Brennivín is the Icelandic spirit associated with caraway and traditionally made from a distilled grain or potato-based spirit.
Its name is an Icelandic form of an old Nordic word meaning “burnt wine,” a historical term for distilled liquor. Caraway became an important flavoring because it was available in Iceland and helped make plain spirits more distinctive. Brennivín is generally clear, savory, and herbal, with a flavor sometimes compared to rye bread.
The drink is a type of aquavit and is commonly bottled at 37.5% alcohol by volume. Although the quiz’s potato description reflects the broader Nordic tradition of potato-based spirits, modern Brennivín is also described as being distilled from fermented grain mash. The defining combination for the Icelandic style is the spirit’s caraway flavor and national association.
Brennivín became closely linked with Iceland’s alcohol history after partial prohibition was repealed in 1935. Its stark black-and-white label, once featuring a skull, helped inspire the nickname “Black Death.” It is often served chilled, as a shot, with beer, or alongside hákarl, Icelandic fermented shark.