Absolut Elyx now available for take-home from Watson’s Wine
Absolut Elyx, the world’s first vodka created specifically for sipping, is touring Hong Kong this holiday season with handcrafted cocktails from a selection of the city’s most prestigious bars. This exceptionally smooth vodka is now being artfully prepared at Blue Butcher, Fish and Meat, Mercedes me, Mott 32, Potato Head, Q88, Seafood Room, and Zuma. The Elyx experience is now also available for take-home from Watson’s Wine (HK458).
Absolut Elyx is the result of manual processes, authentic craftsmanship, and human supervision through every detail of production. “Only a few people have the skills and knowledge to properly operate the old copper still used in its production. Every handle, knob and lever is adjusted manually. Creating a vodka this way is very time-consuming, but when you taste Absolut Elyx, you know it’s worth the effort,” explains Gareth Evans, Absolut Elyx’s Global Brand Ambassador, who recently visited Hong Kong to host a series of Master Classes. Evans went on to explain, “flashy and ostentatious displays are becoming more and more passé in our modern society where consumers are now thirsty for authenticity and true quality.” This silky-smooth vodka is a unique combination of traditional handcraft, copper distillation and cutting-edge design. The copper naturally catalyzes trace compounds in the spirit, purifying the vodka and adding a highly prized silky texture and taste. Crafted from single-estate wheat, from seed to bottle everything is done within a 15-mile radius of the distillery in Ahus, Sweden; this ensures quality control and perfection in every detail.
When it comes to making great cocktails, it’s the same passion, expertise, craftsmanship and attention to detail that produces outstanding results every time. While the smooth nature of Absolut Elyx lends itself perfectly to sipping on the rock, or a dry martini, its subtle flavors and smoothness also play well in the finest cocktails. A selection of Hong Kong’s finest establishments now offer the refined luxury of Absolut Elyx in a series of well-crafted cocktails. Blue Butcher tantalizes guests with the Grind, an inspired take on the infamous Breakfast Martini, this cocktail offers a tangy and floral explosion with a citrusy finish; Fish and Meat offers the Pepperonchini, a beautifully simplistic cocktail composed of Absolut Elyx, Lilet Blanc, lime juice, cucumber, and jalapeño; Luxuriously designed, Mott 32, dazzles guests with Nashi, inspired by Asian flavors, with a hint of spice, this light and refreshing cocktail pairs perfectly with the restaurant’s luxe Asian fare; Hong Kong’s newest chill spot, Potato Head, refreshes guests with the Butterfly, a mix of Jasmine Tea, orange blossoms, and fresh lemon; newly revamped Q88 entices guests with the Black & Copper, a combination of Elyx, peppercorn wine reduction, and salted Lillet Blanc; guests of the ever-popular Seafood Room* will enjoy the Flamingo, made for sharing, this punch is a combination of freshly muddled strawberries, lime, and pineapple; at Mercedes me cocktail connoisseurs will delight in the Vodka Sake, a pairing of Elyx with sake, lime, and kiwi that results in a light and fruity drink that packs a punch; ZUMA, an enduring Hong Kong favorite, offers the Equinox Bloom Martini, created by master perfumer, Olivier Cresp, this cocktail plays with the olfactory palette inspired by the delights of high tea and is a mix of Dekopon orange, Baileys and toasted bread essence. All eight cocktails are visually stunning, some being served in Absolut Elyx signature copper pineapples. The pineapple has been the international symbol of hospitality, friendship and a warm welcome for many years. Absolut Elyx has appropriated this warm symbol and emboldened it with copper, reminiscent of Elyx's distillation process, to house premium-cocktails, which offers drinkers the same warm welcome.
While at Mott32, Evans, also advised on pairing Absolut Elyx with Chinese cuisine. He asserted that due to the quality and texture of this single-estate vodka, it pairs uniquely well with classic dishes such as Crispy Abalone, Short Ribs, and Fried Rice. Lovers of Chinese cuisine and cocktails are encouraged to try these delicacies at Mott32, or at home after purchasing a bottle of handcrafted Absolut Elyx from Watson’s Wine.