Beverages from the North Roundtable

Join Emily Vikre of Vikre Distillery (Duluth, MN), Emil Åreng of FACIT Bar (Umeå, Sweden), Francesca Garcia of NATIFS (Minneapolis, MN) and Ethan Wilkins of Du Nord Social Spirits (Minneapolis, MN) for a roundtable discussion engaging with how our northern landscapes inform and inspire some of the most innovative beverages in the Swedish and American hospitality scenes. From foraged ingredients to homemade products, alcoholic beverages and the trends towards non-alcoholic options, this roundtable will open up the thought processes, inspiration, and challenges of creating uniquely northern beverages.

Guests will start this roundtable event with a beverage developed by FIKA Café and guest bartender Emil Åreng, before hearing from the panelists and having an opportunity to ask questions. There will be time to mingle with the panelists and guests, plus enjoy a cash bar after the roundtable.

FACIT Bar opened in 2021 in the northern city of Umeå, Sweden, with a focus on using only Swedish ingredients, and has been recognized as one of Sweden’s top bars. For one week this fall, founder Emil Åreng will bring the spirit of FACIT to Minneapolis for many events, including this roundtable with industry experts, a five-course tasting dinner with Executive Chef Amalia Obermeier-Smith of FIKA café (Nov 1), and a public lecture on the Swedish beverage scene (Oct 30) at the American Swedish Institute.

 

About the Panelists

Emil Åreng

FACIT Bar (Umeå, Sweden)

Emil Åreng is one of Sweden’s foremost bartenders and is also an author, entrepreneur, and expert on the Swedish beverage industry. Originally from the small town of Bräcke in central Sweden, Emil trained as a bartender in London and has been a recognized figure in the Swedish hospitality industry for nearly two decades. In 2021, Emil opened FACIT Bar in Umeå, Sweden; FACIT uses only Swedish ingredients and was recognized as the best new bar in Sweden in 2023. Emil’s first book, Salongs i Norrland, was awarded World’s Best Cocktail Book at the 2017 Gourmand Awards and was inducted to the Gourmad Awards Hall of Fame in 2020. His newest book is Svensk Sprit – groggar bål och cocktails. Emil has been recognized with awards for best bartender and bar in Sweden and international competitions.

 

Emily Vikre (host)

Vikre Distillery (Duluth, MN)

Emily Vikre is the co-founder and CEO of Vikre Distillery in Duluth, MN, makers of award winning aquavits and gins, amongst other spirits. She is also the author of multiple books, the latest of which is New Camp Cookbook Fireside Warmers. She was formerly a regular columnist for Food52 and has written for Lucky Peach, Minnesota Public Radio, and Norwegian American Weekly. As a Norwegian-American dual citizen, Emily has always been steeped in the culture and cuisine of Scandinavia. Her favorite activities are sharing meals with friends, cross-country skiing, dancing ballet, and painting. She lives in Duluth, MN, with her husband, two young sons and a dog named Squid.

 

Francesca Garcia

NĀTIFS & Two Sisters Herbals (Minneapolis, MN)

Francesca Garcia is an herbalist and co-founder of Two Sisters Herbals, as well as the Education Program Coordinator at North American Traditional Food Systems (NĀTIFS). From Francesca: “I studied herbalism under Jessie Belden and Lise Wolff, grounding my practice in learning from our plant relatives. My interest in herbalism grew from seeing illness affect my own family and wanting to find ways we can sustain health throughout our lives. I believe in making herbal medicine more accessible, so our communities have the tools to support themselves—because knowledge is power. At NATIFS, I created the herbal blends and hot chocolate chaga drinks sold in the Indigenous Food Lab Market, and with their support, I was able to take my recipes with me to continue growing my own business, Two Sisters Herbals.”

 

Ethan Wilkins

Du Nord Social Spirits (Minneapolis, MN)

Ethan Wilkins is a Minneapolis Longfellow neighborhood native who discovered his passion for cocktails right where he grew up. He began his journey in the Minneapolis craft cocktail scene, honing his skills at renowned spots like Bradstreet Craftshouse and the Town Talk Diner. His career then took him across the globe to Korea, where he spent eight years teaching English and working in the imports industry. Even abroad, Ethan’s love for the bar and restaurant world remained strong, leading him to help run a whiskey club in Korea and conduct cocktail training and bartending back in Winona, MN after returning to the U.S. When family ties brought him back to Minneapolis, everything came full circle—he returned to his old neighborhood and joined the distillery located just down the street from his childhood home. Ethan is thrilled to contribute to the community that shaped him, working with a company and team as committed to Minneapolis as he is.