Regional Sexdrega, Västra Götaland County

Åkersta vin & spirituosamuseum

A well-preserved liquor shop from 1886 in Sexdrega, with a turn-of-the-century flat upstairs, where Sexdrega’s sparkling punch was made. Visits by arrangement.

Opening hours unknown

Directions

About the museum

Åkersta was built by the firm Hedenlund & Co from Borås, which was founded in 1865 to sell wine and spirits in the area and in 1872 bought the coaching inn in Sexdrega. The building was erected across the road from the inn, with a wine and liquor shop on the ground floor and a flat of six rooms and a kitchen on the upper floor. The shop opened in November 1886.

Eleven years after it opened, the shop closed. Sales had halved within a few years, probably because of the growing temperance movement and the newly opened Systembolaget liquor stores. Careful records of sales were kept. The most in-demand products were punch, cognac and brännvin (schnapps). The local speciality was sparkling punch made in the area. Brännvin was delivered from the distillery in Gällstad and was either flavoured on site or sold as it was. Customers came with their own bottles, which were filled from the shop’s casks.

Since the closure, the shop has remained in its 19th-century condition. The contents of the casks and bottles have evaporated, but otherwise the setting is largely unchanged. The shop and the flat are shown by arrangement.

Highlights

Well-preserved liquor shop from 1886
Turn-of-the-century flat upstairs
Sexdrega’s sparkling punch
Visits by arrangement