Are you wondering what alcohol in Iceland you should try? Discover 10 delicious Iceland drinks, including beers, liqueurs, spirits, and cocktails. Plus, learn a little more about Iceland’s illicit relationship with beer.

If you are headed to Iceland and wondering what to drink next, we got you! Nothing beats coming back to your hotel after a long day of waterfall and glacier chasing and warming up with a famous Icelandic spirit.
Iceland’s liquors are sweet and nostalgic of the land, and their whiskeys will put the ‘fire’ in the ‘land of fire and ice.’ Icelandic beers range from hoppy and light to deep and nutty, and you cannot skip a drink at the Blue Lagoon. All are delicious.
Who knew that Icelandic alcohol was so plentiful and good, especially after such a long period of Prohibition? Keep on reading for the history of alcohol in Iceland along with delicious Iceland spirits, our favorite Icelandic liqueurs, and the endless flights of beer we devoured.
Let’s get started!

A History Of Alcohol In Iceland: Icelandic Prohibition
Did you know that Iceland had a rather long and modern Prohibition period? No drinking in Iceland for you, TUL.
From 1915-1989, boozy bloggers could hardly find a drink in the land of fire and ice. Seen as a progressive move with support from women — who still technically could not vote — Iceland banned the booze.
I’d probably become an illegal homebrewer, too, and top it all off with some suspenders, fishnets, and a pageboy hat. These are my Prohibition fantasies.
I honestly cannot believe how long the Icelandic ban on beer lasted. March 1st, 1989 is Bjordagur, “Beer Day,” when Icelanders could enjoy their first legal cold brew.
To be fair, Iceland legalized wine in 1922, and by 1935, everything but beer and beverages with less than 2.25% alcohol could be kicked back publicly.
Why the dry? Politically, beer drinking in Iceland had a Danish association. Iceland fought hard to become an independent republic by 1944. Personally, I don’t think the 1918 date counts. Go ahead historians, troll me.
I know, it is hard to imagine being deemed non-patriotic by drinking beer when today in the U.S. we have far worst symbols appearing…
Alcohol In Iceland Today
With all of this tipsy history, when we headed to Iceland, I was ready to enjoy ALL the bevies. We found craft breweries in Reykjavík and Vík, did not tour but enjoyed whiskeys and liquors from local distilleries, and of course, tried a few craft cocktails.
These are a few of my favorite alcoholic beverages in Iceland. Some you cannot miss while others are just personal preference. We all know Reyka Vodka, but what else is there to drink in Iceland?
Plus, you need something to warm up your soul on those chilly glacier-filled days. Let our history and booze-filled Icelandic tour begin.
10 Must-Try Icelandic Drinks, Spirits, And Liquors
Where should you grab a delicious Icelandic drink? Who makes the best Icelandic beer? These are our personal favorite Icelandic liquors, drinks, and spirits. Find what you should drink next while traveling around Iceland.
Brennivín
Iceland's signature distilled beverage is Brennivín, a clear schnapps. More intense, this bad boy is better known as "Black Death."
Why? Black labels covered ugly green bottles to allegedly deter alcohol drinkers. People also drank a lot of Brennivín and blacked out.
Brennivín is an Aquavit or Akvavit and definitely rocked it during the Icelandic beer ban. Cheap and accessible, this licorice-tasting substance gained fame.
Get ready for a boozy etymology lesson, too:
While Brennivín differs from Vodka, being a flavored spirit, it is pretty similar.
Brennivín loosely translates to "burning wine," whereas vodka comes from the Slavic word "voda," meaning water.
Add voda to aquavit, and we have the "water of life," or aqua vitae. My kind of language. Brennivín is produced over an open flame, hence its more charred name.
Although I mostly discovered Sambuca-like flavors, Brennivín is said to have notes of cumin, caraway, and dill. My palate just isn't that refined.
Víking Beer
Why are we so fascinated with the Vikings? Because they drank ale and mead, of course!
There is a historical debate about when the Norsemen started consuming the good stuff.
We found Víking beer listed on almost every bar and restaurant menu in Iceland. I felt like I was looking at Bud.
I remember reading a few reviews that agreed this beer isn't mind-blowing. For the longest time, I stayed away.
However, Víking beer is a classic Iceland drink that you cannot skip. An old school lager, Víking Gylltur is actually pretty smooth and not as watery as you'd think.
I wouldn't go crazy ordering more than one, but when in Iceland...
Víking is brewed in Akureyri, Iceland
Flóki Whiskey
I love a drink that burns like the ice on your feet at the Blue Lagoon. For fiery Iceland spirits, my recommendation? Flóki Single Malt Whiskey.
Founded in 2009, Flóki produces whiskey, premium gin, and of course the Icelandic liquor specialty, Brennivín.
Unfortunately, we did not have time to tour the Eimverk Distillery, which is home to Iceland's first whiskey. I blame the snow and that must-see Golden Circle.
The distillery is only about 20 to 25-minutes outside of downtown Reykjavík.
Beer from Borg Brugghús
Like the popular Einstök beer, Borg Brugghús has quite the beer monopoly.
Borg beers, like Víking, exist all over Iceland. You cannot go wrong with sampling them throughout your Icelandic vacation.
My Iceland Borg beer of choice: the Nordic Saison. After a few, I'm sure that you, too, can channel your inner Viking.
My favorite tidbit of knowledge here is that one of the brewers, Árnason, likes to ferment everything: sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, and kombucha to name a few. A man after my own heart.
Birkir Snaps
When I say Birkir, I mean the Icelandic snaps and not the soccer [American soccer] player. I still don't quite understand the difference between schnapps and snaps beside the more Swedish origin.
Known for using natural ingredients, the Foss Distillery produces Birkir. Hoping to capture nature in a bottle, this Iceland drink is pretty dang poetic.
Best described by Foss Distillery:
"Our aim with Björk and Birkir is to capture the experience of a spring night in Iceland, the moment when, after [the] rain has cleared, the dew settles on the leaves of the birch trees on a wooded hillside."
I think the Foss Distillery might be the new Walt Whitman of
booze. I think I might be in love.
With that said, Birkir is infused with Icelandic birch, tasting a bit deliciously woody. I am not a poet.
64° Reykjavík Distillery's Blueberry Liqueur
Imagine sipping on sweet Icelandic blueberries after dinner. On Valentine's Day, we have to honor those that we love.
If you are a sweet port drinker, this Icelandic liquor is for you.
Established in 2009, the Reykjavík Distillery offers a unique story similar to the hidden people you can read about in Sarah Moss's Names for the Sea.
Local elf, Benedikt -- on an edict from his King -- presented distilling methods to the institution. These secrets included small-batch distillation, the art of using locally produced products, and natural infusion.
That's one smart little elf, and personally, I love the hidden people and elfish traditions and beliefs carried across the Icelandic landscape.
I hope that drinking more of this sweet Icelandic alcoholic beverage puts me on the elf 'A' list. There is only one way to find out.
An Eclectic Brew From RVK Brewing Company
I loved RVK Brewing in downtown Reykjavík. While we walked from our hotel, you can also drive over to enjoy an Icelandic beer flight.
Founded by a former NYC finance guru, RVK offers a selection of great beers ranging from white and sour to dark and barrel infused. The taproom is open for pints and flights, and you can also email for a tour.
Imagine sipping local Icelandic beers while watching the snow drift down from the sky as you await your fresh fish dinner reservations.
Ensconced in a small faux DJ station in one corner and tanks for brewing in another, I could have relaxed here all afternoon.
Smiðjan Brugghús Beer
It's no secret that we loved Vík, and for Icelandic drinks paired with the Northern Lights, you cannot go wrong.
Vík is also a great rest stop along Ring Road to see the glaciers. After this boozy Icelandic alcohol list, you can check out our 7-Day Iceland Itinerary to make sure you don't miss the Smiðjan Brugghús.
If you are looking for delicious burgers and a huge selection of beer, Smiðjan is the place to be. Not only do they produce their own draft beers, but they also showcase a large variety of Icelandic brews.
My husband, who has Celiacs, also found a delicious rhubarb cider here -- claimed to be the only one produced in Iceland.
Mori Red Ale from Ölvisholt Brugghús
I loved this Mori Red Ale from Ölvisholt Brugghús. Located in Selfoss, we sadly did not make it to the brewery itself.
The taproom is in a former cowshed; I'm feeling pretty bummed that we missed out since we got married in a barn.
I'm not going to lie: the snow and ice made us wimp out, and we instead settled on a tavern lunch in Selfoss. I have so many regrets here.
Opened in 2007, this microbrewery is located at an old dairy farm close to the magnificence of southern Ring Road. Although we missed the actual brewery, I sampled their beers next to Skógafoss in Skógar.
I'm not going to lie. This brew tasted even better watching the falls and birds from a toasty tourist pitstop. I am a sellout.
Any Drink At The Blue Lagoon
With all of this boozy history, let's talk about an alcoholic drink with a splash of warm water. Don't forget to pick up your free drink at the Blue Lagoon Spa.
We arrived at the Blue Lagoon at 8 AM in the morning, which might be a little early to drink, even for us. Who am I kidding here?
We floated around for awhile debating when it was socially acceptable to grab our free Icelandic drink. The Blue Lagoon offers beer and wine selections plus smoothies and juice.
Notably, we also couldn't find the bar in the dark. Commence panic mode.
Much bigger than expected, the Blue Lagoon pool has pockets of tucked-away areas. Face masks are easy to find.
The bar took a second to find, and the minute we saw others with drinks, we went on the hunt for ours.
The bar is to the right once you slide into the toasty waters.
Mimosas are not on the menu, but somehow I scored one anyway. I looked sad, thirsty, and tired.
Coming straight from a red-eye flight with no sleep, this little drink powered me up...for a nap.
There is always this option at the penis museum…

So, Why Icelandic Alcohol?
I truly believe that alcohol in Iceland — like most other places — is ingrained in a country’s identity and history. Alcohol is important to history. Like Anthony Bourdain’s relationship with food, we understand a culture and place over a meal and drinks.
From elves and natural elements to passion and just good conversation, Iceland infuses heritage and nature into their booze.
To me, Iceland’s drinks combine Mother Nature into fiery beverages meant to warm the soul like the Blue Lagoon or light up your taste buds just like the Nothern Lights light up the sky.
Plus, the country had such a divisive relationship with alcohol, I’m more than intrigued. Today, Icelanders are still known for drinking less than their European counterparts.
In many ways, this is how I choose to study and greet Iceland.
What is your favorite Iceland spirit or liquor?
What do you like to drink while in Iceland? What is your favorite Icelandic beer? Have you tried any of the Icelandic alcoholic drinks above? Let us know in the comments.
This post originally published on March 12, 2019 and has been updated for 2021.
Looking For Places To Stay In Iceland?
If you are searching for places to stay in Iceland, don’t miss these Airbnb Stays.
You can also check out these Hotels Around Reykjavik and the Golden Circle.

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First-Timers Guide To The Blue Lagoon Spa and Retreat
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Headed For A Road On Ring Road? Check Out These Southern Iceland Waterfalls
Grab Our 7-Day Iceland Itinerary
Macey @ Brine & Books
Monday 22nd of February 2021
I always forget that Iceland was living under their own prohibition so late in the 20th century!! That's wild. I loved the descriptions of each drink, they all sound pretty good tbh. I only became legal a few months ago, so the extent of my alcoholic palette is sparkly spritzers/rose :') I've gotta try some of these at some point for sure!
Christine
Wednesday 24th of February 2021
Isn't that wild!? I had no idea until we arrived in Iceland and started reading about their Prohibition. Congrats on the big Birthday! Sparkly spritzers are wonderful. I'll have to make up some literary cocktails for you soon.
Crystal
Tuesday 26th of March 2019
I've never had port, so I can't be certain I would like this but I would try the Blueberry Liqueur. Viking beer does sound pretty cool though! I must say, I love that you have prohibition fantasies hahahaha! You'd look great in one of those pageboy hats.
Christine
Thursday 28th of March 2019
We have this speakeasy restaurant in Ocala, FL. I just want so badly to rock some old fashioned clothes while drinking an Old Fashioned.
Is this awful...I feel like I am making raging stereotypes...but I feel like I needed Viking everything in Iceland.
Keri
Friday 22nd of March 2019
I did manage to try some of the beers in Iceland, but did not go down the liquor route...until I hit that duty-free section of the airport, and came home with some samples. I haven't broken into them yet, but I am sure that I will soon. Alcohol really does reflect a place. It is in how they use what they have to create the flavors. I like that. It seems romantic.
Also, I totally understand how you feel about Vik. I still remember the first time I saw it as we drove down the hill and could see the church on the hill. Wow. The whole town is charming, and we also had a lovely date with some Icelandic horses there. The food! The beaches! The quiet charm! How can one resist?
Christine
Sunday 24th of March 2019
That is so much fun! I had heard how we should try the duty-free booze but was just too tired to care by that point. LOL. I am kind of jealous and now having regrets. Shameful for a boozy blogger, really. I cannot wait to hear what you think when you try them. Please let me know! It will be so nice to have a piece of Iceland home with you.
Did you get to go horseback riding? I am heading over to your blog after this since I see you have two new Iceland posts up. GO YOU!! You are on it. Vik definitely touched my heart.
Dee
Tuesday 19th of March 2019
Amazing as always. After reading your blog I am always hyped to go wherever you are writing about. Love love love this post. And you look gorge!
Christine
Sunday 24th of March 2019
Thank you! I was so cold 24/7 that my cheeks were a constant rosy red. LOL!
Barbara
Tuesday 19th of March 2019
I tried the Viking beer when I was there and really liked it. Also had a drink at the Blue Lagoon swim up bar. I want to go back to Iceland!
Christine
Tuesday 19th of March 2019
I thought the Viking beer was surprisingly good too! I would drink it again. P.S. Me too--I'll go back to Iceland any day!