English Spirit launches Seax Vodka

English Spirit has launched a new premium vodka as part of the English Spirit collection.

Seax Vodka (pronounced ‘say-axe’) is named after the saxon swords found on the Essex coat of arms. The vodka has been branded to celebrate the heritage of Essex, the location of the English Spirit Distillery at Great Yeldham Hall, and the provenance of the vodka’s base ingredient: East Anglian sugar beet.

Like the rest of the English Spirit collection, Seax Vodka is distilled from scratch at Great Yeldham Hall by master distiller Dr John Walters.

English Spirit’s method of vodka production is unique: the vodka is unfiltered, and single distilled in small 200 litre copper pot stills: with rectifying columns designed and constructed specifically for this purpose by the distiller. The aim is to produce smooth vodka without multiple distillations, that retains flavour either when drunk neat or used as a mixer. The sugar beet base provides a creamy mouthfeel and flavour with notes of vanilla and cream soda.

English Spirit has distilled vodka since 2011 from a variety of base ingredients, including grain, potato and sweet potato, as well as sugar beet, not only themselves but also for a range of contract clients. Renaissance Vodka won the Master accolade at the Global Spirits Masters 2018 in the Ultra Premium category, and more recently, Wild Knight Vodka won a gold in the Best British Varietal category of The World Vodka Awards 2020.

Dr John Walters, master distiller at English Spirit said: “Our aim is to revitalise the vodka category: why drink something with no flavour? The finesse is evident in the mouthfeel and delicacy, which provide a great drinking experience: a difference to the punch of rums and malts. Delicate, but still full of flavour: super smooth and light on the palate.”

James Lawrence, general manager at English Spirit said: “The market for premium vodka is growing: gin has opened a lot of people back up to the category. We believe we make the best vodka in the UK: and we want to show that vodka can taste nice if you make it properly. We want to challenge the perception that vodka doesn’t have any flavour: which is often due to much-marketed processes like triple distilling and chill filtering, which strip out any flavour. Our aim is to appeal to seasoned vodka connoisseurs as well as newcomers to the category.”

The label was designed in house by Rosie Barlow. The seax was chosen to represent Essex, inspired by the Essex coat of arms: and product details and distiler’s notes bring the product’s design in line with the rest of the English Spirit collection.

James Lawrence said: “We feel that Essex sometimes gets a bad rap from the rest of the country. We’re proud of our Essex heritage, and so we want to demonstrate that it’s one of the finest food producing counties in the UK: as reflected in the locally sourced base ingredient. Essex is widely recognised for its jam making, seafood and vineyards: we may be the county’s only distillery, but we aim to add world class spirits to the list.”

Seax Vodka (42% ABV, 50cl) retails at £38 via the English Spirit shop, and will be available to purchase direct and via selected stockists. 5cl miniatures will also be available.