To truly understand the deep-rooted drinking culture of Iceland, you have to go back to the Viking Age, 874 AD, when Norse settlers first brought their love for mead and ale to the uninhabited island’s rugged shores. Central to celebrations and social life, mead was a luxury made from precious honey, and ale was an everyday staple brewed from barley. But, as Iceland developed, its harsh climate and isolation made grain cultivation difficult, forcing Icelanders to rely on imported spirits like aquavit, which later evolved into Brennivín, the country’s signature drink.
