When Dan Aykroyd speaks about Crystal Head Vodka, the message is purity. He wanted to make vodka that is a blank canvas for bartenders to create cocktails. Crystal Head Vodka has no glyceride to add viscosity and mask the alcohol, no laminine to add citrus flavour and no sugar added for sweetness.
During his visit to Sydney to launch Crystal Head Aurora, the actor, musician, and entrepreneur explained that he didn’t want to take the flavoured vodka route to extend his line. So he looked at grain.
Unlike the original Crystal Head vodka which is made of corn, Crystal Head Aurora is made using English-grown wheat from North Yorkshire and pristine water from St John’s, Newfoundland. The vodka is distilled five times, filtered seven times where three of the filtrations passing through layers of Herkimer diamonds. Why diamond filtration? Aykroyd admits it may not add much but tests have shown people prefer it after filtration.
Crystal Head Aurora Tasting Notes
- Country of Origin: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- ABV: 40%
- Colour: crystal clear (pun intended)
- Nose: crisp, faint floral aromas and a subtle hint of spice
- Palate: clean, dry with strong peppery notes
- Finish: warming and long, a vodka that keeps giving
- RRP: $105 AUD
Comments: Crystal Head Aurora took me by surprise. Unlike its predecessor which I found to have a raw spirit nose, a sweet palate with vanilla notes and a short finish, Crystal Head Aurora is drier, bolder and spicier with more heat on the finish. It’s warming and lingers long when sipped neat and it would shine in a dry vodka martini. The spirit comes in a keepsake skull bottle with an iridescent finish mimicking the Northern Lights. Buy it to drink, not just to add to the collection.
In case you’re wondering, Aykroyd likes his vodka in the China Head cocktail, (2 part Crystal Head, 1 part Soho lychee liqueur, a little soda water and a sprig of mint) and the Bartcart Martini (2 oz of Crystal Head, vermouth rinse, a little olive juice).
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