What do the crystal clear waters of Colico Lake, the snowmelt waters of the lofty Himalayan Mountain ranges and the Mamaku Mountain range of New Zealand have in common? They all comprise the incomparable, Stolichnaya Vodka’s Elit pristine water series.

The third and final addition to this limited edition, ultra-luxury vodka series was unveiled in Miami at Zuma restaurant and Digest Miami was among the few lucky guests to be invited to experience this $3,000 vodka.

To find out what makes a vodka worth $3,000, we will have to start with the source. Stolichnaya, is the highest rated white spirit in the world and the elit™ pristine water series traverses the farthest reaches of the earth in the quest for ultimate vodka perfection.

The release of the Andean Edition, the final release of this sought after series. Prior to launching the Andean Edition in 2014, Solti released the New Zealand edition is 2013 and a Himalayan edition in 2011. With a limited release of just 250 bottles available globally, the elite pristine water series has become a must have for collectors the world over.

What makes this vodka unique is the combination of these pristine waters that is then chilled and maintained at exactly 15°C before beginning the filtration process. Just one degree in either direction and the liquid no longer meets the exacting standards of elit™ by Stolichnaya. It is then filtered through packed columns of quartz sand and Russian birch-wood charcoal where it emerges as bright, clear liquid.

Each limited edition is a complete work of art, and the ornate bottle design and packaging mirrors the spirit within. This limited Andean Edition comes in a hand-cut crystal bottle by Glencairn Crystal. Every bottle is sealed with a silver medallion overlaid with gold and crowned with a ruby depicting the elit™ by Stolichnaya flame. The bottle is then cradled in a sustainably sourced, Chilean Black Cherry wood case that is lined with leather and embellished with an indigenous pattern local to Colico Lake.

Not unlike how the terroir influences the taste of wine, the elit pristine water series explores how the water source can have an impact on the salinity and flavor notes of the vodka

The evening would not be complete without Chef Bjoern Weissgerber of Zuma hors d’oeuvre pairing menu.
Bjoern’s attention to detail and culinary precision is a reflection of his German/ Swedish roots. Visually striking and overflowing with flavors, each dish is a carefully crafted to accompany the crisp taste of elit.

In eastern Europe the birthplace of Vodka, the spirits was meant to be paired with rich, fatty foods. With this in mind Chef Bjoern paired, wagyu, jumbo grilled prawns and more to be paired with the tasting.

Very few of us will probably ever make the trek to the crystal clear waters of Colico Lake in the La Araucanía Region of Chile, but we can experience these pristine waters as they are meticulously crafted with the Russian Alpha Spirit to create one of the world’s finest Vodkas.