Eimverk Distillery Visit

Iceland may be better known for volcanoes and geothermal pools than whisky, but Eimverk Distillery makes a persuasive case for adding local spirits to your trip. This is Iceland’s first and only whisky distillery, and the visit gives you a close look at how barley, native herbs, and patient aging become Flóki whisky, Vor gin, and Víti Brennivín.

I like the small scale and the human touch. The tour is limited to 10 people, and guides such as Richie, Jon, and Rock are known for mixing clear explanations with plenty of humor. I also like that the tasting covers three very different Icelandic drinks, rather than stopping with whisky alone.

The main drawback is location. Eimverk is in Garðabær, outside central Reykjavík, and transportation is not included. You will need to arrange your own bus, taxi, or other ride, and you should not drive after a tasting.

Eimverk Distillery at a glance

• Iceland’s first and only whisky distillery: A useful stop for anyone curious about the country’s newer food and drink culture.
• Three distinct tastings included: Sample Flóki whisky, Vor pot-distilled gin, and Víti, an old-style Icelandic Brennivín.
• Small groups make the visit personal: The activity has a maximum of 10 people.
• About 1 hour and 10 minutes: Long enough for a proper introduction without taking over your day.
• Local ingredients shape the story: The tour explains the use of Icelandic barley, herbs, and botanicals.
• Easy to pair with an evening plan: The 4:00 pm start can work well after sightseeing around Reykjavík, provided you arrange your ride.

Why a distillery visit belongs on an Iceland itinerary

Most first trips to Iceland are packed with waterfalls, black-sand beaches, lava fields, and hot water. Those sights deserve their place, but a distillery visit gives you a different view of the country. You are not simply looking at nature. You are seeing how local producers turn what grows in Iceland into something made for the glass.

Eimverk began making spirits only in recent years compared with the old whisky houses of Scotland and Ireland. That youth is part of the appeal. The tour is not a polished trip through a grand old estate. It is a look at a young Icelandic company working to build a whisky tradition of its own.

You learn how Icelandic barley is used in Flóki, then compare that spirit with Vor gin and Víti Brennivín. The contrast matters. Whisky gives you grain, wood, and time. Gin brings botanicals and a sharper profile. Brennivín, often linked with Icelandic drinking culture, gives you a distinctly local point of comparison.

I like this format because it suits both serious spirit drinkers and curious beginners. You do not need to arrive with a trained palate. One guide begins with a lesson in how to taste spirits, which helps you notice smell, texture, strength, and finish instead of simply deciding if a drink tastes strong.

Arriving in Garðabær from Reykjavík

The distillery is at Lyngás 13 in Garðabær, postal code 210. It is a short trip from Reykjavík, but it is not a central-city attraction you can simply reach on foot from most hotels.

This is the first practical detail to settle before booking. Transportation to and from the distillery is not part of the experience. Some people make the trip by bus, while others use a taxi. The exact transport choice depends on your starting point and the service available on your date.

Plan the return trip before you begin tasting. The tour includes several alcoholic samples, so driving yourself is a poor choice. A taxi is the simplest option if you want door-to-door convenience. If you prefer public transport, check the route and return timing in advance rather than assuming you can sort it out afterward.

The setting is useful for an evening activity because the visit takes roughly an hour. It can follow a day around Reykjavík, or it can fill the final afternoon before your flight home. You will not need to sacrifice a full day of sightseeing.

The booking information gives a 4:00 pm start and also refers to a choice of two start times. Check the exact time shown for your date when you reserve. That small detail matters if you are fitting the visit between a museum, a lagoon, dinner, or an airport transfer.

Inside the one-hour distillery tour

The visit starts with a guided introduction to Eimverk and its spirits. You then learn how Icelandic barley is handled in whisky production and how the distillery approaches its gin and Brennivín.

The production explanation is not just background talk. It helps you understand why a young Icelandic whisky cannot be judged in quite the same way as a whisky from a centuries-old region. The guide explains the choices involved in making the spirits and the work required to shape a local style.

At some point during the visit, you get a look at the distilling process itself. The tour is not a long industrial plant walk, and the available information does not promise access to every production area. Think of it as a compact guided visit with a practical explanation of how the equipment and ingredients fit together.

The Q&A is one of the useful parts of the format. With a maximum of 10 people, you have a better chance to ask about barley, botanicals, ageing, flavor, or Icelandic drinking traditions. The best guides, including Richie and Jon, are described as strong storytellers who keep the session relaxed rather than turning it into a technical lecture.

Expect the mood to be social. Several guides have been praised for being funny and easy to talk with, and one account describes the visit as feeling almost like a relaxed conversation at a bar. That can make the hour more enjoyable, though anyone seeking a very formal whisky seminar may find the tone more casual than expected.

Three tastings, three different Icelandic spirits

The tasting begins with Flóki, Eimverk’s Icelandic whisky. It is made from Icelandic barley, and the tour explains the decisions behind its production. This is the part most likely to interest whisky drinkers, especially if you want to compare a young Icelandic spirit with whisky from better-known producing countries.

The tasting is not limited to one expression. The supplied details identify Flóki whisky as the main whisky sample, while the visit as a whole may include several samples. The exact pours and order can vary, so you should treat the stated three spirits as the foundation of the experience rather than assume a fixed flight of every bottle.

Next comes Vor, a premium pot-distilled gin. This changes the pace of the tasting. Gin gives the guide a chance to discuss botanicals and how local plants affect aroma and flavor. If you normally skip gin, this is still worth trying because it shows a different side of the distillery’s work.

The final named spirit is Víti Brennivín, described as an old-style Icelandic Brennivín made with native herbs and botanicals. Brennivín is an important local drink, and sampling it at the place where it is produced gives you more context than ordering an anonymous shot at a bar.

I like the three-spirit structure because it prevents the visit from becoming too narrow. You can focus on whisky, but you also get a taste of how the same producer handles gin and aquavit-style Brennivín. One tasting account also refers to a surprise drink, though it is not specified in the tour description, so do not book solely expecting a particular extra sample.

Guides who make the difference

The strongest part of this experience is likely to be the person leading it. The guides named in the supplied material include Richie, Jon, and Rock. Each is described as personable, funny, or good at telling stories, with explanations that connect the drinks to Icelandic alcohol culture and production.

Richie is especially associated with a lively, humorous presentation. He is also described as able to explain how Icelandic spirits differ from drinks made in other countries. Jon is noted for using storytelling and even a little magic to keep the group engaged. Rock is described as personable and well informed about the products.

These details matter because the distillery itself is small. You are not relying on a large visitor center with a long list of exhibits. The guide is the bridge between the equipment, the ingredients, and the glass in front of you.

I would expect some variation depending on who leads your session. A great guide can make a modest facility feel warm and memorable. A less theatrical guide might give you a quieter, more technical hour. The core subjects and tastings remain the same, but the personality of the presentation is part of the experience.

The group limit of 10 works in your favor. It should be easier to hear the explanations, ask questions, and speak with the guide than it would be in a large coach group. A smaller group can also make the tasting feel less rushed, though the total visit remains fairly short.

Is $47.50 a fair price?

At $47.50 per person, this is not a budget stop for a quick drink. The price includes the guided tour, the whisky, gin, and Brennivín tastings, alcoholic beverages, and a question-and-answer session with an Eimverk team member.

The value depends on what you want. If you only want to taste one Icelandic whisky, buying a pour at a bar may cost less and take less time. If you want to understand how the drinks are made, compare three styles, and hear the story directly from the distillery, the price is more reasonable.

You are also paying for access to something you cannot duplicate at every Reykjavík bar: a look at Iceland’s only whisky distillery and an explanation of how a local producer is building its products from Icelandic ingredients. That makes the experience more worthwhile for anyone interested in whisky, gin, local food, or small producers.

The price becomes easier to justify if you value conversation and instruction rather than a quick tasting counter. The small group and guide-led format are important here. This is not simply a flight of samples with a printed card.

The one cost often overlooked is transportation. Since no ride is included, add a taxi or bus fare to your budget. A taxi may make the visit simple, but it can also raise the total cost for solo visitors or couples. Keep that in mind before comparing this with a tasting in central Reykjavík.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend Eimverk to whisky drinkers who want to see how a young producer approaches the craft. You will get the most from it if you enjoy asking questions about ingredients, production, and flavor.

It also suits people who usually prefer experiences with a local connection. The use of Icelandic barley, herbs, and botanicals gives the visit a clear sense of place. You are not just sampling imported brands in a tourist bar.

Gin drinkers should consider it even if whisky is not your favorite. Vor receives its own attention, and the tasting lets you compare the character of a pot-distilled gin with whisky and Brennivín.

This can also work well for couples or small groups looking for a relaxed evening activity. The guides use humor, the group is small, and the tour finishes in about an hour. You can then continue to dinner or another evening plan, provided you have arranged transportation.

I would think twice if you do not drink alcohol or have no interest in spirits. The distillery explanation may still be interesting, but the central activity is tasting. This is also not the right pick if you want a long factory tour, a full meal, or a broad sightseeing excursion.

Practical details before you book

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity ends back at the meeting point at Lyngás 13. The ticket is mobile, so you can use it from your phone.

Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed. The group size is capped at 10 people. That small limit is a good reason to book ahead, especially since the experience is booked an average of 29 days in advance.

The cancellation terms are simple but strict near the start time. You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the experience. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted and are not refunded.

Check your date carefully at the time of booking. One booking error resulted in a missed visit because the date could not be changed afterward. This is an easy mistake to avoid, particularly if you are building an Iceland itinerary with several moving parts.

Should you book Eimverk Distillery?

Book it if you want a personal, small-group look at Icelandic spirits and you have room for an evening activity outside central Reykjavík. The combination of Flóki whisky, Vor gin, and Víti Brennivín gives you a broader tasting than a whisky-only stop, and the guides add stories, humor, and useful context.

I would especially choose it for a final afternoon or a quieter day after several outdoor excursions. It is short, indoors, and different from the usual Iceland program.

Skip it if transportation is a problem, if you are avoiding alcohol, or if your main goal is a long and highly technical production tour. For everyone else, the price is fair when you count the three tastings, the small group, and the chance to meet the people behind Iceland’s only whisky.

FAQ

Where is Eimverk Distillery located?

Eimverk Distillery is at Lyngás 13, 210 Garðabær, Iceland.

How long does the distillery visit last?

The experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes. The listed distillery visit itself is described as one hour.

What time does the tour start?

The supplied meeting information gives a 4:00 pm start. The experience also refers to a choice of two start times, so check the available time shown for your booking date.

What drinks are included?

The tasting includes Flóki whisky, Vor gin, and Víti Brennivín. Alcoholic beverages are included in the activity.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation to and from the distillery is not included, so you must arrange your own bus, taxi, or other transport.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity has a maximum of 10 travelers.

Is the ticket available on a phone?

Yes. The experience includes a mobile ticket.

Can I ask questions during the visit?

Yes. The tour includes a question-and-answer session with a member of the Eimverk team.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes. Service animals are allowed.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted and are not refunded.