Bivrost
the nine worlds of Norse mythology
Niflheim
Niflheim (“world of fog”) is one of the Nine Worlds of Norse mythology and the homeland of darkness, cold, mist, and ice.
In Snorre Sturlasson’s “Edda”, the place is referred to as a cold and misty place where the ice is several meters thick and holds the earth with an iron grip. Niflheim borders the void in the middle, the pit of Ginnungagap.
NIflheim is considered the counterpart to Muspelheim, the world of fire and heat. With the heat from Muspelheim and the cold from Niflheim, fog was created and became everlasting.
The first being, the giant Ymir, was born when ice from Niflheim and fire from Muspelheim met in the middle of Ginnungagap. Ymir fed on the milk of the primeval cow, Audhumbla. He is the ancestor of all Jötnar. Ymirs’ flesh was later used to create the earth and sea. Those who do not die a heroic or remarkable death roam in Niflheimr forever.
| Brand | Bivrost |
| No. of bottles | 1622 |
Country Region | Norway Lyngen Alps |
Cask Maturation Distilled Bottled | Triple cask Matured 2016 2020 |
| Size | 50cl |
| ABV / Strength | 46% |
| Age | Year Old |
| Varietal | Single Malt |
Nidavellir
Nidavellir is one of the nine worlds of norse mythology. It is described as a dark place with golden halls. The king in Nidavellir is called Hreiðmar and because of greed, his son was turned into a dragon – Fafnir – who guards the kings hall. Later Fafnir is killed by Sigurd and his sword “Gram”. Nidavellir is home to the dwarves that forged the chain “Gleipnir”, which they used to bind the wolf Fenrir.
The description of Nidavellir comes from “Voluspa”, which is the first and best known poem of the Poetic Edda (Collection of old Norse poems). It tells the story of the creation of the world and its coming end, related to the audience by a völva (seeress) addressing Odin. In the poem of Völuspá it says: “Stóð fyr norðan á Niðavǫllum salr ór golli Sindra ættar, ęn annarr stóð á Ókólni, bjórsalr jǫtuns,ęn sá Brimir hęitir”. This part of the creation poem of Völuspá connects the bloodline of Sindri to a Viking called Sindri to a golden hall and there is aslso giant called Brimir.
| Brand | Bivrost |
| No. of bottles | 2496 |
Country Region | Norway Lyngen Apls |
Cask Maturation
Distilled Bottled | Matured in predominantly bourbon quarter casks and barrels from Heaven Hill but were finished in some special casks from a famous Islay distillery. The casks used for finishing the Nidavellir are French Oak casks (European Oak) which were initially used by a renowned winery in New Zealand to mature their Pinot Noir. 2017 2020 |
| Size | 50cl |
| ABV / Strength | 46% |
| Age | Year Old |
| Varietal | Single Malt |
Muspelheim
Muspelheim is one of the Nine Worlds of Norse mythology. It has been described as a hot and glowing land of fire, home to the fire giants and guarded by the jotunn Surtr with his flaming sword. Muspelheim has a significant role in both the creation of the world and its ultimate end. In the sagas, fire from Muspelheim and ice from Niflheim meet in the middle of the void of Ginnungagap and forge the giant Ymir and the world. When the fire giant Surtr and his sons ride over the northern light bridge, Bivrost, it will be the end of days, or as it is called in the old sagas; Ragnarok:
In the midst of this clash and din the heavens are rent in twain,
and the sons of Muspell come riding through the opening.
Surtr rides first, and before him and after him flames burning fire.
He has a very good sword, which shines brighter than the sun.
As they ride over Bifrost it breaks to pieces, as has before been stated.
The sons of Muspel direct their course to the plain which is called Vigrid….
The sons of Muspel have there effulgent bands alone by themselves.
| Brand | Bivrost |
| No. of bottles | 2282 |
Country Region | Norway Lyngen Alps |
Cask maturation
Distilled Bottled | Muspelheim is a marriage of our standard and peated Whisky. The casks we used for this “world” was ex Islay barrels (200 l), ex Bourbon quarter casks and some smaller Octave casks. 2017 2021 |
| Size | 50cl |
| ABV / Strength | 46% |
| Age | Year Old |
| Varietal | Single Malt |
Jotunheim
Jotunheim is the world of giants – or Jotnar as they are named in ancient Norse mythology. The Jotnars are the worst enemies of the gods and there are many tales of fights between them. Jotunheim consists mostly of rocks, wilderness, and dense forests, and it lies in the snowy regions on the outermost shores of the ocean.
The most famous jotnar is Loki – the god of mischief, who was accepted by the gods and lived in Asgard until he was punished. He is the father of Hel, the wolf Fenrir, and the world serpent Jörmungandr. He is often referred to as the god of mischief, because of his many tricks towards the gods. Loki sometimes assists the gods and sometimes behaves badly towards them, like in the incident where he caused the death of the god Baldr.
Another tale from Jotunheim is when the thundergod Tor visited Utgard–Loke and competed with the jotnars on a number of challenges. One of the challenges was to be able to empty a large beer drinking horn. The jotnars told Tor that he should manage the whole beer horn in one gulp, because there were few who needed two sips, and almost no one who needed three. But, even after three sips, the horn had not become very empty. It eventually turned out that at the other end of the horn that Tor drank from, lay the sea itself, and even the sea had sunk when Tor drank. That’s why we have the tides.
| Brand | Bivrost |
| No. of bottles | 3000 |
Country Region | Norway Lyngen Alps |
Cask maturation
Distilled Bottled | Lyngen Alps Matured in predominantly bourbon quarter casks and barrels from Heaven Hill but were finished in some Ex Stout Beer Casks from Graff micro brewery. 2017 2021 |
| Size | 50cl |
| ABV / Strength | 46% |
| Age | Year Old |
| Varietal | Single Malt |
Asgard
Asgard is the home of the Æsir – the gods of Viking Norse mythology. This world is connected to Midgard, the home of men, by the northern light bridge, Bivrost. Sitting atop Bivrost, is the mighty Heimdall. The powerful God, whose mission it is to guard both Asgard and Midgard, the land of men.
In the centre of Asgard you will find Odin’s mighty hall, Valhalla. Valhalla is fortified with a golden hall where the souls of mighty warriors arrive after their deaths in battle. It also serves as a home to the Valkyries, who oversee the souls of the dead and guide them to Valhalla. Odins dead warriors are all expected to join him in battle and they train daily against each other to hone their combat skills. Many of them are slain during training, but rise again in the evening to go feasting in Valhalla with the gods.
Both men and gods were controlled by the “Nornir”, three powerful goddesses who weaved the thread of life for all gods and men. The Nornes were called Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld, and reside at Urd’s sacred Well, where they draw water to nourish Yggdrasil, the tree at the center of the cosmos and prevent it from rot. These three Norns are always present when a child is born, in order to determine the person’s future. As so they are linked with both good and evil.
| Brand | Bivrost |
| No. of bottles | 3012 |
Country Region | Norway Lyngen Alps |
Cask maturation
Distilled Bottled | Matured in predominantly 200 l. Heaven Hill Bourbon casks and 228 l. French, sweet wine, Muscat casks. 2018 2022 |
| Size | 50cl |
| ABV / Strength | 46% |
| Age | Year Old |
| Varietal | Single Malt |
Helheim
Far down beneath the roots of Yggdrasil, lies the fearful domain of Hel, the goddess of death. She is the daughter of Loki and Angerboda and rules over those not worthy of reaching Asgard. She is harsh and cruel, greedy of prey, and mean to those who have fallen under her rule. Hel rules over vast mansions with many servants in her underworld realm and plays a key role in the attempted resurrection of the god Baldr.
The entrance to Helheim is guarded by Hel’s large dog, called “Garm”. He is always bloody on the chest and around the mouth. On the road to Helheim, the dead must cross the river “Gjoll”.
The souls of the deceased must pass through the Bridge of the Damned, where everybody is inspected to be truly dead. Hel also has a ship called Naglfare, which is a boat made entirely from the fingernails and toenails of the dead.
The Realm of the Dead is a nightmarish land of intense darkness and unyielding cold, being locked in a state of permanent deep-freeze, the extreme temperatures are so lethal that even Odin himself is unable to survive there for very long. The realm possesses dark clouds covering the skies, an emerald-colored thin fog and mist, mountains of ice, structures made of stone and human-shaped metal statues. An ever-present wind current, known as the Winds of Hel, always blows throughout the entire realm.
Bivrost® Helheim is the sixth whisky in the “nine worlds of Norse mythology” series.
Bivrost® Helheim Single Malt Whisky is handcrafted at the worlds northernmost distillery in Arctic Norway, at 69 °N. The malt is made from Nordic barley, distilled in our hi-tech still and diluted with glacial meltwater. This is a fusion of modern distilling technology and tradition.
The Whisky has been stored in carefully selected Crocodile charred Bourbon and Ex Islay casks. It was allowed to mature in an old, underground NATO storage, as well as a modern Viking longhouse. The temperature variations are vast, with an average, yearly temperature of only 0,6 °C.
| Brand | Bivrost |
| No. of bottles | 3389 |
Country Region | Norway Lyngen Alps |
Cask maturation Distilled Bottled | Matured in crocodile charred and ex-islay casks 2018/2019 2022 |
| Size | 50cl |
| ABV / Strength | 46% |
| Age | Year Old |
| Varietal | Single Malt |
Vanaheim
Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir, a group of gods associated with fertility, wisdom, and the ability to see the future.
The god Njord was raised in Vanaheim. He ruled the movements of the winds, having the ability to calm both sea and fire, and the Vikings prayed to him before sea voyages and fishing.
Njord is the father of the gods Freyr and Freya. Freyr is the god of peace and pleasure, while Freya is the goddess of love, beauty and fertility. In viking times the bears were considered as children of the Vanir.
Bivrost® Vanaheim is the seventh whisky in the “nine worlds of Norse mythology” series.
Bivrost® Vanaheim Single Malt Whisky is handcrafted at the worlds northernmost distillery in Arctic Norway, at 69 °N. The malt is made from Nordic barley, distilled in our hi-tech still and diluted with glacial meltwater. This is a fusion of modern distilling technology and tradition.
The Whisky has been matured in carefully selected ex-Bourbon casks and then finished in Teak casks. It was allowed to mature in an old, underground NATO storage, as well as a modern viking longhouse.
| Brand | Bivrost |
| No. of bottles | 3506 |
Country Region | Norway Lyngen Alps |
Cask maturation Distilled Bottled | Vanaheim is matured ex-Bourbon casks (200 l.) and then finished in Teak casks (240 l). Teak cask finishing is extremely rare, and actually not allowed in Scotland. 2018/2019 2023 |
| Size | 50cl |
| ABV / Strength | 46% |
| Age | Year Old |
| Varietal | Single Malt |
Alfheim
Alfheim was the land of the Elves, in Norse mythology.
In this world you would find both Ljósálfar, “Light Elves, and Dökkálfar, “Dark Elves.”
Alfheim is a maritime world, ruled over by the god Freyr. He rides the golden boar “Gullinbursti”, and possesses the ship “Skíðblaðnir”, which could ride both on land and in the air. Freyr was the god of peace and prosperity. He was often associated with male virility, sunshine, and fair weather.
Bivrost® Alfheim Single Malt Whisky is handcrafted at the world’s northernmost distillery in Arctic Norway, at 69 °N. The malt is made from Nordic barley, distilled in our hi-tech still and diluted with glacial meltwater. This is a fusion of modern distilling technology and tradition. The Whisky has been matured in carefully selected ex-Bourbon casks and Virgin casks, made from French oak, American Oak, Chinquapin oak and Colombian oak. It was allowed to mature in an old, underground NATO storage, as well as a modern viking longhouse.
| Brand | Bivrost |
| No. of bottles | 4508 |
Country Region | Norway Lyngen Alps |
Cask maturation Distilled Bottled | Matured in casks made from European oak, American oak, Hungarian oak, chinquapin oak and Colombian oak. 2018/2019 2023 |
| Size | 50cl |
| ABV / Strength | 46% |
| Age | Year Old |
| Varietal | Single Malt |
