Askur takes its name from Norse mythology: the brand links it to Yggdrasil, the tree of life that was believed to connect the nine worlds of the Nordic universe, and to its philosophy of bringing together premium ingredients from Northern Europe and beyond. Wanderlust Spirits produces the gin, with Kristjan Olafsson as master distiller.

The recipe is a London Dry built in three stages. The base spirit is made from French winter wheat from the Champagne region and column distilled at least seven times. Six hand-selected botanicals are distilled in the United Kingdom into a clean distillate: juniper from the Balkans, cassia from China, citrus from Spain, coriander from Eastern Europe, angelica from France and Belgium, and licorice from the Mediterranean. At the Icelandic facility, the carbon-filtered base and the distillate are rectified together, then proofed with Icelandic water that is very low in minerals and high in pH.

That approach gives a clean, crisp gin. Juniper and coriander provide the classic frame, citrus brightens the top, cassia adds a warm, cinnamon-like spice and licorice rounds the finish, while the soft Icelandic water keeps the texture smooth. The gin won a Double Gold medal at the 2020 SIP Awards, a consumer-judged competition in California that assesses aroma, taste and finish.

In Europe the 70 cl bottle is sold at 37.5% ABV, while a 45% version, Askur Yggdrasil 45, is offered in the United States. The brand is vegan and uses reusable secondary packaging. Paired with Indian tonic, the classic botanical line stays in focus, while a thin curl of lemon peel lifts the citrus; the gin also makes a crisp Martini.