Alaskan Rock Vodka

Product of: Australia

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Alaskan Rock is double-distilled from malted barley using copper pot stills in batches of 2,800 bottles at Lark Distillery in Tasmania, Australia. The vodka is then hand-bottled in hand-painted black Mexican rectangular bottles with raised lettering wrapped around the side and a mountain range punt.

The story behind the name dates back to the 1970s and a young Italian couple in Melbourne who were preparing to open their first restaurant. While drinking with friends it was decided that the new restaurant needed a signature cocktail to offer diners. Much sampling ensued and the final recipe is all but forgotten other than it was finished with a dash of pear juice and served in an ice-filled highball glass. Although the rink had no connection to America's 49th state the name Alaskan Rock seemed appropriate due to the word association with cold and rock signifying ice.

One the restaurant's launch night and large batch of the drink was made and a sign hung in the window saying "Last stocks available in Melbourne. Alaskan Rock sold here". Curious Melbournians were lured into the restaurant by the intriguing sign. The sign and the drink remained for the first few nights but was then forgotten but the restaurant remained open for more than twenty years. It is not actually known if the cocktail contained vodka but the creators of this vodka heard the story and thought it as good a name as any for their new product. Like the cocktail, the vodka has bugger all to do with Alaska or indeed Rocks.

Review and Tasting

Sampled on 10/03/2014

Appearance:

(sample batch: 1, bottle: 456, bottled Aug.12) Crystal clear.

Aroma:

Cracked black pepper spirit with faint liquorice and aniseed.

Taste:

Clean and grainy with charcoal, liquorice and black pepper spice.

Aftertaste:

Cracked black pepper spice and faint liquorice.