Crystal Head Onyx Vodka Premium Canadisk Blue Weber Agave Vodka 70 cl 40%

Black glass shuts the light out. No label, no transparency, just a skull shape in glossy onyx standing like a shadow among all the clear bottles. Inside, Mexican agave meets water from Newfoundland — two places with nothing whatsoever to do with one another.

Expert description

Crystal Head Onyx is a Canadian Vodka made from Blue Weber agave grown on a single farm in Mexico and bottled at 40%.

Onyx arrived in 2020 as the third expression in the range. The first was built on Canadian corn, the second on English wheat, and here the raw material is agave — the same plant behind Tequila. The agave comes from one single farm, and the spirit is then blended with Newfoundland water like the rest of the family. No oils, no sugars, nothing else added.

Crystal Head filters through Herkimer diamonds, semi-precious quartz crystals mined in Herkimer County in New York State. Whether the stones do anything chemically is open to argument, but the house has stuck with the method since 2008. What matters with Onyx is that the raw material is not distilled away. The agave sits waiting in the middle of the mouth.

Tasting notes

Nose

Freshly cut grass and white pepper, with a thread of citrus behind it. Drier and greener than a skull bottle usually promises.

Palate

Soft opening with a touch of spice and sweetness, until the agave arrives with its earthy grip. Sweet without ever turning sugary.

Finish

Medium. Green grass, pepper and citrus peel hang on while the sweetness slowly withdraws.

Specifications

Name: Crystal Head Onyx
Distillery: Crystal Head Vodka
Region/Country: Newfoundland, Canada
Type: Canadian Vodka
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 627040411872
Serving suggestion: Cold in a small glass, or in a long drink with lime and grapefruit soda where the agave has room.

Flavour profile

Green · Peppery · Agave sweet · Dry finish

Did you know?

The black bottle is a tribute to the stone itself. Onyx is described as a protective stone, and Crystal Head points out that it lets no light through at all — the darker the stone, the more energy it is credited with. Glass and cap are therefore held in the same deep black.

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Frequently asked questions about Crystal Head Onyx

Is Onyx a vodka or an agave spirit?

It is sold and tastes as a vodka, but the raw material is agave. Crystal Head describes it as an expression of their vodka in which Blue Weber agave has replaced the grain. You get a clear, unaged spirit that still carries a clear imprint of the plant.

How does it differ from the original Crystal Head?

The original is corn based and tastes soft and creamy with vanilla. Onyx is greener, drier and more peppery, with an earthy stroke of agave through the middle. Put them side by side and the difference is impossible to miss.

What are Herkimer diamonds?

Semi-precious quartz crystals, not actual diamonds. The most significant deposit sits in Herkimer County in New York State, with smaller fields in Oaxaca in Mexico and in Afghanistan. Crystal Head runs part of its filtration over them.

Which drinks suit it best?

Anything where citrus and agave can play together. A vodka Paloma with grapefruit, a simple build with lime and soda, or a Bloody Maria style tomato drink where the pepper has something to push against. Find more ideas in our range of Vodka.

Should it be served ice cold?

No, and it would be a waste. The freezer shuts the agave down and leaves you with texture alone. Fridge temperature, around 8-10 degrees, keeps the grass, the pepper and the earthy sweetness alive. In a mixed drink you can chill it as hard as you like.

Is it gluten free?

Yes. No grain goes into this expression, only agave, and Crystal Head states that its entire range is gluten free. That makes it an easy answer when somebody at the table avoids wheat, barley and rye.

Who is behind Crystal Head?

Actor Dan Aykroyd and artist John Alexander, who launched the brand in 2008. Production takes place in St. John’s, Newfoundland, where the spirit is blended with local water and filled into the head shaped bottle.