Reyka vodka is produced in Iceland at the distillery of the same name. The name is translated from the ancient dialect as “smoke” or “steam”. There is constant volcanic activity in the vicinity of the enterprise, and the evaporation of hot springs is so dense that it makes it difficult to see. The recipe for vodka was developed with the participation of local spirits specialist Christoph Olafsson.
The company is located in the town of Borgarnes, 60 kilometers from Reykjavik. The place is famous for its unique ecology: there is a very low content of carbon dioxide in the air, so the atmosphere in the place is surprisingly clean. The plant is located near the Hafnarfjall mountain and is fully supplied with geothermal energy.
The distillery is owned by William Grant & Sons Ltd., founded in 1886. This family business is the third largest producer of Scotch whiskey in the world. The policy of the company is the production of unique products, which can be fully attributed to Reyka vodka. The drink has been produced since 2005, and it is considered a gastronomic attraction in Iceland along with shark jerky.
Volcanic vodka
The secret of the exceptional quality of vodka lies in the water. The production uses the resources of the Grabok spring, which passes through a field of solidified lava. The stone naturally filters the water, as a result of which it is purified and saturated with natural ingredients. The spring is considered one of the cleanest in the world.
Vodka is made from high quality wheat and barley, which are imported from Scotland. Distillation takes place in a special apparatus, reminiscent in design of a device for the production of gin. Part of the equipment is made of copper. The semi-finished product is passed through a special container filled with crushed solidified lava. At the output, a product with a strength of 93 degrees is obtained, which is diluted with arctic water and bottled.
The rock not only purifies vodka, but also gives it a special taste. Tasters note spicy and citrus notes with a touch of vanilla. The texture of the liquid is oily and viscous, and the color is extremely transparent with a characteristic sheen. The guests of the enterprise are offered to try vodka diluted with mountain water to about 30 degrees – this way you feel the taste better.
The complex production is carried out almost by hand. Each distillation takes about 6 hours. The enterprise itself is small in area and is focused on the production of limited batches of products.
Interesting Facts
The age of the lava field, where the Grabok spring flows, is estimated by experts at 4000 years.
Reyka has been named the world’s most sustainable vodka by the International Wine & Spirits Competition. This is due not only to the peculiarities of the recipe, but also to the fact that the company operates exclusively on natural energy.
Awards:
- IWSC 2011, London – first place;
- San Francisco World Spirits, San Francisco
- 2007, 2016, 2017 – bronze medal;
- 2009, 2011, 2015 – silver medal;
- 2013 – gold medal.
Tips from Reyka
The manufacturer recommends using vodka not only in its pure form, but also in cocktails.
Recipes:
- Reyka Espresso Martini: Shake 60 g of vodka, 30 g of chilled espresso coffee, 140 g of regular sugar syrup in a shaker, pour and garnish.
- Reyka Orange Crush: 1,5 parts vodka, 3 parts freshly squeezed orange juice, club soda to taste. Mix everything, add ice.
The product is bottled in bottles from 0,05 to 1 liter. The figured name of the country of origin is applied to the glass, the characteristics of the drink are indicated on the label.