FIRST JOURNEYS - 80 GINS AROUND THE WORLD - PIN 05 OF 80
ICELANDIC EAGLE GIN, Iceland
AROUND THE WORLD, ONE BOTTLE AT A TIME,
PHILEAS FOGG WOULD SURELY APPROVE
My Icelandic journey continues with Icelandic Eagle Gin from Volcanic Drinks, part of their Icelandic Mountain Spirits Collection.
Created using Icelandic water alongside traditional gin botanicals, this is a beautifully simple serve — the recommended pairing is with ginger ale and a slice of lemon, which brings out the fresh character of the gin.
The inspiration behind the name comes from Icelandic folklore and the four guardian spirits said to protect the island: a bull, a dragon, a mountain giant and an eagle. These powerful creatures represent the different regions of Iceland and are said to have protected the land from unwanted visitors.
According to legend, a wizard sent by King Harald of Denmark attempted to approach Iceland, but was driven away by these guardians — a dragon in the east, an eagle in the north, a bull in the west and a giant in the south. The story is said to be one reason Vikings removed dragon heads from their ships when approaching Iceland, so they didn't provoke the protective spirits of the land.
The eagle features prominently on the bottle design, alongside the Icelandic flag. The blue background of the flag represents the ocean, while the red and white Nordic cross reflects the country's dramatic landscape of fire and ice.
Talking of King Harald, you may recognise him from something far more modern. Harald Bluetooth — yes, the same name behind the technology we all use daily — was the Viking king credited with uniting Denmark's tribes. His nickname has several possible origins, including the story of a distinctive dark tooth, although nobody knows the exact truth.
The Bluetooth logo itself is a clever nod to his history, combining the Nordic runes for H and B into the symbol we instantly recognise today.
Another bottle, another story, another destination added to the Atlas.
Where will the next spirit take me? 🍸
Protected by legends ... powered by Icelandic spirit.
"Show me a bottle
and I'll tell you a story."