Elite Vodka Night Edition Premium Vodka 70 cl 40%

Turn the lights off and the bottle almost disappears. Matte black glass throws back no reflection, and the engraved circles cut across one another like rings around an eclipsed moon. Night Edition was drawn from the things you only see once the sky is dark enough.

Expert description

Elit Vodka Night Edition is a Latvian Vodka from Stoli Group, distilled from wheat and bottled at 40% in a matte black bottle.

Elit sits at the top of the Stolichnaya family and is made at Latvijas Balzams in Riga, one of the oldest and largest spirits plants in the Baltics. The wheat is distilled three times into an alpha grade spirit, the purest classification available to work with, and then cut with artesian water drawn from roughly 200 metres below ground.

The final step is the house signature. The spirit is chilled to minus 18 degrees and then drawn through ion charged filters so slowly that the process can run for hours. The cold holds the heavier compounds back, so they stay in the filter rather than in the glass. The vodka is then left to rest before bottling.

Night Edition is the same liquid in different clothing. The bottle is a matte black version of the usual elit shape, and the engraved circles borrow from eclipses and other rare night sky events. This is a bottle designed for evening light rather than daylight.

Tasting notes

Nose

Cool and reserved. The aroma is dry wheat with a touch of lemon peel and a breath of anise behind it.

Palate

Silky and almost free of burn. A discreet grain sweetness fills the middle before white pepper lays a thin stripe across the tongue.

Finish

Cool and clean. It fades quickly and leaves a sense of mineral and cold air behind.

Specifications

Name: Elit Vodka Night Edition
Producer: Stoli Group
Region/Country: Riga, Latvia
Type: Latvian Vodka
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Triple distilled and freeze filtered at minus 18 degrees
Edition: Night Edition
Serving suggestion: Ice cold in a small tulip glass, or in a dry Martini where the chill does the carrying.

Flavour profile

Cool · Silky · Dry · Mineral

Did you know?

Night Edition was the first elit bottle built with light inside it. A source in the base sends light up through the frosted neck so the engraved circles appear in the dark — a bottle that only shows its full decoration once the lamps are off.

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Frequently asked questions about Elit Vodka Night Edition

Is the liquid the same as in the standard elit?

Yes, it is exactly the same vodka. The same wheat, the same three distillations and the same freeze filtration at minus 18 degrees. The difference sits in the bottle, which is matte black and engraved with circles instead of being clear glass.

What does freeze filtration actually mean?

That the vodka is chilled before it is filtered. At minus 18 degrees the heavier aroma compounds contract, and when the spirit is then pushed very slowly through ion charged filters, a greater share of them stays behind. The result is a softer texture and markedly less burn.

How is it best served?

Ice cold and in a small glass. Put the bottle in the freezer a few hours ahead and pour modest measures so the temperature holds. If you want more of the grain character, let the glass stand for a minute before tasting.

What is the vodka made from?

Wheat and artesian water. The grain is distilled three times into an alpha grade spirit, and the water is drawn from a borehole roughly 200 metres beneath the distillery. Neither sugar nor flavouring is added along the way.

Does it work in cocktails?

Yes, but choose the ones that will not drown it. A Vesper, a Vodka Martini or a simple build with tonic and lemon peel all let the texture come through. In heavily spiced drinks such as a Bloody Mary the finesse is lost. Browse more bottles among our Vodka brands.

Where is elit produced?

At Latvijas Balzams in Riga, Latvia. The plant dates back to 1900 and is one of the largest spirits houses in the Baltics. It is also where the rest of Stoli Group's vodka portfolio is blended and bottled.

Does it make a good gift bottle?

Yes, particularly for someone who appreciates a quiet aesthetic. The matte black finish makes the bottle stand out without shouting, and it holds its place on a shelf long after it has been opened. Wrap it with two frosted glasses and the present is done.