Altia opens a new aquavit distillery in Sundsvall, Sweden

The beverages that will be produced in the O.P. Anderson Distillery are flagship O.P. Anderson Aquavit along with other Swedish snaps classics such as Skåne Aquavit, Gammal Norrlands Aquavit, Hallands Fläder and Bäska Droppar.

– Everything having to do with flavor will be done at the O.P. Anderson Distillery. Gathering everything in one place is a great advantage in terms of experimentation. Here we can experiment with new flavors and invest in creativity and innovation, says Jonas Odland, Master Blender at Altia.

The new facility is operated in collaboration with the pharmaceutical company Unimedic and is situated in Matfors, Sundsvall. The idea is to gather all parts of the aquavit production in one location: spice distillation, spice extraction, blending and maturation of Swedish aquavit, things that ensure the preservation of the cultural heritage on Swedish land in terms of beverages.

– They feel strongly about our products in Sundsvall. For the Swedish aquavit it's like coming home: In the past Swedish spirits were produced here, including our flavored spirits, says Jonas Odland.

The move to Sundsvall has been made from, among other places, Vin & Sprit’s old factory in Åhus, Skåne. The things transported north include a large number of oak barrels previously used for maturation of Cognac, Oloroso sherry and Scottish malt whiskey. The barrels, now thoroughly impregnated with flavoring, help give the classic Swedish aquavits their unique flavor. In addition, nine so-called resting oak barrels were transported, each with a capacity of 5,000 liters and a hundred years of history, initially for brandy storage but currently used to age O.P. Anderson for six months before bottling.

– The heart of production is our three distillation pots. We have acquired real copper pots, which were central to the original method for making aquavit. Previously we used stainless steel pots but now we have chosen to return to traditional methods instead. The challenge for me as Master Blender has consisted of getting the spiced spirits to taste the same with this equipment as with the old equipment, says Jonas Odland.

The Unimedic Group has many years of experience and extensive expertise within the manufacturing, development, distribution, sales and marketing of pharmaceuticals. The company was founded in 1992 and is based in Matfors, Sweden.

Altia is a leading wine and spirits company offering quality brands in the Nordic and Baltic countries. Altia produces, markets, sells, imports and exports alcoholic beverages. Sustainability is a crucial business factor for Altia. The company wants to enhance a modern, responsible Nordic drinking culture. Altia's own brands include Blossa, Chill Out, Koskenkorva, Larsen, Renault, O.P. Anderson, Valhalla and Xanté.

Further information:

Åsa Strömberg Eng, Senior Brand Manager, Altia Sweden, +46 (0)730 631 953, asa.stromberg.eng@altiacorporation.com

Stefan Mårtensson, Operations Manager Spirits, Altia Sweden +46 (0)70 677 77 56, stefan.martensson@altiacorporation.com

Staffan Nordensson, COO CDMO Unimedic, +46 (0)70 663 44 42, staffan.nordensson@unimedic.se

Anna-Clara Zell, Jung Relations +46 (0)73 399 54 99, anna-clara.zell@jungrelations.com