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"Straight or mixed, we are very proud of Christiania’s title as The World’s Smoothest Vodka,"
according to Kevin Richards, Christiania Vodka’s President.
Last month I ranted about soppy, wimpy cocktails that were trying to masquerade as fruit punch and to attract young drinkers. This month we are on to much more sophisticated things. How about a brilliant new vodka and food pairing that originates in the frozen north of Norway and comes to us like a blast of fresh and frozen arctic air.
Norway is still seen as the place to view the Northern Lights, enjoy pristine arctic ice, great vodka and the world’s best wild salmon. Oh, and not to forget the odd Polar bear!
I recently tasted a new vodka from Norway and was mightily impressed with its smooth and subtle taste combined with a faint sweetness that lets it slip down with troubling ease. Apparently made from organic “Trondelag” potatoes and pure Norwegian spring water, this premium vodka is distilled six times, aerated and then charcoal filtered. The result is silky smooth and subtle. I am not really a vodka expert, but this one works for me.
Pressing on with the Norway image - imagine vodka paired with a freshly baked, wild salmon and you are on the transport to a different world, the one before Al Gore plunked global warming onto life’s already crowded agenda. Fresh, clean, pristine ice bobbing in a deeply chilled glass of vodka. Sample the rich smoky flavor of salmon with its woody aftertaste and then wash it down with a swig of this ultra smooth brew. Yum!
You may not be that impressed, but let me tell you, that as a serious amateur wine drinker, it takes a lot to gouge a glass of chardonnay out of my hand when faced with seafood. There is something deeply cleansing about vodka as an accompanying beverage to food and certainly one that I am now hooked on. We are seeing more and more of these superbly packaged beverages appearing on the market and making their way onto the drinks list in restaurants and bars. Currently, this is my favorite and deserves its moniker - beautiful to look at, beautiful to touch and beautiful to taste.
Get some from your distributor and dazzle your guests with a salmon and vodka pairing that will leave them talking about the dish for days.
Courtesy of Marty Vaz, a New York City mixologist
First make some dill-infused Christiania Vodka by placing just fresh dill fronds in the spirit for at least a day or longer (if possible, up to one week). Strain the vodka through a tea strainer to avoid leaving any debris in the drink.
1.5oz Dill-infused Christiania Vodka
2oz Harry Wils premium strawberry puree
Measure the liquids with a jigger and pour into a shaker mixing glass. Place metal tin over mixing glass. Add ice to the shaker. Shake vigorously. Pour into a chilled martini glass. Placing half a strawberry on the rim of the glass for garnish and a dill sprig that is big enough to reach from side-to-side, floating on top of the drink!
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Drinking 
