Review: Crystal Head Vodka
Not familiar with Crystal Head, which has been a boozing sensation for weeks now?
Watch this… then continue reading the review.
So there you go. This is vodka placed in a bottle that is shaped in the form of one of the infamous crystal skulls, which have become far better known now that they made an Indiana Jones movie about them.
Dan Aykroyd sells his spirit far better than I could, so I’ll leave it to him for the fine details. The digested selling points: Made in Newfoundland, Canada from local water; quadruple-distilled (from what I do not know; guessing wheat); triple filtered through “diamonds” (Herkimer Diamonds are actually quartz, alas; several brands already do quartz filtering); and bottled in an insane decanter in the shape of a skull.
A gimmick? Absolutely, but what a gimmick! What other spirit can make shout-outs to UFOs, ectoplasm, and other planes of existence and still leave you legitimately interested in what they’re selling? (It’s all so crazy that many people have assumed the whole thing to be a joke. I took my own photo of the freshly-frosted bottle just to prove that it is indeed the real deal.)
So let’s move on to the vodka itself. Crystal Head is familiar-tasting, 80 proof, and hardly earth-shattering in its composition, but overall very good. There’s an immediate vanilla punch that reminded me of the recently-reviewed 2 Rooz vodka. A bit chalky on the palate, it goes down extremely easily, with some sweetness and candy-like flavors on the tongue that immediately make one think of both dessert and ghosts. The finish is clean and crisp. There’s no medicinal flavor here at all. Really impressive.
Straight or with mixers, it’s a solid vodka. And though the whole thing feels like a put-on, what’s in the bottle is awfully impressive. The price is off-putting, but you’re paying for an eight-minute infomercial, after all.
While this vodka won’t likely “make true the things that you want to happen for yourself” (in fact, drink enough and the opposite is more likely to occur), it is categorically a damn good vodka and, if nothing else, perhaps the greatest conversation piece you can buy for your bar.
A- / $45 / crystalheadvodka.com [BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS] [BUY IT NOW FROM TOTAL WINE]
Crystal Head Vodka
$45
For the price, I could have asked for more. The sweetness struck me right away, and not in a good way. It’s definitely drinkable, but there’s something about it that makes me think it’s a mass-market vodka masquerading as “premium.” Really nothing to write home about at all — and if, like me, you’re not into sweetness, then it wears out its welcome after a couple of glasses. I’m looking forward to emptying the fancy bottle and refilling it with some Hangar One or Ketel.
So you’re just going to take credit for yourself, not credit everyone else who has linked this in the passed month? SELFISH.
lapjnaise – Take credit for what? You lost me. How many links is a vodka review supposed to have?
I think Neil’s suggestion is a good one– refill the bottle with your favorite vodka, e.g., Tito’s.
I already use old Chambord bottles to store my better vodkas in the freezer, so I’d jump at the oppty to upgrade to a crystal skull!
I was wondering if anyone knows of any stores in the Edmonton, AB area that carries this? Or of any major chains that might have this in stock?
After reading this review months ago I was immediately interested in this vodka, admittedly for the bottle but also for what was described as a high quality, if expensive, vodka. After months of searching locally (including all of the larger and most well stocked stores in my home town of Chicago) I was unable to pickup a bottle. Ultimately I was able to order a bottle from a seller on Ebay, at a premium price of $70 (including shipping). Over Christmas these bottles were easily selling for over $100 and I decided to wait. Now that I have my very own bottle and have tasted what’s inside, what are my thoughts? I more or less agree with Christopher’s review. The vodka inside is of genuine quality, though unremarkable in terms of originality (then again, this is Vodka, not Rum or Bourbon so it’s somewhat to be expected). It goes down smooth and has a clean finish. For the price I definitely won’t be buying another bottle, however. My favorite basic, no frills but does the job vodka is Skyy, and I suspect that’s what I’ll be refilling this bottle with once I’m finished. The bottle itself is striking and immediately grabs the attention of those who see my bar for the first time, so perhaps the price was worth the novelty of having a unique looking bottle among so many wine-bottle shaped spirits on your bar after all. It’s also been rumored that the design of the skull will change from year to year and that the limited production of the 2008 edition will cause it to be somewhat of a collector’s item but I’ve not been able to confirm this.
I like the vodka well enough, but the minute the skull is empty, I’m totally filling it with a green-hued absinthe and underlighting it! :-)
Linking your blog to mine:
http://www.examiner.com/x-2969-NY-Drinks-Examiner
it’s at liquor depot, pretty much everyone in edmonton
For anyone in the Chicagoland area, it’s carried at Stadium Liquors in Burbank, IL.
Chicagoland area-its also popping up at local Binnys
Chicagoland area n northwest indiana currently just bought the first n only bottle so far in griffith indiana at colfax liquors…they might carry more soon smells strong like absolute but smooth like grey goose I like it but again like everyone else once its gone ill be filling it back up with my own basic which is grey goose or level but def worth it for the bottle I paid 55 including tax
The vodka is good but not great a little sweet
agree with everyone else one all the crystal skull is gone i’ll be filling the skull with stolie ELITE cause that is great vodka
Dan Aykroyd was in Gulfport, MS yesterday signing about 300 bottles of Crystal Skull Vodka, got mine signed! Too bad his name will rub off easily since a sharpie was used..but what else could he sign it with? I’ll have to buy another bottle to try it out but it seems like it would taste pretty good. I’ll probably fill it with rum after its empty but honestly I only bought it cause I am a fan of Dan Aykroyd.
As a social drinker and a responsible one at that I have to say BE CAREFUL when drinking this vodka. It goes down smooth and before you know it you might end up at the hospital with your first case of alcohol poisoning at 25 like me. Yikes.
Bought this awesome Vodka (for the bottle mainly) at Binnys, for $39.99 :)
They are selling this at some costco’s in Northern Cali…Roseville, Novato, South Sac, San Leandro to name a few….$38.99!!!
After reading these reviews (which have been really helpful) I think that rather than drink the vodka, I’ll just use it in place of citronella for my outdoor lamps, then refill the bottle with gasoline, light it and toss it in my car so I will never again be able to waste $40-70 on a curiosity!
I must say it is a very GOOD vodka.. not an amazing one not the best Ive had, but it is a very good vodka. Hangar One is probably my favorite so far, Kettle and Tito’s are both very very good as well. I got it as a birthday present this year (Yay for me) It is a bit of a gimmick but ah well! I love the bottle and I’m certainly going to be reusing it for other things. Awesome idea with the Absinthe!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this vodka!!!!! Both for the botle and the vodka. Just wish it didnt cost so much. Hopeing as it starts selling in more places it will go down in price. I got mine in Southeast Texas for $47.99. at Lucky’s Awsome For Dirty Martinis, just cracked my skull open tonight lol. I WILL BE BUYING MORE
As a frequent vodka drinker, I dont see this product any more impressive then a bottle of absolute. Still very drinkable, but nothing special, the bottle will make an impressive addition to my aquarium once im done with it though.
Got a flyer in the mail that Dan Aykroyd will be signing bottles at the Jewel-Osco store, 2940 N Ashland Ave in Chicago on Monday November 16th 4pm-6pm.
I live in a small town of about 3500 people, in SE Minnesota. I work at the local liquor store and we just ordered two bottles of the stuff. Its good to know that its at least somewhat decent vodka. We havent sold one yet ($53.58)but it gets alot of comments. I think I may treat myself to a bottle for Christmas.
I was astonished at the smoothness of this product. It is like drinking liquid silk. This THE new premium vodka to buy. Bravo!
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS STUFF! MAN OH MAN! THIS IS THE SWEETEST SUPPLEST VODKA I HAVE EVER TASTED. A LIBATION SENSATION THAT WILL REVOLUTIONIZE THE NATION.
but seriously, this is some damn fine liquor.
My email is [email protected] I have 4 bottles of crystal head vodka avail. get in touch for details. All bottles autographed by Dan Aykroyd in blue sharpie ink. Bottle includes pic of Mr. Aykroyd singing bottle.
The vodka in the bottle is mediocre at best. The bottle is very nifty though.
I’ll be refilling my bottle with scotch, the color should make for an interesting effect.
What a sucker play! Vodka is just grain alcohol and water (unless its contaminated!). US and European law even requires that vodka shall have no distinctive color, aroma, character or flavor. Ask any bartender; after a couple of drinks, nobody can tell the difference between scotch, rye, bourbon or brandy, much less the nuances of one batch of watered alcohol from another.
Anyone who pays more than $20 for a bottle of vodka is just kidding himself.
the kicker and final icing on the cake…Ontario has decided to not allow the sale of this vodca in its LCBO stores. Lcbo stores are the only place a person can buy alcohol in ONTARIO. Apparently we are not able to handle this kind of bottle and so the feds have decided we cant have it here. What a nanny state I live in. SHAME on them. Dan thiinks this is funny and will lead to it being in much higher demand. CHEERS
I saw the bottle at a bar in Amherst Ohio last week, and thought it looked pretty cool. Had no idea of the Akroyd connection until I read these posts. The first thing my wife and I thought of “We have to buy one of those for our goth sister-in-law for her birthday!” That was before I found out it was $48.50 a bottle here in Ohio (though that doesn’t sound to bad from what I am seeing here). Maybe not now, but I did buy one today for my wife. It’s our 15th anniversary, our CRYSTAL anniversary! Ha ha ha. She likes Absolut or Grey Goose, so I am interested to see what she thinks at an extra $20+ for a 750ml bottle.
Got the full size 100$ worth every penny goes down smooth no hangover and the bottle fn kool really kool if you put led flash light under it
I love this stuff!!! I just finished the bottle last night and filled it up with diarrhea and put a light under it. The effect is amazing! Its as if the eyes follow you around the room.
Larry
Costco here in Oakbrook IL has it for $39.99. I sampled it at a cooking Expo and loved but I will say I really dislike Vodka but I can live with this. I drink Bourbon mostly so this is a nice change from Woodfield Reserve and Makers 46.
I’m no vodka snob but I’ve been around some. A buddy of mine picked up a big bottle of it three weeks ago. We’re bikers so we kinda party hard, and the four of use put a hurtin on that first bottle. The next day, three of them could hardly get off the couch and that’s all they drank that night while I did beer and a few shots of skull.
The next time we got together was this weekend and once again, our boy shows up with a smaller bottle this time and over the course of the night it gets drank. This was Saturday and it’s now Monday and I still feel like poo. Don’t know if it’s coincidence or what but I think I’ll keep it to one shot of that stuff next time. It is good, but I’d watch how much to consume for sure. Enjoy
It’s always a pleasure to hear from smeoone with expertise.
disgusting vodka, extremely harsh.