A new limited-edition vodka has been released in Stolichnaya’s Elit Pristine Water series, using water sourced in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Edition is the second offering in the Elit Pristine Water series, with only 300 bottles created for distribution globally.
Water sourced from the heart of the Himalayas was used in the first edition in the series in 2010 while the latest is made with water from New Zealand’s Blue Spring.
This has been naturally filtered over hundreds of years through the pumice of the North Island’s Mamakau Ranges which are considered to be one of the purest water sources in the world.
The water is then combined with fine Russian Alpha Spirit at the Latvijas Balzams distillery in Latvia, producers and bottlers of Stolichnaya vodkas for more than 65 years.
This spirit is made from grains sourced alongside the all-natural Kershinskoye water reservoir where the land is so fertile and pristine that it is farmed without fertilisers or pesticides. The blend is then filtered with a freeze-filtration process at minus 18 degrees Celsius.
Stolichnaya commissioned Royale de Champagne, the highly regarded 135-year-old French crystal studio, to handcraft a unique bottle. This is wrapped with a leather cuff emulating the New Zealand silver fern, galvanised in jewellery-grade palladium. It is sealed with a weighty and striking palladium closure.
The case has been crafted by hand from ancient kauri wood native to New Zealand which, at 45,000 years old, is the oldest workable wood in the world. The wood is complemented by a fern etching inspired by the Maori symbol of “koru”, based on an unfolding fern and representing new life, growth, strength and peace.
Stolichnaya has developed the new vodka in partnership with Oceana, the largest international organisation working solely to protect the world’s oceans, and will contribute towards its projects.
The Elit Pristine Water vodkas are 40% ABV and sold for $US3,000 each. It was launched in the UK at The Club at The Ivy in London.
The new vodka is eceptionally clean and neutral on the nose, with fresh subtle aromas of citrus and fruit blossoms, while it is lively and clean on the palate with a long and elegant, velvety smooth finish.
