Flóki Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting in Reykjavík

Iceland’s only whisky distillery offers a pleasant change from the usual Reykjavík sightseeing circuit. At Eimverk Distillery in nearby Garðabær, you’ll see how Flóki whisky is made from 100% Icelandic barley, then taste it alongside Vor gin and Víti Brennivín, Iceland’s traditional aquavit.

I like the small-group setting, which gives you time to ask about barrels, botanicals, and Icelandic drinking customs. I also like the unusual local touch: the distillery uses sheep dung smoke in part of its process, adding a story you’ll remember long after the tasting.

The main drawback is simple: transportation and food are not included. This is a working distillery with a tasting room, not a full restaurant attraction. You’ll need to arrange your own way there and back, and you should plan a meal elsewhere.

Key points to know before you book

• Iceland’s only whisky distillery: Eimverk produces Flóki whisky from locally grown barley.
• Three spirits in one tasting: You’ll sample several Flóki expressions, Vor gin, and Víti Brennivín.
• Small groups, up to 15 people: The format leaves room for questions and conversation.
• A short trip from Reykjavík: The distillery is in Garðabær, near public transportation, though a taxi may be the easiest option.
• Expect local stories and unusual methods: Sheep dung smoking and native botanicals give the tour a distinctly Icelandic angle.
• Budget about 75 minutes: The experience is advertised at roughly one hour and 15 minutes, with the guided distillery portion described as about one hour.

Why this distillery belongs on a Reykjavík itinerary

Reykjavík has no shortage of cafés, museums, harbor walks, and day trips. A distillery visit gives you a closer look at modern Icelandic food and drink culture, especially if you have already seen the main sights and want something indoors and relaxed.

Eimverk is a young Icelandic producer by the standards of old European whisky makers. That matters because Flóki is not trying to copy a centuries-old Scottish tradition exactly. The spirit reflects local ingredients, Icelandic conditions, and the practical creativity needed to make whisky in a country without a long whisky-making past.

I like that the tour covers three different spirits rather than focusing only on whisky. You can compare the grain-based Flóki with the botanical Vor gin and the savory, caraway-led style associated with Víti Brennivín. Even if whisky is not your favorite drink, the range gives you a better reason to attend.

The tone is usually informal. Guides such as Rock, also referred to as Rok, Richie, Nico, Eva, Jon, and Nick have led sessions at different times. You should not book expecting a particular guide unless the provider confirms it, but the experience clearly depends a great deal on the person leading the tasting. The best guides combine production details with humor, stories, and practical advice about how to taste spirits.

Arriving at Eimverk in Garðabær

The meeting point is at the back of the lot at Lyngás 13, 210 Garðabær. This is outside central Reykjavík, so do not treat it like a walk-up tasting room in the old harbor area.

The distillery is near public transportation, and it has been described as easy to reach by bus. Still, check your route and return plan before you set out. Several people have found a taxi more convenient, especially after tasting alcohol. The important point is to avoid driving yourself.

The tour offers three possible start times, which helps you fit it around a museum visit, a morning excursion, or your final afternoon in Iceland. The one-hour-plus format also works well for a departure day, provided you leave enough time for airport transport and other plans.

A maximum group size of 15 keeps the visit from feeling like a large commercial production. The room and production area are compact, so you should expect an intimate working facility rather than a grand industrial tour. That smaller scale is part of the charm, but it also means the experience may feel less polished and theatrical than a major international distillery.

Inside the production area

The guided visit takes you into the production area, where you’ll learn how Eimverk makes its spirits and how Flóki developed as an Icelandic whisky.

The central ingredient is local barley. Using Icelandic grain gives the whisky a clear connection to place, even before you taste it. Your guide explains how the raw material moves through the production process and how the distillery works to use Icelandic ingredients when practical.

The sheep dung smoking is the memorable detail. It sounds odd at first, but it connects the spirit to older Icelandic fuel and food-smoking practices. The point is not simply to shock you with an unusual fact. It shows how the distillery has looked for methods and flavors that feel native to Iceland rather than borrowing every part of the process from elsewhere.

The production visit also covers Vor Gin and Víti Brennivín. You’ll hear about native botanicals and traditional methods, then see how the same small producer applies different techniques to different drinks. This makes the tour useful for anyone curious about craft spirits, not just dedicated whisky collectors.

Because the facility is small, you may be close to the working equipment and able to ask direct questions. You will not get a huge visitor center with multiple rooms, displays, and a long self-guided route. Instead, the value comes from the explanation and the chance to connect the products with the place.

The tasting: Flóki, Vor, and Víti

The tasting includes multiple Flóki whisky expressions, Vor Gin, and Víti Brennivín. The exact order and selection can vary, so you should expect a guided sampling rather than a fixed restaurant-style menu.

A good part of the experience is learning how to taste. One guide has used a basic lesson in the mechanics of tasting before moving through the spirits. That approach helps you notice aroma, texture, spice, smoke, and other flavors instead of simply deciding if a drink is strong or weak.

The Flóki portion is the main event for whisky fans. You can compare different expressions and see how Icelandic barley and the distillery’s methods shape the final spirit. The whisky has a distinctive identity, but you should arrive with realistic expectations. Icelandic whisky is a developing category, not an old-world style with centuries of established rules.

Vor Gin changes the pace. Its botanical profile gives you something brighter and more aromatic to compare with the whisky. The tasting can include a gin and tonic at the start, depending on the session, and the gin portion helps explain how Icelandic botanicals affect the drink.

Víti Brennivín adds the strongest cultural link. Brennivín is closely tied to Icelandic drinking traditions, and tasting the distillery’s version alongside whisky and gin shows how local producers can work within both traditional and modern styles.

You’ll likely find the tasting more rewarding if you slow down and ask questions. Ask how a flavor relates to the ingredient, why one expression differs from another, or how Icelandic production compares with American or Scottish methods. The small group makes this much easier than it would be at a crowded bar.

The guides make or break the visit

The most praised part of this experience is the human side. Guides are often described as funny, relaxed, passionate, and generous with their time. That is important because a distillery can be technically interesting but dull if the explanation becomes a list of equipment and measurements.

Nick’s background in cooking has helped him explain how ingredients affect flavor. Rock, or Rok, is known for lively storytelling and an easy manner. Richie has been praised for keeping a larger group laughing while still explaining how the drinks are made. Nico has led tastings with strong enthusiasm for whisky education, while Eva and Jon have also guided enjoyable sessions.

Those names are useful to know, but they are not a guarantee of who will lead your visit. The booking is with Eimverk Distillery, and the guide depends on the schedule.

I like that the experience seems to allow time for conversation instead of rushing everyone through small samples. You may be the only couple at a particular start time, or you may join a group close to the 15-person limit. Either way, the format is designed for questions.

Some sessions have included a surprise drink or an opening gin and tonic. Treat those as possible extras rather than guaranteed parts of every departure. The confirmed core is the guided tour and tasting of Flóki, Vor, and Víti.

How much value do you get for $49.60?

At $49.60 per person, the tour is not the cheapest drink tasting in Reykjavík. I would judge the price against what you receive: a guided visit to Iceland’s only whisky distillery, access to the production area, several spirit samples, an explanation of local methods, time for questions, and entry to the shop.

For a whisky enthusiast, that is a fair package. You are not paying only for a few pours. You are paying for context, access, and the chance to taste products that may be difficult to find at home.

The value is less obvious if you do not drink spirits or if you want a broad sightseeing tour. This is a focused activity. It does not include food, transportation, city views, or a wider tour of Garðabær. You should choose it because you are interested in whisky, gin, Icelandic alcohol, or small-scale production.

The tasting can also help you decide what to buy. The shop sells spirits and gifts, and you can purchase bottles after sampling them. Several people have wished they had more luggage space, which is a useful warning if you are visiting with limited baggage.

Check the rules for bringing alcohol home before buying multiple bottles. The tour includes access to the shop, but additional purchases are not included in the ticket price, and the distillery does not provide shipping to the United States according to the available information.

Practical details that affect your visit

The experience is offered in English and includes a mobile ticket. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity finishes back at the same meeting point.

The legal drinking age in Iceland is 20. You should bring valid identification if there is any chance you will be asked to confirm your age.

Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed. The tour is held in a working production space, so anyone with mobility concerns should confirm that the setting suits their needs before booking. The available information does not provide detailed step-free access information.

You will not receive a meal. Eat before or after the tour, and do not count on finding a full food service at the distillery. One useful plan is to schedule the tasting before dinner and leave enough time to get back to Reykjavík afterward.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund, and the cutoff follows local Icelandic time.

Who will enjoy Flóki most?

I would choose this tour if you collect whisky, enjoy comparing spirits, or like learning how local ingredients shape a product. It also suits couples and small groups looking for a relaxed afternoon activity away from Reykjavík’s main attractions.

It is a good pick for gin drinkers too. The tasting is not whisky-only, and Vor Gin and Víti Brennivín make the session broader and more interesting.

You do not need to be an expert. The tasting lesson and guided explanations give beginners a way into the subject. Still, you should enjoy alcohol and be comfortable with a fairly focused visit. If you want dramatic scenery, a long cultural tour, or a meal paired with drinks, this is not the right choice.

The tour works especially well near the end of a trip. After several long day trips, an hour in a comfortable tasting room can feel like a welcome change of pace. It also gives you a chance to buy a practical Icelandic souvenir, provided your luggage and customs rules allow it.

Should you book this distillery tour?

I would book it if you want a distinctly Icelandic drink experience rather than a generic whisky tasting. The local barley, sheep dung smoking, native botanicals, and Brennivín sampling give Eimverk a clear sense of place.

The strongest reasons to go are the small group, the range of spirits, and the guides’ storytelling. The main cautions are the out-of-center location, the lack of food, and the need to arrange transportation after drinking.

Plan your route before you arrive, eat separately, and leave room in your luggage if you hope to buy a bottle. With those details handled, Flóki is a smart addition to a Reykjavík stay, especially for anyone who prefers a personal craft experience over another standard city attraction.

FAQ

Where is the Flóki Whisky Distillery Tour held?

It is held at Eimverk Distillery, home of Flóki Whisky, at the back of the lot at Lyngás 13, 210 Garðabær, Iceland.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes. The guided distillery portion is described as about one hour.

What spirits are included in the tasting?

The tasting includes multiple expressions of Flóki whisky, Vor Gin, and Víti Brennivín.

Is transportation from Reykjavík included?

No. Transportation to and from Eimverk Distillery is not included. The distillery is near public transportation, and you can also arrange a taxi.

Is food included?

No. The distillery has a tasting room but does not provide food service.

What is the maximum group size?

The activity allows a maximum of 15 people.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What is the minimum drinking age?

The minimum legal drinking age in Iceland is 20.