Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/126443
submit a design and said that he would eventually look over it. "Well, in two minutes, I turned around and there was the design sketched up on a piece of paper of this exact bottle, with the grin and everything!" recalls Aykroyd. Upon seeing the design, he had two thoughts: First, that it looked exactly like one of the discovered crystal skulls from the aforementioned ancient legend, and second, "If we are going to do a beautiful, clear, gorgeous bottle like this, we are going to have to put something very special in it." He continues, "If we're going to trade on the message of legend of the skulls, enlightenment and purity, let's put a pure, white spirit in here. Let's do a vodka.'" Crystal Clarity With the vodka idea firmly in place, Aykroyd, a native Canadian, and the Crystal Head team went up north for their distillery. Using completely pure water from a deep glacial aquifer and sweet corn grown in Ontario, the liquid is distilled at the Province of Newfoundland Liquor Distillery in St. Johns, Newfoundland. Choosing to distill the vodka only four times to retain the sweetness from the corn, the Crystal Head team also eliminates the need for additives and masking oils. "We don't mask Crystal Head," states Aykroyd simply. After distillation, the liquid is charcoal-filtered three times and then given the diamond treatment. Aykroyd explains, "We pour [the mash] over a cone of Herkimer semi-precious crystals, or Herkimer diamonds, which produces a satiny finish, without taking away from the taste." At the Foundation Room in the House of Blues Sunset Strip, a Crystal Head chandelier lights up from within. Bartender's Friend After Crystal Head took a Double Gold medal in the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, it became crystal clear that this vodka's intriguing packaging is backed up by an ultrapremium liquid. Aykroyd calls it the "bartender's friend" and explains, "It is the blank slate, the virgin canvas on which to build all cocktails, because it's simple and pure." So how, exactly, does Aykroyd recommend drinking it? "Drink it straight—it's beautiful!" He then clarifies, "Drink it on ice; you can drink it warm, but, I mean, who drinks vodka warm except maybe the Russians?" However, for a bit variety, he himself drinks it either in a Bar Car Martini or with Clamato and tangerine juices for "a simple Driver." Sure, Crystal Head Vodka is a pristine liquid, but the brand's message isn't House of All Music As one of the venue's original founders, Aykroyd has a special place in his heart for the House of Blues. "Whenever I have an excuse to come down here, I'm happy. It is one of the most beautiful architectural pieces in Southern California. " He adds, "It is the greatest rock-'n-roll palace in the city. Located on L.A.'s infa" mous Sunset Strip, the House of Blues has quite the history—the site was once the residence of prominent actor and notorious personality John Barrymore. This year, the House of Blues, in all of its 13 locations, is celebrating 20 years of iconic music and legendary musicians. (Insists Aykroyd, "House of all music, it is. ) Look for fun events, new cuisine and exciting acts coming to all locations " throughout 2013 in honor of the HOB 20th anniversary. Check out www.houseofblues.com for more information. strictly about alcohol; it's about the experience. "When you are drinking it," explains Aykroyd, "you're drinking the spirit of enlightenment—a pure, clean beverage in a beautiful bottle, all lovingly put together by the hands of God's people." He then adds, "It's spiritual, and artistic, too. It came out of two artists: the painter and the actor." Character Study THE TASTING PANEL just couldn't resist asking Dan Aykroyd, "How would some of your characters take their Crystal Head?" The Blues Brothers, unfortunately, are more brown spirits men, so they're not in the vodka world at all. The Ghostbusters would drink 'the Head' and they would have it prominently displayed. And you're looking at them drinking it pretty much straight and on ice or up. The character Grosser that I played in Grosse Point Blank with John Cusack would drink directly out of the skull. Conehead would drink directly out of the 1.75ml or the coming 3-liter bottle and would drain it within a minute—and it wouldn't affect him at all. may 2013 / the tasting panel / 7