Reykjavik: Eimverk Distillery Guided Tour with Tasting

Eimverk Distillery makes Iceland’s first and only whiskey, and that alone gives this small Reykjavik tour a good reason to exist. You’ll learn how local barley becomes Flóki whiskey, Vor Premium Gin, and Víti Brennivín, with tastings built into the story rather than tacked on at the end.

I like the personal scale of the visit and the chance to see the production area between tasting sessions. I also like the guides’ mix of spirit-making detail, Icelandic history, and humor. Guides including Rock, Paul, Niko, and Eva have made the experience especially lively. The main drawback is the location: it is outside central Reykjavik, and a taxi can be costly.

Key points to know

• Iceland’s only whiskey distillery: Learn how Eimverk developed Flóki from a young local industry.
• Three featured spirits: Taste Flóki whiskey, Vor Premium Gin, and Víti Brennivín.
• Often more than three samples: Some sessions include a broad range of whiskey, gin, and other Eimverk spirits.
• A 75-minute visit: The tour combines a tasting-room introduction, production-area visit, and second tasting.
• Public transit is possible: Take bus number 1 from downtown to Ásgarður, then walk about eight minutes.
• Adults only: The experience is for visitors aged 18 and older.

Why Eimverk is worth your time in Reykjavik

Iceland is better known for waterfalls, hot springs, and volcanic scenery than for whiskey. Eimverk gives you a different way to understand the country. Its story is about making premium spirits in a young industry, using local ingredients where possible and adapting old methods to Icelandic conditions.

The tour is not just a quick pour at a shop counter. You begin with an introduction to the distillery and a welcome drink, then hear how Eimverk came to make whiskey in Iceland. The subject is naturally tied to the country’s past, including the effects of prohibition and the practical challenges of producing spirits in a small market.

That context matters. A bottle of Flóki is more interesting after you understand why Icelandic barley was chosen, how the company developed its process, and what it means to make whiskey where the tradition is still new. You are not simply comparing labels. You are tasting a local experiment that is still developing.

The experience costs $48 per person and lasts 75 minutes. That is not a cheap drink stop, but it is fair value if you want a guided tasting, a look inside the production area, and a lesson in Icelandic spirit making. The value is weaker if you only want one drink or have no interest in how whiskey and gin are produced.

The welcome drink and first taste

The visit starts in the tasting room with an introduction and a welcome drink. In some sessions, that welcome is a gin and tonic, which gives you an early taste of Eimverk before the more formal sampling begins.

Your guide explains the basic plan, introduces the products, and gives you room to ask questions. This early conversation helps set the tone. The guides are not simply reading a fixed script. Rock, Paul, Niko, Eva, and others have been described as funny, warm, and easy to talk with, so the experience can feel more like an informal discussion than a lecture.

The first tasting focuses on the drinks themselves and the thinking behind them. You learn how Eimverk approaches its whiskey, gin, and Brennivín, along with the differences between the products. If you are new to spirits, the guide can help you notice aromas and flavors without making the process feel fussy.

If you already know whiskey, you will still find useful comparisons. Some sessions have included different ages and styles of whiskey, giving you a chance to see how maturation changes the drink. Other samples have included unusual expressions such as birch whiskey and whiskey made with smoked sheep dung. Those distinctive versions are part of the fun, but the standard Flóki range remains the central subject.

What happens inside the production area

After the first part of the tasting, you leave the room for a look at the distillery’s production facility. This is where the tour gains more substance than a standard bar tasting.

The guide walks you through the process from barley harvesting to the finished spirit. You learn how raw ingredients are handled, how fermentation and distillation fit together, and how the liquid eventually reaches the bottle. The details help connect the technical process to what you have already tasted.

You can take photographs in the production area, which is useful because the equipment gives the visit a genuine working-distillery feel. The walk is not presented as a separate factory tour with a long route. It is a compact part of the 75-minute experience, so expect an overview rather than a full technical course in distilling.

That balance suits most visitors. You get enough information to understand the work behind the drink, but the tasting remains the main event. If you want an in-depth lesson in every stage of whiskey production, the visit may feel short. If you want a clear introduction without spending half a day indoors, the timing works well.

The second tasting and the wider Eimverk range

You return to the tasting room for the second half of the sampling. Here, the guide can compare products more closely and explain the role of ingredients, aging, and production choices.

The advertised tasting centers on three premium spirits: Flóki Icelandic whiskey, Vor Premium Gin, and Víti Brennivín. In practice, the amount poured can vary by session. Some groups have received only the core samples, while others have tasted nine, twelve, or even thirteen different spirits, including several whiskey and gin expressions.

Do not assume that every visit includes the largest possible selection. The official offer is three premium spirits, and anything beyond that should be treated as a pleasant extra rather than a guarantee. Still, the range is one of the strongest reasons to book this experience. You may get to compare gins, different whiskey expressions, and other products made by Eimverk.

The tasting is also interactive. You can discuss what you smell and taste, ask about the ingredients, and hear stories about the company’s development. That makes a difference if you are not a serious whiskey drinker. One visitor booked the experience mainly for a partner who liked Scotch, but ended up enjoying the gin and whiskey as well.

A few people have found that the gin changed their opinion of the spirit. That is a useful reminder not to treat this as a whiskey-only tour. Vor gin can appeal to gin drinkers, while Brennivín gives you a taste of one of Iceland’s best-known traditional spirits.

What makes the guides important

The guide can make or break a tasting, and Eimverk’s staff appear to understand that. The strongest sessions combine technical information with relaxed conversation.

Rock has led several well-received visits and is known for explaining the products clearly, answering questions, and adding humor. Paul has been praised for detailed technical explanations, storytelling, and cocktail skills. Niko has hosted interactive tastings with a broad selection of samples, while Eva has connected the distillery’s story with Icelandic culture and history.

You should not book based on one specific guide being guaranteed. Staff schedules can change. The useful point is that the experience depends on a live guide rather than an audio recording or a self-guided tasting.

That live format also helps small groups. Some visits have had only two or four people, while others have had around ten. A small group can make the tasting feel almost private, with more time for questions and conversation. A larger group may feel more social and lively.

Getting there from central Reykjavik

The distillery is not in the center of Reykjavik, so plan the journey before you book. The most practical public transport option is bus number 1 from downtown Reykjavik to Ásgarður. From there, the walk takes about eight minutes.

Several people have found the bus route easy and inexpensive. Others have had trouble finding the distillery or have preferred a taxi. Taxi costs can add a significant amount, especially if you take one both ways, so the $48 tour price is not the full transport cost.

If you use the bus, allow enough time to find the stop, make the ride, and complete the walk. Do not arrive at the last minute. The meeting instructions are simple, but an industrial area can feel less obvious than a central Reykjavik attraction.

A taxi is the easier choice after a substantial tasting, particularly in bad weather. One practical point is worth remembering: do not plan to drive after the tour. The experience is designed for adults, and the samples can add up, especially when extra products are included.

Food, timing, and sensible planning

Food is not included. The safest approach is to eat before you arrive, particularly if you are likely to receive more than the three advertised samples.

This is not a meal replacement. The tasting may be generous, but there is no food provided to balance it. A proper meal beforehand will make it easier to focus on the flavors and the guide’s explanations.

The scheduled duration is 75 minutes. That is long enough for an introduction, a first tasting, a production-area visit, and a second tasting, but it is not a leisurely afternoon. Arrive on time and leave room afterward if you need to catch a bus or connect with another activity.

The distillery is wheelchair accessible. Children under 18 cannot participate, so this is an adults-only stop rather than a family activity.

Buying bottles and souvenirs

The distillery sells bottles and related items, giving you the option to take home a reminder of the visit. Travel-size whiskey bottles can be useful if you are traveling with hand luggage, while full-size bottles need to follow your airline’s checked-baggage rules.

The airport duty-free shop may be a better place to buy a full bottle for the flight home. Icelandic taxes make spirits expensive, and duty-free pricing can be lower. This is especially useful if you do not want to carry a bottle through the rest of your trip.

You might also find glasses or small non-liquid souvenirs, such as volcanic rock coasters. These are easier to pack and avoid the baggage limits that apply to bottles.

The best time to decide what you want is after tasting the products. You can compare the whiskey and gin first, then choose a bottle based on your own preference rather than buying a label before you know it.

Who will enjoy this distillery tour

I recommend Eimverk most strongly to:

• Whiskey drinkers who want to see Iceland’s only whiskey producer
• Gin fans interested in local ingredients and unusual flavor profiles
• Visitors looking for an indoor activity in Reykjavik
• Couples and small groups who enjoy guided tastings
• Anyone curious about Icelandic prohibition, food traditions, and small-business production
• Visitors who like meeting a guide and asking questions rather than using a headset

You do not need to be a spirit expert. The guide explains how to taste and gives you a way to compare the drinks. You should, however, have some interest in alcohol, since most of the 75 minutes centers on tasting and production.

This is less suitable if you want a major sightseeing attraction, a full meal, or a long factory tour. The production-area visit is informative but brief, and the distillery is outside the city center.

Is the $48 price fair?

At $48, the tour is reasonably priced for Reykjavik if you make use of the full experience. You receive a guided visit, a welcome drink, a production explanation, and at least three premium spirit tastings.

The value improves when the session includes additional samples. Some visits have included a broad spread of Eimverk’s whiskey and gin, which makes the price feel strong for anyone who likes comparative tasting. But because the exact number of extra pours can vary, you should judge the booking on the advertised three spirits, not on the possibility of twelve.

Transport is the main extra cost. The bus keeps the outing affordable. A taxi may be worth it for comfort, but it can change the overall budget considerably.

I also see value in the setting. You are supporting a local family-run business and learning about a product that is closely tied to Iceland’s modern food and drink culture. For many people, that feels more rewarding than another generic bar stop.

Should you book Eimverk Distillery?

Book it if you want an adult indoor activity with a strong local angle, especially if you enjoy whiskey, gin, or unusual spirits. The best parts are the personal guides, the chance to see production equipment, and the wide tasting potential.

Think twice if you are staying only in central Reykjavik and do not want to spend time or money reaching an outlying area. Also plan a meal first, arrange safe transport, and remember that the full selection of extra samples is not guaranteed.

For a 75-minute visit, Eimverk packs in a useful amount: Icelandic spirit history, production basics, three core tastings, and often more. I would choose it as a change of pace from museums and outdoor sightseeing, with the bus for value or a taxi for ease.

FAQ

How long does the Eimverk Distillery tour last?

The tour lasts 75 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $48 per person.

Which spirits are included?

The tasting includes Flóki Icelandic whiskey, Vor Premium Gin, and Víti Brennivín.

Can I taste more than three spirits?

The advertised experience includes three premium spirits, but some sessions include additional whiskey, gin, and other Eimverk samples. The exact number can vary.

Where does the tour take place?

It takes place at Eimverk Distillery in the Capital Region of Iceland, outside central Reykjavik.

How do I reach the distillery by bus?

Take bus number 1 from downtown Reykjavik to Ásgarður, then walk about eight minutes.

Is transportation included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included, so eating before the tasting is sensible.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. Live guiding is available in English and Icelandic.

Can wheelchair users join the tour?

Yes. The activity is wheelchair accessible.

Are children allowed?

No. The experience is not suitable for children under 18.

Can I cancel my booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.