Skål! Scandinavian Spirits
Heritage Hall
through October 8

Skål! Scandinavian Spirits shares the history and traditions of drinking culture in the Scandinavian countries, and begins to explain how those traditions were carried into the U.S, focusing on two drinks in particular: beer and aquavit, a distillate that means "the water of life."

Scandinavians have brewed beer for over 1,500 years. In pre-Christian times, the Norse god Odin was even credited with teaching humans how to brew beer, influencing the role of beer in worship and offering. Beer was also a major component of battle victory celebrations and sometimes drinking challenges. In the 1500s, distilled liquor proliferated throughout the Nordic countries, first highlighted as a tonic or medical cure-all and subsequently growing into a popular social and recreational custom. These early distillates often possessed terrible flavors, so herbs and other plants were used to improve the taste - a process that brought about aquavit.

From the Museum of Danish America, we bring you Skål!

Skål: Scandinavian Spirits is presented by Aalborg and Linie Aquavits. The exhibition was organized by the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, Iowa.

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Also, join us for Scandinavian Cocktails and Skål! on Tuesday, July 24, from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at the Hjemkomst Center. Museum of Danish America curator Tova Brandt will lead an exhibition tour at 6:30PM and Proof Artisan Distillers will be on hand serving both samples and cocktails, heavy on the aquavit. Click here for info & tickets. 

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