The boutique vodka market welcomes a new player with the launch of Reyka vodka, the first and only spirit to be both distilled and bottled in Iceland. Family-owned distillers William Grant & Sons bring over 100 years of spirits experience as producers of Glenfiddich, The Balvenie and Hendrick’s Gin to Reyka’s September 2005 launch.

“Reyka is the first spirit to truly capture the essence of Iceland,” says Kristmar Olafsson, Reyka’s Master Distiller. “The distillation process includes many attributes that are uniquely Icelandic – lava rocks, geothermal heat, water from glacial springs – and I am immensely proud to help introduce a vodka of such unparalleled purity to consumers.”

Reyka (pronounced Ray kuh) is derived from the ancient Icelandic word for “steam” or “smoke.” Every element of Reyka’s production process is designed to protect the vodka’s integrity. The spirit sources naturally demineralized glacial water from the Grabrok Spring situated in a 4,000 year-old lava field. In 2002, a New York laboratory was reduced to checking their equipment for malfunction upon detecting zero impurities when the spring water was analyzed. This exceptional purity means no additional filtering or de-mineralization is required prior to the water’s incorporation into Reyka’s production process.

Commercial: Water into Vodka

It’s not just the water that’s important. Key to maintaining pure water is clean air; Reyka’s distillery is located in the small village of Borgarnes in Western Iceland where atmospheric CO2 levels are actually falling. This is due in part to the town’s remote location far from sources of industrial pollution.

Another essential component of Reyka’s production process is the specially-commissioned copper Carter-Head still, one of only a few similar stills in existence. The Carter-Head still ensures a uniquely pure spirit as the steam passes through the complex honeycomb of internal copper pipe work, in the process stripping impurities such as methanol. Reyka is the only vodka in the world to be distilled in a Carter-Head still. Reyka is also the first spirit to utilize geothermal heat, which is a sustainable and clean energy source, in its distillation. The still is geothermally powered by steam produced from molten lava rock near the earth’s surface. The steam is sourced from Deildartunga, one of the largest hot springs in the world.

Commercial: Vodka Flavored Vodka

Only the best raw materials are used in the production of Reyka. Firstly, the spirit is placed in the Carter-Head still which is then “charged” for the 7 hour distillation process. The “spirit” is then passed over native lava rock twice during distillation – first as a vapor in the Carter-Head’s unique “botanics box” and then for a second time through the lava rock “filtration basket.” Finally, the spirit is blended with water from the Grabrok Spring and bottled on site. Unique in the world, this lava filtration is what gives Reyka its distinctive Icelandic taste, purity and crisp flavor. Reyka is produced in small hand-crafted batches of 235 cases per distillation.

Packaged in a heavy glass bottle with an embossed label depicting Mt. Hekla (Iceland’s most famous volcano which erupted in 1845 and spread ash as far as Scotland), Reyka’s bold graphics and clean appearance reflect the environment in which the spirit is produced.

Commercial: Humping Puffin

Reyka’s flavor profile is fresh with a light spiciness and underlying savory grain on the nose, yielding a soft, delicate texture that becomes fuller-bodied and lightly creamy with elegant, rounded aniseed and vanilla and a sweet-dry balance. Reyka Vodka is 80 proof and a 750 mL bottle retails for approximately $22.99.