brännvin

The term brännvin is analogous between the Nordic languages, only differing slightly from language to language: {{langx|da|brændevin}}, {{langx|fo|brennivín}}, {{langx|is|brennivín}}, {{langx|no|brennevin}}, {{langx|sv|brännvin}}. In Finnish, the name was originally also analogous, as {{lang|fi|paloviini}} or paloviina, but has since been shortened to just viina.

The word means "burn[t] (distilled) wine", stemming from {{langx|gml|bernewin}} (Old Swedish: brænnevin). It also exists in {{langx|nl|brandewijn}} and {{langx|de|Branntwein}}, {{lang|de|gebrannter Wein}}, ultimately cognate to brandy(wine), also {{langx|fr|brandevin}}.{{cite web |title=brännvin sbst. |url=https://www.saob.se/artikel/?unik=B_4445-0041.KuOT&pz=3 |website=saob.se |publisher=Swedish Academy (SAOB) |access-date=2025-02-17}}

{{main|snaps|snapsvisa}}

File:Skittles at Faggen's. Scene from Fredman's Epistle 55 by Bellman (Peter Eskilson) - Nationalmuseum - 18058.tif's Fredman's Epistle no. 55, by Peter Eskilson, 1868.]]

A small glass of brännvin is traditionally called a snaps ({{langx|fi|snapsi}}; compare German: Schnaps), although not on Iceland. In Sweden, and among Swedish-speaking Finns, such is commonly accompanied by a drinking song, called snapsvisa.{{cite web|title=Light Swedish vodka Brännvin|url=http://www.swedishfood.com/brannvin|publisher=Swedish Food.com|accessdate=6 January 2018}}{{cite book |author=Carlsson, Hugo |title=Svensk brännvinstillverkning genom tiderna: minnesskrift till Sveriges bränneriidkareförenings 50-årsjubileum |trans-title=Swedish Brännvin Distilling Through the Ages |year=1957 |publisher=Trade Association |location=Kristianstad |language=Swedish}}{{cite journal |last1=Ekstrand |first1=A. G. |title=Den svenska branvinsindustrien|journal=Svensk Kemisk Tidskrift |date=1893 |volume=5|pages=108– |trans-title=The Swedish Brandy Industry |language=Swedish}}

Brännvin was central to the semi-mythical world in the songs of Swedish composer Carl Michael Bellman. For example, in Fredman's Epistle no. 1, the first verse begins:{{cite web|title=Fredmans Epistel nr 1|url=http://www.e.kth.se/archive/lnk/bsong/songs/tradition/Bellman/Epistel-01.html|accessdate=6 January 2018|archive-date=7 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107174825/http://www.e.kth.se/archive/lnk/bsong/songs/tradition/Bellman/Epistel-01.html|url-status=dead}}

File:Brännvinsbränning - Nordiska museet - NMA.0028357.jpg

Brännvin has been produced in Sweden since the late 15th century, although the total production was still small in the 17th century.[https://runeberg.org/nfbd/0235.html Brännvinslagstiftning] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621022712/http://runeberg.org/nfbd/0235.html |date=21 June 2013 }} in Nordisk familjebok, volume 4 (1905) From the early 18th century, production expanded, although production was prohibited several times, during grain shortages. Although initially a grain product, potatoes started to be used in production in the late 18th century and became dominant from the early 19th century.[https://runeberg.org/nfbd/0233.html Brännvinsbränning] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621032823/http://runeberg.org/nfbd/0233.html |date=21 June 2013 }} in Nordisk familjebok, volume 4 (1905) From the early 1870s, distillery equipment was improved.

Progressively from the 1960s, unflavoured Swedish brännvin also came to be called vodka. The first Swedish product to use this term was Explorer Vodka, which was created in 1958 and initially was intended for the American export market. Although it ultimately failed in that market, it remains one of the most popular vodka brands in Sweden today.{{Cite web|url=https://www.conaxesstrade.com/brand/explorer-vodka/|title=Conaxess Trade: Explorer Vodka|website=Conaxess Trade|access-date=5 December 2019|archive-date=5 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205152651/https://www.conaxesstrade.com/brand/explorer-vodka/|url-status=dead}} Retrieved 12 December 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/757098/sales-volume-of-the-leading-spirits-brands-in-systembolaget-stores-in-sweden/|title=Sweden: sales volume of the leading spirits brands in Systembolaget stores 2018|website=Statista|language=en|access-date=5 December 2019}} In 1979, Absolut Vodka was launched, reusing the name of the old Absolut Rent Brännvin ("absolutely pure brännvin") created in 1879.{{cite book |last1=Wondrich |first1=David |last2=Rothbaum |first2=Noah |title=The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails |date=21 October 2021 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-931113-2 |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780199311132.001.0001/acref-9780199311132-e-1199 |language=en |chapter=vodka}}

In the US, a Chicago producer makes a bitter brännvin (beskbrännvin), called Jeppson's Malört.{{cite web |url=http://www.jeppsonsmalort.com/jm.html |title=JEPPSON'S MALÖRT |website=Jeppsonsmalort.com |accessdate=28 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219185932/http://www.jeppsonsmalort.com/jm.html |archive-date=19 December 2017 |url-status=dead }} "Malört" ({{IPA|sv|ˈmɑ̂ːlœʈ|pron}}) is the Swedish word for the plant Artemisia absinthium, wormwood, often used as an ingredient in absinthe.{{Cn|date=December 2024}}

• Alcoholic beverages in Sweden

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• {{Cite web |url=http://www.vinosprithistoriska.se/?id=891 |title=High spirits |website=Vin & sprithistoriska museet |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628115127/http://www.vinosprithistoriska.se/?id=891 |language=en |accessdate=2022-03-04|archive-date=2009-06-28 }} - Short introduction to '{{lang|sv|brännvin}}'. The Historical Museum of Wines and Spirits (English).

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Category:Swedish distilled drinks

Category:Swedish cuisine