"Produced in Scandinavia since the 15th century, Aquavit is a distilled beverage that is flavored with either caraway or dill seed, among other botanicals, and in Sweden must also include fennel. The name is derived from the Latin “aqua vitae” – water of life – which has the same etymology as the Gaelic word for whiskey.
Aquavit is an important part of Nordic culture and can often be found at Christmas or Midsummer celebrations as an aperitif. In Iceland, Sweden, and Denmark, it’s consumed cold, but in Norway, it’s traditionally not chilled and meant to be savored. Each distillery makes their own unique version of Aquavit, and there is much controversy in Scandinavia about whose is the best." www.breyerhorses.com.