UK. William Grant & Sons, the independent, family-owned distillers behind Glenfiddich Scotch whisky and Hendrick’s gin, is showcasing its new Reyka Vodka from Iceland’s first and only distillery at this year’s TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes (Stand: Golden Village GO2).
Reyka Vodka uses innovative production techniques and Iceland’s natural resources to produce a vodka of unrivalled purity and taste, said the company. These include:
·Carter-Head still – the first such still ever to be used in vodka distillation
·Spring water so low in minerals it requires no demineralisation treatment before distillation
·Two-stage lava rock filtration system to enhance purity – the first time lava rock has been used in spirit filtration
·Geothermal heating of the still, making it environmentally friendly
·Pure air – beneficial in spirit distillation
Reyka vodka came about earlier this year, when William Grant & Sons gained agreement from the Icelandic authorities to build the distillery in Borgarnes, 100km north of the capital Reykjavik. It is said to be the first distillery on the volcanic island.
Launching in Iceland, USA and the UK, Reyka is a premium vodka handcrafted in small batches and is described as having a unique Icelandic crispness and purity. It is available in selected specialist outlets and bars in the UK, USA and Iceland, including at Reykjavik Keflavik Airport.
Reyka is packaged in a heavy-based glass bottle with a premium paper label and cork stopper. The label displays Mount Hekla, Iceland’s most famous volcano, which, when it erupted in 1845, spread volcanic ash as far as Scotland.
During TFWA week, William Grant will be highlighting Reyka Vodka on Tuesday, 1 November at its “uniquely Icelandic” event at the Palm Square restaurant, off La Croisette in Cannes.
“With the location of the distillery, deployment of a Carter-Head still and use of Iceland’s natural resources, we’ve taken a highly innovative approach in our efforts to produce a premium vodka of unrivalled purity,” said Elwyn Gladstone, New Brand Development Director at William Grant & Sons. “The reception Reyka Vodka has received from domestic markets to date has been very positive and we hope that travel retailers will be equally upbeat.”
Tasting notes
Nose: Fresh, very clean with a delicate creamy vanilla and an underlying natural sweetness;
Palate: Soft, delicate texture that becomes fuller-bodied and lightly creamy with elegant, rounded aniseed and vanilla, a sweet-dry balance and light spiciness;
Finish: Clean, lingering and subtly spiced.
About the still
The rare Carter-Head still is often used in gin production, but never before for vodka. As the vapour passes through the still’s complex honeycomb of copper pipe-work, trace impurities are stripped out of the spirit creating a cleaner, purer vodka. The still is an exact replica of the original 19th century Carter-Head still and was specially built by coppersmith Forsyth’s of Rothes for the distillery.
About the water
The spring water used in the production of Reyka Vodka is taken from the Grábrók Spring – located in a 4,000-year-old lava field surrounding the distillery. The water from this spring is so pure that it does not require any industrialised treatment before blending with the spirit because it is naturally low in minerals. This means the water used at the Reyka Distillery tastes exactly as it does straight from the spring.
About the filtration
First, “pillow” lava is loaded into the botanics basket at the top of the still. The lava provides an additional surface for condensation and a unique style of rectification of the spirit. Second, as the spirit runs off the still, it passes through a basket of more porous basalt lava, allowing the spirit to pass through the rock for a final filtration.
About geothermal heating
Reyka is produced using sustainable resources, including geothermal energy, which is harnessed from heat drawn from the centre of the earth to help power the distillation of Reyka Vodka. No other distillery in the world produces vodka in this way.
About the air
The atmosphere around Borgarnes is one of the purest and cleanest on the planet, with low CO2 emission levels. Clean air is vital in distillation because alcohol picks up any impurities in the air and processes them during distillation.
About Wiilliam Grant & Sons
Wiilliam Grant & Sons Ltd is an award-winning independent family-owned distiller founded by William Grant in 1886 and run by the direct descendants of his family. The company distils some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the single malt Glenfiddich, the handcrafted range of The Balvenie single malts and the world’s fourth largest blended Scotch, Grant’s, as well as selected other spirits, including Hendrick’s gin, recently voted the World’s Best Gin by the Wall Street Journal.
The company also owns 30% of Highland Distillers, whose brands include The Macallan and Highland Park Single Malt Scotch whiskies and The Famous Grouse blended Scotch whisky. Visit www.williamgrant.com
For details, contact David Hume, William Grant & Sons Ltd, tel: +44 20 8332 1188, www.reykavodka.com
MORE STORIES ON WILLIAM GRANT & SONS
William Grant & Sons acquires Raynal & Cie – 07/10/05
William Grant gives gin a fresh twist with Hendrick’s – 12/10/04
