sensible in the animal age, this is a welcome valve. It’s important to save, but I’ve found that I need a little luxury in life too.
What are you willing to march against?
– I’m far too bad at it. But I look with horror at the level of conflict in the world and would like to demonstrate against the war in Ukraine, which it feels like we have given up on.
Who would you rather be stuck in the elevator with?
– Donald Trump and Elon Musk. I wish I had become a little wiser.
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