York & Jorvik | King’s Square | Nordic Influence | Hel Above & Hel Below | Coffee Meets Heritage | NORSE CODE Today
Why Is It Called NORSE CODE?
NORSE CODE was born in York: a city shaped by Viking history, trade, craft and coffee culture.
The name connects three influences: York’s Norse heritage, the Nordic coffee movement that helped shape modern speciality coffee, and the Scandinavian beer scene that influenced Yan’s early drinks career.
But the name is not just historical styling. NORSE CODE reflects the idea that great coffee and great spirits both depend on knowledge, precision and controlled process.
York, Jorvik and the Viking Legacy
York was once known as Jorvik, one of the most important Viking cities in Europe.
In AD 866, Viking forces captured York and established it as the centre of the Kingdom of Jorvik. Over the following decades, the city became a major settlement connected with trade, craft, culture and power.
More than a thousand years later, York’s Norse heritage remains woven into the city’s streets, archaeology and identity.
When we set out to create a coffee liqueur that reflected quality, place and craft, York’s Norse history provided the foundation for the name: NORSE CODE.
King’s Square and Konungsgarthr
One of the most significant locations in York’s Viking history is King’s Square.
Known during the Norse period as Konungsgarthr, meaning King’s Court, the area is widely identified as the probable location of the royal complex of the Viking Kings of York.
The connection is also personal. Gordon continues to brew and serve coffee overlooking King’s Square at Harlequin Coffee House. The coffee expertise developed in York forms the foundation of NORSE CODE and continues to influence every coffee liqueur we produce.
The nearby street name King’s Court still echoes the area’s historic connection to the Viking rulers of Jorvik.
Nordic Coffee, Scandinavian Beer and Modern Drinks Culture
NORSE CODE was also influenced by a wider Nordic drinks culture.
Gordon and Yan were both inspired by the Nordic speciality coffee movement: a wave of lighter, cleaner and more precise coffee thinking that helped shape modern coffee culture.
Yan’s drinks background also included importing Scandinavian craft beer from producers such as To Øl and Evil Twin during the early 2010s, when the Nordic beer scene was helping redefine what modern beer could be.
That combination matters. NORSE CODE is not simply a Viking-themed coffee liqueur. It is shaped by York’s Norse heritage, Nordic coffee culture and the same spirit of flavour-led experimentation that transformed modern craft beer.
Why Hel Above and Hel Below?
The names Hel Above and Hel Below are inspired by Hel, a figure from Norse mythology.
In Norse tradition, Hel is associated with the realm of the dead and forms part of a mythology that includes Odin, Thor, Loki and other figures that continue to influence literature, film and popular culture.
Rather than recreating historical drinks or recipes, we chose names that acknowledge Norse storytelling while creating a distinctive identity for our coffee liqueurs.
Hel Above is the brighter, stronger 22% ABV expression built for Espresso Martinis. Hel Below is the richer 16% ABV expression built for Baby Guinness shots, layered serves and smoother coffee cocktails.
Where Coffee Meets Heritage
While the name comes from history and Nordic influence, the liquid inside the bottle is built on modern coffee expertise.
NORSE CODE was developed by Gordon Howell, UK Brewers Cup Champion and UK Coffee in Good Spirits Champion, alongside drinks industry professional Yan.
Together they set out to create coffee liqueurs that genuinely showcase coffee flavour rather than relying on excessive sweetness or generic coffee flavouring.
Every bottle is produced in Yorkshire using our Cold-Filter Brew method, developed to preserve the complexity, balance and character of brewed coffee in a finished liqueur.
The result is a coffee-first liqueur range shaped by coffee expertise, drinks culture and Yorkshire craft.
NORSE CODE Today
Today, NORSE CODE products are enjoyed by consumers, bars and hospitality venues across the UK.
- Hel Above — 22% ABV coffee liqueur developed for Espresso Martinis and coffee-forward cocktails.
- Hel Below — England Coffee Liqueur Country Winner at the 2026 World Liqueur Awards, designed for Baby Guinness, layered serves and smoother coffee cocktails.
- EX-01 — limited Exceptional Series releases exploring rare coffee, brewing and premium spirit.
While NORSE CODE is inspired by York’s Norse heritage, our focus remains clear: creating coffee liqueurs built around real coffee, controlled extraction and exceptional cocktail performance.