Brewdog Abstrakt Purity X Smoothness Vodka

BrewDog distils ABSTRAKT in Scotland in copper pot stills it developed itself, working from water, barley and wheat. The two grains pull in slightly different directions: barley brings a touch of body and cereal depth while wheat adds softness, and together they give the spirit a little more to it than a single-grain neutral. Five distillation passes strip out the heavier fusel oils and congeners that cause harshness, which is where the smoothness comes from, while the copper contact helps clean up sulphur notes. At 40% it is neutral by design, but with enough texture that it does not read as empty.

The nose is very clean with fine cereal notes. The palate is soft and balanced with a subtle cereal sweetness and a pure freshness, finishing smooth, dry and long. Since the whole point is to step back and let other flavours speak, build a Vodka Soda: a generous measure over plenty of ice, topped with fresh soda and a wedge of pink grapefruit squeezed in. The vodka stays out of the way, the soda keeps it crisp, and the grapefruit gives the drink its only real flourish.