The answer is 34. What’s the question?
‘34′ is one of the things that makes Purity Swedish Gin and Purity Vodka different. This exceptional range of Swedish spirits has just launched nationwide in the UK.
How many distillations does it take to perfect spirits? The quick answer is 34. However, it took ten years and numerous experiments for Mathias Tönnesson, CEO and the Master Blender behind the multi-award-winning Purity brand to arrive at the answer.
The ‘Spirits of Sweden’ are now available through Master of Malt (vodka) Master of Malt (gins) and Amazon (vodka) Amazon (gin) RRPs start at around £33-35.00 GBP for the gins and vodka and around £40 for the Navy Strength Gin.
Mathias works alongside Master Distiller, Stefan Magnusson and describe Purity as a ‘taste distillery’.
In ten years of refining the art of distillation he has introduced new methods to this very old craft. All ingredients used are organic, including the base alcohol, resulting in Purity Vodka becoming one of the first vodkas in the world to achieve Certified Organic classification.
The juxtaposition of old and new runs through everything the company does. Its location is historic as the distillery is based in the 13th century estate of Ellinge Castle in southern Sweden whilst techniques, by contrast, are contemporary.
There are several variations in this collection of small-batch, hand-crafted gins and the vodkas. All are distinguished by numbers. Whilst ‘34′ is the most popular in Sweden and in the USA, Purity Vodka Estate 17 and Purity Gin Estate 17 is where the range starts so called because of the 17 distillations which create these spirits.
Double this number of distillations of the heart of the spirit and you arrive at Signature 34; triple it and you arrive at the ultra-premium Purity Connoisseur Vodka 51.
The result is that the distillation creates spirits that are exceptionally smooth and with varying degrees of flavour. It is this repeated contact with the copper of the 600-litre still during the distillation process that gives the spirits their exceptional smoothness, removing unwanted ethanol notes and creating new taste aromas as the process develops.
There are further variations as the gin is available in 3 different styles, each with a distinctive flavour profile: Organic Old Tom Gin – which uses organic cane sugar to introduce warmth as well as sweetness; Organic Nordic Dry Gin – with notes of coriander, basil and thyme; and Organic Navy Strength Gin – distinguished on the bottle by a blue flag which is the signal seafaring flag for the letter ‘M’ in the Royal Navy, a nod to the creator, Mathias. This gin has been awarded the highest accolade possible by the ISC.
The vodka collection comprises Connoisseur 51 Reserve Vodka; Signature 34 Edition Vodka – the most popular product in the range; and Estate 17 Edition vodka. Purity 34 has won 150 awards including Gold accolades in the international Vodka Masters.
Purity also makes a lower alcohol vodka ‘spritz’ – Purity Spritz (30% ABV) is flavoured vodka with notes of bergamot, grapefruit and orange.
Mathias, who originally trained as a chef and who remains a passionate home cook, feels that quality comes from expertise, fine ingredients, a passion for and understanding of flavours, and patience. These spirits are created slowly; very slowly. He says, “We distil flavours. We create our spirit very slowly, many times, in a specially designed copper still. It can be compared to when you slowly cook your food at a low temperature. Our method brings the taste, character and depth to the spirit and it’s a process that other brands don’t bother with. For Purity, every step important because the taste is what matters.”
https://www.puritydistillery.com/
COCKTAILS
Cucumber Vodka Gimlet
Ingredients
2 parts Purity Vodka
3/4 part fresh squeezed lime juice
3/4 part simple syrup
4 slices cucumber
Add all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and double strain into large cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Purity Tom Collins
Ingredients
3 parts Purity Old Tom Gin
1/2 lemon, quartered
3/4 part simple syrup
soda water
Add the first 3 ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake until cold. Strain over fresh ice in a Collins glass and top with chilled soda. Garnish with lemon (twist, wheel or wedge).
For more cocktails and videos about Purity visit https://www.puritydistillery.com/