Norwegian distillery will produce whiskey

GRIMSTAD, Norway, April 23 (UPI) -- Norwegian distillery KG Puntervold in Grimstad, known for a potent Scandinavian liquor called akevitt, will produce whiskey to sell in 2010.

Owner Ole Puntervold said he plans to start producing whiskey this year and the first bottles will be ready for sale in about three years, Norway's Aftenposten reported Monday.

"Since whiskey has to lie at least three years in the barrel, it won't be ready until 2010 at the earliest," said Puntervold.

He added that the distillery would make about 2,500 bottles initially, using American bourbon barrels, expected to be delivered in May.

Puntervold stressed that the production of the whiskey will be a trial run, to see what's possible to develop.

A Norwegian newspaper recently reported that a landowner in Vestvagoy also plans to make whiskey, after starting with beer and mead brewing.