Moonshine revamped: First legal landi made in Iceland
Grandalandi is distilled on the full moon. Photo/Ingi Kristján
Moonshine, or "landi" is the unofficial Icelandic national drink according to graphic designer Ingi Kristján Sigmarsson who created GrandaLandi, a legal variety of moonshine brewed according to the alignment of the stars. The drink will be on offer at the Reykjavík Bar Summit in February.
Slippbarinn, a bar near the harbour has distilled 70 litres of GrandaLandi on the full moon according to Kristjánsson's idea which was born as a graduation project at the Icelandic Academy of the Arts. The bottle is inspired by alchemy and occult symbols and the name, GrandaLandi comes from the Grandi area in Reykjavik's harbour where Kristjánsson and his friends, who are prominent in the street art scene, have a studio.
Kristjánsson believes that in this way the reputation of the Icelandic landi is boosted. "All cultures have some kind of moonshine," he explains. "In Iceland, Brennivín is usually considered the national drink but its actually landi." He adds that he has nothing against Brennivín. "But I've heard from tourists in Iceland that they'd like to buy landi in the state alcohol shop. It's Iceland's unofficial national drink. "
This is the first time that landi is legally made in Iceland.
The moonshine is called GrandaLandi and the bottle is inspired by alchemy and the occult. photo/Ingi Kristján
