The Snowman + Himkok Aquavit
The Snowman by Jo Nesbø is a quintessential nordic detective thriller. Looking for something a bit haunting, full of twists and turns, a grip of characters, and set in the gloom of winter? Well, number 7 of the Harry Hole detective series is a story you just might want to take a crack at. A young boy, Jonas, wakes to find the first snowfall, his mother missing, and a snowman facing the house wearing his mother’s pink scarf. Harry Hole, a skilled detective and struggling alcoholic, investigates this murder and a slew of others, finding connections between the murder of a string of women and the first snowfall of the year. But, as he continues to unravel this case, he is drawn deeper and deeper into the mind of a killer and unknown dangers. (Published by Knopf.)
Harry Hole is the best stereotypical detective character you could ever want - intelligent, tough, dedicated to the job, and a bit tortured. What else could one ask for when reading a Norwegian thriller? Oh, I know… a nice glass of Aquavit to pair with the book. Norwegian Aquavit must be made of potato spirits from at least 95% Norwegian potatoes, contain caraway or dill seeds, and be aged for at least six months in an oak barrel. It has a strong taste to go with a strong character.
Himkok Aquavit
Himkok Aquavit
Open the bottle and pour it into a glass
Surprisingly light and with a more caraway-forward taste, Himkok’s Aquavit is distilled on-site at their bar/distillery. While we can argue whether this classifies as true Norwegian Aquavit due to its lack of aging, we can all agree this is the perfect pair to The Snowman.
“Norway is such a small country that everyone is, at most, two acquaintances from knowing everyone else.”
