The Reid Single Malt Vodka 750ML

The Reid Single Malt Vodka 750ML is a 44% ABV craft vodka distilled from 100% malted barley at New Zealand's Cardrona Distillery. Awarded 94 points by Wine Enthusiast and a Gold Medal from The Fifty Best, this expression stands apart from conventional vodkas through its copper pot still distillation and unfiltered bottling, delivering a depth of character rarely encountered in the category.

Quick Facts: ABV: 44% (88 Proof)  |  Origin: Cardrona, New Zealand  |  Single Malt Vodka  |  Distillery: Cardrona Distillery

Production & Heritage

Cardrona Distillery sits in the Cardrona Valley of New Zealand's South Island, drawing pristine alpine water from the surrounding mountains. The Reid begins with malted barley grown on the Canterbury Plains, which undergoes an initial distillation in a traditional copper pot still before a second pass through German column stills — a hybrid approach that retains the grain's natural flavor while achieving clean spirit. Critically, the vodka is neither chill-filtered nor charcoal-filtered, preserving the full spectrum of texture and flavor that the malted barley and copper contact create. This unfiltered, single-malt approach places The Reid closer in philosophy to single malt whisky production than to the neutral-spirit tradition most vodkas follow.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Delicately nuanced, opening with pear drops and lemon before revealing layers of toffee and malt biscuits. Tropical fruit flickers underneath, adding unexpected complexity for a vodka.

Taste: Lemon drops arrive immediately on entry with a tart sweetness that catches you off guard. The mid-palate shifts toward baked apple and pear — think fruit baked into a pie — while growing notes of toasted grain temper any overt sweetness. Bracing white-pepper sparks build through the peak, carried on a velvety, full-bodied mouthfeel.

Finish: Medium-long and warming at 44% ABV, with lingering vanilla and a gentle spice that fades into clean malt. The texture remains silky throughout, never turning hot or harsh.

How to Drink The Reid

Neat and slightly chilled is the primary serve — the higher proof and unfiltered body reward undiluted tasting, and a single large ice cube opens up the tropical fruit notes without dulling the grain character. The Reid also brings unusual dimension to cocktails:

• Espresso Martini — the toffee and malt biscuit notes amplify coffee flavors rather than disappearing behind them.
• Vodka Collins — built-in lemon and pear character harmonize naturally with fresh citrus and soda.
• Moscow Mule — the white-pepper spice plays directly into ginger beer, creating a more layered drink than standard vodka produces.

Best For

• Whisky drinkers curious about craft vodka with genuine grain character
• Gifting to a spirits enthusiast who values small-batch, single-malt production
• Building a premium home bar focused on distinctive, unfiltered spirits
• Hosting a guided tasting that challenges assumptions about vodka's flavor potential

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Reid taste like? The Reid delivers prominent lemon drop, baked pear, and toasted grain flavors supported by a velvety mouthfeel and white-pepper spice. It is notably more aromatic and textured than conventional vodkas, with toffee and vanilla undertones throughout.

How does The Reid compare to Grey Goose? Grey Goose is distilled from French wheat in column stills and charcoal-filtered for a clean, neutral profile, while The Reid uses 100% New Zealand malted barley with copper pot still distillation and no filtration. The result is a significantly fuller body and more pronounced grain flavor in The Reid, appealing to drinkers who want character rather than neutrality.

Is The Reid good for sipping neat? Yes — at 44% ABV and with no chill or charcoal filtration, The Reid was designed to be tasted on its own, where its pear, malt, and spice notes are most expressive. A single ice cube or a few drops of water can further open the aroma without muting the body.

Where is The Reid made? The Reid is produced at Cardrona Distillery, located in the Cardrona Valley on New Zealand's South Island. The distillery uses local alpine water and malted barley from the Canterbury Plains.

What foods pair well with The Reid? Smoked salmon works beautifully — the malt complements the smoke. Fresh oysters highlight the citrus and mineral side. Soft-ripened cheeses like brie match the creamy mouthfeel. Stone fruit desserts echo the pear and apple notes. Dark chocolate plays well against the toffee and gentle spice.

What sizes does The Reid come in? The standard bottle size is 750ml, which is the most widely available format.

Is The Reid worth the price? The Reid positions as a premium craft vodka, justified by its single-malt barley base, hybrid pot-and-column distillation, and unfiltered bottling — production methods more commonly associated with artisan whisky. Its 94-point Wine Enthusiast score and Gold Medal from The Fifty Best further validate its standing in the upper tier of the vodka category.

Why The Reid?

Most vodkas aim for neutrality; The Reid deliberately rejects that goal. By using 100% malted barley, copper pot stills, and skipping both chill and charcoal filtration, Cardrona Distillery produces a spirit with the aromatic complexity and textural weight that earned it 94 points from Wine Enthusiast. The dual-distillation process — pot still followed by German column still — strikes a balance between retaining grain character and achieving structural clarity, a technique few vodka producers employ. For drinkers who find conventional vodka one-dimensional, The Reid represents a genuinely different approach to the category, backed by critical recognition and a production philosophy rooted in craft distilling rather than industrial efficiency.