Heritage & Distillery
Aval Dor — Cornish for "Golden Apple" — is produced at Colwith Farm Distillery in Cornwall, a genuine farm distillery where the potatoes that form the base of the vodka are grown on-site. The Rose and Hibiscus expression was inspired by Valentine's Day and infused with aromatic petals to create a fragrant, romantic spirit that captures the floral character of its ingredients with considerable fidelity.
The use of a potato base rather than grain gives Aval Dor's vodkas a distinctive creamy character that provides an excellent foundation for floral infusions — the weight and texture of the potato spirit carrying the delicate floral aromatics in a way that a lighter grain vodka might not achieve.
Tasting Notes
The nose is genuinely fragrant — rose petals, hibiscus florals, Turkish delight, and a subtle earthy quality from the potato base that grounds the floral notes. On the palate, the vodka is elegant and floral with rose water, hibiscus tartness, gentle sweetness, and the creamy mouthfeel of the potato base. The balance between romance and restraint is well-judged — this smells and tastes of roses without descending into the soapy, perfume-counter territory that lesser floral vodkas inhabit. The finish is medium with lingering rose, gentle floral notes, and a clean, dry close.
Verdict
At seven out of ten, Aval Dor Rose and Hibiscus is a well-executed floral vodka with genuine Cornish provenance. The potato base provides a textural richness that elevates it above many grain-based floral competitors, and the rose and hibiscus infusion is handled with the restraint that the delicate ingredients demand. A charming and distinctive English craft vodka.
