Eimverk Distillery Visit

Iceland’s first and only whiskey distillery gives you a welcome change from waterfalls and hot springs. At Eimverk, you see how local barley becomes Flóki whisky, then taste it alongside Vor gin and Víti Brennivín, Iceland’s traditional caraway spirit. The small-scale setting makes the visit feel personal rather than staged.

I like the clear look at the production process, including the point in the tour when you see the stills and learn how the whisky developed from an idea into a working Icelandic product. I also like the tasting format, which begins with guidance on how to assess spirits and moves through three distinct drinks.

The main drawback is practical: Eimverk is outside central Reykjavík, and the tour includes alcohol but no transport. You need to plan a bus or taxi, and you should not drive after the tasting. Also check the exact start time when booking, since the supplied details list 4:00 pm while also referring to a choice of two start times.

Key points to know before you go

• Iceland’s only whiskey distillery: Eimverk offers a rare look at a young national spirit-making tradition.
• Three local spirits: Taste Flóki whisky, Vor pot-distilled gin, and Víti Brennivín.
• A small group setting: The stated maximum is 10 people, allowing time for questions and conversation.
• Story-led guiding: Richie, Rock, and Jon are among the guides praised for humor, clear explanations, and lively storytelling.
• About 70 minutes: The visit works well as an evening activity or a final-day stop in Reykjavík.
• Plan your ride: The distillery is at Lyngás 13 in Garðabær, and transportation is not included.

Why Eimverk is worth your time in Iceland

Many Iceland itineraries are built around dramatic scenery. That is sensible, but it can also make the days feel alike: drive, stop, photograph, drive again. Eimverk offers something different. You spend an hour or so indoors, meet a working producer, and learn about Iceland through what people make rather than only through what nature provides.

The distillery’s story is part of the appeal. Iceland is not an old-world whisky center, and Eimverk has only been producing spirits for roughly a decade according to the tour discussion described by visitors. That gives the visit a sense of experiment and momentum. You are not touring a centuries-old Scottish warehouse. You are seeing a young Icelandic company work out how to give whisky a local identity.

That identity begins with Icelandic barley. The guide explains the production steps and the decisions involved in making whisky from a crop grown in Iceland. The point is not simply to watch equipment. You learn how raw ingredients, distillation, aging, and blending affect the final drink.

I like that the tour does not treat whisky as the only subject. Eimverk also makes gin and Brennivín, so the tasting lets you compare different approaches to spirit production. The result is a compact lesson in how one distillery can create drinks with very different aromas, flavors, and traditions.

Arriving at Lyngás 13 in Garðabær

Eimverk Distillery is located at Lyngás 13, 210 Garðabær, just outside Reykjavík. The activity begins and ends at the distillery, so you are responsible for getting there and returning to your accommodation.

This is the detail to settle before booking. One person found the trip manageable by bus, while another specifically advised taking a taxi. Both points are useful. Public transport may work for you, but the route and timing need checking before the day of the tour. A taxi is simpler, especially for an afternoon visit that finishes after several samples.

Do not plan to drive yourself. The tasting includes whisky, gin, Brennivín, and additional samples may be offered during the presentation. A taxi or other ride is the sensible choice even if you arrived by car.

The location also shapes the feel of the visit. This is not a grand tourist attraction with several rooms of displays. It is a small operating distillery. That makes the experience more direct, but it also means you should expect a focused production visit rather than a full museum tour or a long restaurant evening.

Inside the 70-minute distillery visit

The tour lasts about one hour and ten minutes. You begin with an introduction to Eimverk and its spirits, then move through the production story and tasting. The order may vary slightly with the guide and group, but the supplied program includes a guided distillery visit, three named tastings, and time for questions.

The small group limit is important here. The stated maximum is 10 people, although one account referred to a group of 12, so the exact size may vary by departure or booking arrangement. In either case, this is much more intimate than a large factory tour. You can ask about ingredients, methods, or the differences between the bottles without shouting across a room.

The tour is also designed around conversation. Several guides have been praised for being relaxed and funny, with Richie, Rock, and Jon each receiving specific positive mentions. That does not mean you will have one particular guide, but it does suggest that the tone is meant to be informal and personal.

A good guide matters at a distillery. Machinery alone can be hard to understand. The best parts of this visit are the explanations of why Eimverk uses certain ingredients, how the process developed, and what makes Icelandic spirits different from more familiar products from Scotland, Ireland, or elsewhere.

Flóki whisky and Icelandic barley

Flóki is the centerpiece for many people who book this experience. It is described as Iceland’s first and only whisky, and the tour explains how it is made from Icelandic barley.

You get to taste the whisky while learning about the work behind it. That pairing is useful. Instead of hearing a technical explanation and then moving on, you can consider the result in the glass. The guide may talk about the mechanics of tasting, helping you notice aroma, texture, and flavor rather than simply deciding if you like it.

The whisky is still a relatively young product compared with famous brands from older whisky regions. That is not a weakness by itself, but it sets the right expectation. You are tasting a developing Icelandic style, not buying a replica of Scotch. People who enjoy trying new spirits will find that especially interesting.

The distillery’s use of local ingredients is central to its identity. The tour explains the work involved in turning Icelandic barley into a finished spirit, along with the effort required to establish a whisky brand in a country without a long whisky-making tradition.

If whisky is your main reason for booking, pay close attention during this section. You will get more from the tasting if you listen to how the spirit is made and then compare those details with what you smell and taste.

Vor gin and the character of local botanicals

Vor is Eimverk’s premium pot-distilled gin. It gives the tasting a useful contrast with Flóki. Gin is shaped by botanicals, so the discussion moves away from barley and toward herbs, plants, and the choices that build a spirit’s aroma.

The information provided describes Vor as handcrafted with native herbs and botanicals. That local focus is one of the more interesting parts of the visit. You are not simply sampling a standard gin after whisky. You are seeing how Eimverk applies an Icelandic point of view to a familiar category.

Even if you normally prefer whisky, do not skip the gin. One whisky drinker who attended with a wine-loving partner found that the tasting method made every spirit more approachable. The structure helps you compare rather than judge too quickly.

Vor may also appeal to you if you are interested in cocktails, though the activity itself is a tasting and production tour, not a cocktail class. The value is in understanding the spirit as it is made and served.

Víti Brennivín, Iceland’s traditional spirit

The third named tasting is Víti, an old-style Icelandic Brennivín. Brennivín is strongly tied to Icelandic drinking culture, so this is the part of the tour that connects the distillery most clearly with local tradition.

The drink is made with native herbs and botanicals, and its flavor profile will be quite different from both whisky and gin. That variety keeps the tasting lively. You are not sampling three versions of the same idea. You are moving through whisky, gin, and an Icelandic aquavit-style spirit.

This is also a good chance to ask questions. The included program specifically gives you time for a question-and-answer session with an Eimverk team member. If you are curious about how Brennivín differs from gin, or how it fits into Icelandic culture, this is the place to ask.

The samples are alcoholic beverages, and the tasting may feel generous to some people. Eat beforehand or plan food afterward, especially if you are not accustomed to sampling several spirits in one sitting.

Guides who make the technical parts easy

The strongest part of the experience is often the guide. The tour needs someone who can explain fermentation and distillation without turning the hour into a lecture. The named guides in the available feedback include Richie, Rock, and Jon, and each is described as funny, personable, or engaging.

Richie is praised for combining humor with clear comparisons between Icelandic alcohol and spirits from other countries. Rock is described as personable and informed, with a good sense of how to explain the products. Jon is noted for storytelling and audience engagement, including a bit of theatrical flair.

You may not meet one of these three, but the pattern is useful. Expect the visit to rely heavily on the individual leading it. That is a strength when the guide is lively and open to questions. It also means the exact tone can vary from one departure to another.

The best moments come when the guide slows down. One particularly positive account describes the host as making the tasting feel almost like sitting at a bar with a good storyteller, rather than being hurried from one station to the next. That relaxed pace is valuable because spirits reward attention.

Price, timing, and what you receive

The listed price is $47.50 per person. For about 70 minutes, you receive a guided distillery visit, tastings of Flóki, Vor, and Víti, additional alcoholic samples as part of the presentation, and a question-and-answer session.

I consider that fair value if you already have an interest in whisky, gin, or local food and drink. The price includes more than a flight of samples. You are paying for access to a working producer and for the explanation that gives those samples meaning.

The value is less clear if you do not drink alcohol or have little interest in how spirits are made. The setting is compact, and the visit is focused. You will not get a long sightseeing program, a meal, or transportation for the price.

The 4:00 pm start makes the tour easy to place late in your day. It can work well after several days of outdoor trips, when an indoor activity sounds welcome. It also suits a final afternoon before flying home, when you want something interesting but not physically demanding.

The supplied details also mention a choice of two start times, while the meeting information gives 4:00 pm. Since those details do not fully match, check the available departure when you choose your date.

The experience is often booked about 29 days ahead. That does not guarantee every departure sells out, but the small group limit gives you a reason to reserve early, especially if your Iceland dates are fixed.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend Eimverk to you if you fit one or more of these groups:

• You enjoy whisky, gin, aquavit, or learning how drinks are produced.
• You want an alternative to another scenic stop near Reykjavík.
• You appreciate small businesses and products made with a clear local identity.
• You like tours where the guide’s stories and personality matter.
• You have an evening free and can arrange safe transportation.
• You are curious about Icelandic culture beyond geology and scenery.

It is less suitable if you need a broad sightseeing tour, dislike alcohol, or want to walk from central Reykjavík. It is also not the right pick for anyone who expects a huge historic distillery with rows of aging barrels and a long visitor center.

The visit suits couples, small groups, and solo visitors who enjoy conversation. It can also work for a mixed-interest pair, since the tasting begins with basic guidance rather than assuming you already know spirits.

Practical tips for a better visit

Arrange your ride before the tour starts. If you are using a bus, check the route and return timing carefully. If you are taking a taxi, allow enough time to reach Lyngás 13 without rushing.

Eat first, or have a meal planned afterward. The tour includes several alcoholic samples, and the relaxed pace can make it easy to lose track of how much you have tasted.

Ask questions during the session. The included Q&A is not a throwaway feature. Ask about Icelandic barley, the use of native botanicals, the differences between Flóki and more familiar whisky styles, or how Brennivín fits into Icelandic drinking culture.

Leave room in your luggage if you might want a bottle or merchandise. One visitor bought three bottles, while another mentioned enjoying a well-made hoodie. Purchases are not listed as part of the tour, so treat them as optional extras rather than part of the ticket.

Finally, check the date carefully before confirming. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. One booking mistake resulted in paying for a date that could not be used, so this is worth taking seriously.

Should you book Eimverk Distillery?

Book it if you want a compact, social, and distinctly Icelandic food-and-drink experience. The combination of Flóki whisky, Vor gin, and Víti Brennivín gives you a broader tasting than a whisky-only visit, while the guides add stories and humor to the technical side.

I especially recommend it for an evening in Reykjavík or for the day before you leave Iceland. It does not replace the country’s major natural sights, but it gives your itinerary a useful change of pace and a closer look at a young local producer.

Skip it if transport is too difficult, alcohol is not of interest, or you want a large-scale attraction. For everyone else, $47.50 is a reasonable price for the tasting, the explanations, and the chance to say you tried Icelandic whisky at the source.

FAQ

Where is Eimverk Distillery located?

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

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately one hour and ten minutes.

What time does the tour start?

The meeting information lists a 4:00 pm start time. The tour description also refers to a choice of two start times, so check the available time when booking.

What spirits are included in the tasting?

The tasting includes Flóki whisky, Vor gin, and Víti Brennivín.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation to and from the distillery is not included.

Does the tour include alcoholic beverages?

Yes. Alcoholic beverages are included as part of the guided tasting.

How many people can join the tour?

The stated maximum is 10 people.

Is the tour suitable for most people?

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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