The company that produces it, 42 BELOW Limited, is a drink manufacturing company based in Auckland. They produce the premium vodka 42 Below, and the gin, South Gin, as well as 420 spring water, which is used to create the vodka.
The 42nd parallel, which is a line of latitude, runs through the middle of New Zealand, and inspires this vodka's name. The water used to make the vodka comes from under an extinct volcano and gets the highest purity rating available.
There are several things which make this vodka awesome. One, it's a little stronger than your average liquor. Coming in at 84 proof, which of course is equal to 42% alcohol, it packs a slightly harder punch. Two, it's made with genetic engineering free wheat, so if you care about that kind of thing, you're safe with 42 Below vodka.
But the very best thing about 42 Below? This vodka is produced using methods of purity and quality that rank it as a premium vodka, very nearly super-premium. If you know your vodkas as well as my friend Simon C. Larter, you'd know that places it slightly below vodkas like Chopin, Belvedere or Stolichnaya, but above mass market brands like Absolut and Skyy. Why is this important? Because with a recent buyout by Bacardi Ltd. 42 Below is now being remarketed in the United States. It wasn't selling well at $40.00/liter so they marked it down.
I don't know how long this is going to last, but you can currently get a 1.75 liter bottle of 42 Below, the Vodka of the Valar, for $21.99 at my local liquor store. That means you're getting Grey Goose quality for Smirnoff prices. Quite a deal if you ask me.
So what about you guys? Do you drink? Can you stand vodka?
Have you ever been to Middle Earth?
