Crystal Head Vodka arrives in one of the most recognisable bottles in the spirits world — a skull-shaped glass vessel conceived by Dan Aykroyd (yes, that Dan Aykroyd) and artist John Alexander. It is a bottle that screams 'buy me' from the shelf, which naturally raises the question: is the liquid inside worthy of the packaging?
The answer is a qualified yes. Made with pure Newfoundland water and a blend of corn and wheat, Crystal Head is quadruple-distilled and filtered seven times — the final three through 500-million-year-old Herkimer diamonds. The result is a genuinely clean, smooth vodka with a pleasant corn sweetness and subtle mineral quality.
On the nose, it is creamy and gentle with vanilla undertones. The palate delivers a full-bodied, smooth experience that is perfectly pleasant to sip neat or mix into cocktails. It is undeniably well-made, if perhaps lacking the distinctive character that would justify its price tag on flavour alone.
At £43.75, you are paying a premium for the bottle — there is no getting around that. But as a gift, a conversation piece, or simply a bit of fun for the home bar, Crystal Head delivers on its promise. The skull decanter will look rather fetching on your shelf long after the vodka is gone.
