Product of: United Kingdom

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Christalnaya is the creation of Greenall’s Master Distiller, Joanne Simcock and is based upon the vodka ‘purity laws’ developed in 1894 by Dmitri Mendeleev for Russian Tsar, Alexander III. The appropriately Russian sounding name was inspired by Crystals (Cristal) and purity (Naya).

The purity laws included the use of 100% grain spirit, charcoal filtration and a finished strength of 38% abv, the strength at which he pronounced the perfect anatomical balance between water and ethanol. In keeping with these laws, Christalnaya is based on 100% wheat neutral alcohol which Joanne redistills with a secret botanical (we’re guessing rowanberry) using a pot still in exactly the same way as gin is made. No sugar, glycerine or other sweetener is added to this vodka.

Review and Tasting

Sampled on 01/02/2011

Appearance:

Crystal clear.

Aroma:

Almost neutral nose gives hints of grain over wet flint.

Taste:

Clean palate is dry but with a smooth silky mouth feel. Slight aniseed wheat flavour with the merest tingle of black pepper.

Aftertaste:

Clean finish is pleasantly warming with dying aniseed wheat notes. I don’t know what the ‘secret botanical’ is but it does make a wonderfully silky vodka.