November 5th, 2025
If you want to see where raw nature and local craftsmanship meet, peek inside
Raufarhólshellir—one of the longest and most famous lava tubes in Iceland. Just 30
minutes from Reykjavík, this 5,200–year–old tunnel now hides something unexpected: seven
barrels of refined gin quietly maturing in total darkness.
Behind the barrels stands Mosi Gin, an Icelandic craft distillery creating flavors shaped by
the elements. Their past projects have taken gin to extraordinary places, resting it inside
glaciers, beside volcanic craters, and now, within the stillness of a lava tunnel. Deep
inside the cave, the barrels mature surrounded by mineral–streaked walls, crystalline ice
formations, and the slow, steady breath of the planet itself.
Down here, the air stays cool and heavy with moisture, wrapping each barrel in constant
humidity. As the wood swells and tightens, the herbs and spices mingle with the spirit, and
flavors begin to shift. This process—known as weathering—lets the gin evolve gently,
shaped by ice, fire, and air.
Each 225-liter (60-gallon) barrel has a story to tell—some once held port or vermouth,
others, whisky, triple sec, or Sauternes. As the gin settles into its new home, it absorbs
whispers from the past—smoky, citrusy, oaky notes that layer into something unexpected.
Only a few hundred bottles will be drawn from the batch, each named for where it was
born —for example, Raufarhólshellir–Mezcal Barrel Vintage.
Meanwhile, an identical set of barrels sits high above the Atlantic on Eldfell volcano in the
Westman Islands. There, the gin faces the opposite extreme—howling winds, rain, and
sudden storms—developing its own distinct character. The shifting flavors reveal how
Iceland’s untamed nature leaves its mark on everything it touches.
So when you visit the Lava Tunnel, pause for a moment before stepping back into the
daylight. Beneath your feet, the earth continues its slow craft—shaping flavor, teaching
patience, and transforming stillness into fireworks of taste.
