Reykjavik: Eimverk Distillery Guided Tour with Tasting

Iceland makes more than hot pools. At Eimverk Distillery, you get a close look at the country’s young but inventive spirit industry, from Icelandic barley to finished bottles of Flóki whiskey, Vor gin, and Víti Brennivín. The small-group tasting is the heart of the experience, with a guide explaining how each drink is made and how to taste it.

I like the way the tour connects alcohol production with Iceland’s own past, including the effect of prohibition and the challenge of making spirits in a cold island nation. I also like the personal feel. Guides such as Rock, Paul, Niko, and Eva have been praised for their humor, storytelling, and clear explanations. The main drawback is location: the distillery is outside central Reykjavik, and a taxi can be costly. The bus is cheaper, but you will need to walk from the stop.

Five things to know before you go

• This is Iceland’s only whiskey distillery: Eimverk produces Flóki, described as Iceland’s first and only whiskey.
• The tasting can be much larger than expected: The official experience includes three premium spirits, but the selection may include several versions of the company’s whiskey, gin, and other products.
• The production visit is short but useful: You see the working facility and follow the process from barley harvesting to the final spirit.
• Guide quality is a major strength: Rock, Paul, Niko, and Eva are among the guides singled out for being warm, funny, and well informed.
• Eat before you arrive: Food is not included, and the tasting can involve many pours.
• Bus number 1 reaches the area: Ride from downtown Reykjavik to Ásgarður, then walk about eight minutes.

Why Eimverk makes an interesting Reykjavik stop

Iceland is not the first country that comes to mind when you think of whiskey. Scotland, Ireland, Kentucky, and Japan usually get there first. That is precisely why Eimverk makes a good stop. You are not visiting a centuries-old distillery with generations of inherited methods. You are seeing a young company work out how to make premium spirits in Iceland using local ingredients where possible.

The tour gives you more than a basic look at copper stills and storage tanks. You hear how the company developed its whiskey, why Icelandic barley matters, and how local conditions affect production. The story also touches on Iceland’s history of prohibition, giving the tasting a cultural angle rather than treating it as a simple drinking session.

I find that useful because it gives context to the bottles. Flóki is not merely a whiskey with an Icelandic label. It represents an attempt to create an Icelandic style from ingredients that can be grown or gathered locally. Vor gin and Víti Brennivín show how the distillery applies the same spirit-making approach to other drinks.

The 75-minute visit, from welcome drink to final pour

The experience begins in the tasting room with an introduction to Eimverk and a welcome drink. This opening helps set the tone. You are not rushed straight into a technical lecture or sent immediately to the machinery. The guide first explains where you are and what the company makes.

Next comes a short account of whiskey in Iceland and how Eimverk began producing it. This is a good point to ask questions. The tour works best when you treat it as a conversation rather than a speech. Guides have been praised for answering questions clearly and for adapting the discussion to the interests of the group.

The first part of the tasting follows. You learn about the products as you sample them, including the thinking behind their creation and how the recipes have developed. The official package promises tastings of three premium spirits: Flóki Icelandic whiskey, Vor Premium Gin, and Víti Brennivín.

In practice, the amount poured can vary. Some sessions have included a broad selection of whiskey and gin expressions, with several tasters grouped together so you can compare them. Reports of nine, twelve, or even thirteen samples should not be treated as a guarantee, but they show that the tasting may be more generous than the basic description suggests.

After the first sampling, you move into the production area. Here, the guide explains the process from the beginning: barley harvesting, preparation of the grain, fermentation, distillation, and the steps that lead to the finished drink. You can take photographs of the machinery and working area, subject to the guide’s instructions.

You then return to the tasting room for the second half. This arrangement works well. The production visit breaks up the alcohol tasting, and the drinks make more sense after you have seen the equipment and heard how much work goes into each bottle.

The production area explains what the tasting room cannot

The working facility is the most important part of the tour for anyone who wants to understand spirits rather than simply sample them. In the tasting room, a bottle can seem like a finished idea. In the production area, you see the practical steps and the amount of time involved.

The barley-to-bottle explanation is particularly valuable. Eimverk’s approach is closely tied to Icelandic ingredients, and the guide explains how the company tries to use local materials where possible. This includes the role of Icelandic barley in Flóki and the botanical choices behind the gin.

The tour also gives you a sense of the problems faced by a small Icelandic producer. Iceland is remote, its climate is demanding, and the local whiskey industry has only a short past. The company’s story is therefore part business history and part experiment.

Do not expect a giant industrial plant or a long factory walk. This is a compact distillery visit, and the production portion is not the longest part of the 75 minutes. If you want hours of machinery, aging warehouses, and a large museum, this may feel brief. If you want a clear introduction tied directly to what you are drinking, the balance is sensible.

Flóki whiskey, Vor gin, and Víti Brennivín

The official tasting includes three names worth remembering.

Flóki is Eimverk’s Icelandic whiskey and the main reason many people book. The presentation explains how Eimverk developed the spirit and how Icelandic barley shapes the product. Several tasting sessions have included different ages or expressions, allowing you to compare how the whiskey changes.

Vor Premium Gin offers a different route into the distillery’s work. If you think you do not like whiskey, gin may make the experience more appealing. One useful feature is that the tasting lets you compare related spirits made by the same producer, rather than treating gin and whiskey as unrelated products.

Víti Brennivín brings you to a distinctly Icelandic drink. Brennivín is traditionally associated with Iceland, and tasting it at a local distillery helps place it in the country’s drinking culture. The guide explains the products as you go, so you are not left guessing why one spirit tastes different from another.

The selection can also include unusual experimental versions. Past tastings have featured Icelandic birch whiskey and a smoked sheep dung whiskey. That second name sounds like a joke, but it is a real example of Eimverk’s willingness to use distinctive Icelandic ideas in its production. You may find such special expressions on your session, but they are not part of the guaranteed three-spirit promise.

The guide also teaches you how to taste properly, including how to notice different aromas and flavors. This matters even if you are new to spirits. You do not need to arrive as a whiskey expert. A good guide gives you a way to compare the drinks without making you feel tested.

The guides make the difference

The strongest feature of this experience is the person leading it. Rock has been praised for his humor, technical explanations, and ability to keep conversation moving. Paul has been described as both a good storyteller and a skilled bartender, while Niko has been praised for his friendly, interactive style. Eva has been noted for linking the distillery’s story with Icelandic history.

That range of feedback points to a consistent strength: the tour depends on human warmth as much as on equipment. The guide does not simply list ingredients and production stages. You hear anecdotes, ask questions, and discuss what you taste.

Small groups add to that feeling. Some sessions have had only two or four people, while others have included around ten. A smaller group gives you more time to ask about particular bottles and makes the tasting more relaxed. A larger group can be livelier, but you may have less one-to-one time.

The quality of the guide matters even more because the tour is only 75 minutes. A dull presentation would make the experience feel thin. A lively guide can fit history, production, tasting advice, and conversation into a compact visit.

Getting to Eimverk from central Reykjavik

The distillery is not in the middle of the old harbor area, so plan your transport before you book. From downtown Reykjavik, take bus number 1 to Ásgarður. From there, the walk to the distillery takes about eight minutes.

The bus is the sensible budget choice. Several people have found it easy, reliable, and inexpensive, though you should allow enough time to locate the entrance and walk from the stop. The directions are simple, but the setting is less central than many Reykjavik attractions.

A taxi is more direct, especially in bad weather or if you are carrying luggage. It can also be expensive. One reported taxi fare was about £40 each way from Reykjavik, so check the likely price before choosing this option. Other visitors found a taxi easy to request after the tasting, with one arriving within five minutes.

Parking details have not always been obvious, though parking in front of the entrance has worked without trouble. If you are driving, use the address and arrival instructions provided when booking, and allow a few extra minutes to find the correct entrance.

Why the $48 price can be good value

At $48 per person, this is not a cheap drink stop. Iceland is expensive, and you should not judge the price only by the number of liquid samples in your glass.

The value comes from the combination of a guided production visit, a welcome drink, tasting instruction, three included premium spirits, and the chance to sample additional expressions when available. You also receive background on Icelandic whiskey, local ingredients, and the history of the distillery. For someone who already enjoys whiskey or gin, that package is stronger than simply buying a cocktail in central Reykjavik.

The price makes less sense if you are not interested in spirits and plan to avoid most of the tasting. You also need to budget for transport, since hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and food is not provided.

I would compare it with the cost of a good evening drink in Reykjavik, then add the value of the production explanation and guided tasting. If you enjoy learning how drinks are made, $48 is reasonable. If you want a low-cost sightseeing activity, choose something else.

Practical tips for a better tasting

Eat a proper meal or snack before you arrive. Food is not included, and the samples may add up quickly, especially if the session includes more than the advertised three spirits. This is one of the clearest pieces of practical advice for the tour.

Arrive with questions. You might ask how Icelandic barley differs from barley used elsewhere, how gin botanicals are selected, or why a whiskey expression tastes smoky. The guide is there to explain, and the conversational format rewards curiosity.

Do not assume you need to like whiskey. The gin and Brennivín broaden the experience, and the tasting method helps beginners identify what they prefer. A non-whiskey drinker may find the gin more appealing, while a serious whiskey fan will likely want to compare several Flóki expressions.

If you hope to take a bottle home, remember Iceland’s flight rules. Full-size bottles must go in checked luggage unless you buy them after security at the airport. One useful option is to purchase Eimverk bottles at airport duty-free, where the final cost can be lower because taxes make up a large part of the regular price. The distillery may also sell smaller bottles, glasses, and non-liquid souvenirs such as volcanic rock coasters.

The experience is for adults aged 18 and over. It is wheelchair accessible, and tours are offered in English and Icelandic. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, and reserve now while paying later if that option suits your plans.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it first to whiskey and gin drinkers, especially anyone interested in small producers and unusual ingredients. It also suits couples, friends, and curious solo visitors who enjoy a social tasting with a guide rather than a formal museum tour.

It is a good rainy-day choice in Reykjavik. The visit is mostly indoors, and the 75-minute length fits neatly into a day of sightseeing. It can also make a fun final activity before leaving Iceland, especially if you plan to buy a bottle or a small souvenir.

You may want to skip it if you dislike alcohol, need a central walking-distance attraction, or want a long technical tour of a large distillery. The production section is relatively compact, and the tasting is the main event.

FAQ

Where is Eimverk Distillery located?

Eimverk Distillery is in the Capital Region of Iceland, outside central Reykjavik.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts 75 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $48 per person.

What spirits are included in the tasting?

The included tasting features Flóki Icelandic whiskey, Vor Premium Gin, and Víti Brennivín.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included, so it is sensible to eat before the tasting.

Can children join the tour?

No. The experience is not suitable for children under 18.

What languages are available?

The live tour is offered in English and Icelandic.

Is the distillery wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

How do I reach the distillery by bus?

Take bus number 1 from downtown Reykjavik to Ásgarður, then walk about eight minutes to the distillery.

Is hotel transportation included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to arrange your own bus, taxi, or other transport.

Should you book the Eimverk Distillery tour?

Book it if you want a personal look at Iceland’s young whiskey industry and enjoy tasting spirits with a guide who can explain what is in the glass. The combination of Flóki, Vor, and Víti gives you a useful introduction to Icelandic drinking culture, while the production visit shows how local barley and other ingredients become finished products.

I especially like this tour for visitors who want something beyond Reykjavik’s usual sights. Just eat first, plan the ride to Ásgarður, and remember that the advertised three tastings may turn into a much larger session. For a spirit enthusiast, $48 is a fair price for the setting, instruction, and range. For everyone else, the location and alcohol focus are good reasons to think twice.