It’s a first-of-its-kind: meteorite-infused ultra-premium vodka.
Hailing from Burgundy, France, Pegasus Distillerie was founded in 2021 by Maxime Girardin, a third-generation winemaker who wished to step beyond the grape and produce spirits in this renowned terroir. See my review of Orion Gin from Pegasus Distillerie for more on the brand’s background and distilling practices. The Pegasus constellation is one of the largest constellations in the sky. In Greek mythology, the heroes of Perseus and Bellerophon rode Pegasus.
This vodka is produced from organic, locally sourced wheat and barley. The brand explains that this expression is “the result of three slow reflux distillations – the equivalent of more than ten classic distillations – creating the perfect combination of exceptional structure and flavor precision. The distilled spirit is reduced for one month with the spring water from the well situated 150 meters below the Pegasus distillery, coming from the limestone layer that makes the terroir of Burgundy so distinctive.”
After the reduction process, they age the vodka for at least one year in an Italian terracotta amphora, a two-handled storage jar historically used to hold wine, olive oil, or milk. This process allows for a slow oxidation process that purportedly results in a superior texture. Suspended inside the amphora is a meteorite, which the brand claims imparts chondrite. This mineral is unique to meteorites, resulting in the vodka’s reported unique taste and structure.
Since I am not a mineralogist, I have no way of knowing if the meteorite really does what the brand claims. Nonetheless, it’s a cool concept that something from literal outer space has made contact with the vodka we’re drinking. Space nerds unite!
The packaging is attractive, evoking an appropriate outer space motif. The nose is surprisingly fragrant and smells like sweet mineral water. A similarly sweet, mineral flavor matching the aroma explodes on the first sip. Midpalate vanilla and cream come to the forefront, but the initial flavor is so intensely present that it’s challenging to detect nuances, at least for a bit. Lemon curd becomes noticeable after the first few sips. The finish is incredibly long; I can’t recall a vodka leaving actual flavors on my tongue in a long time. The viscosity is bold, which is connected to the lingering finish, with the minerality lingering the longest.
Pegasus Shooting Star Vodka would be a great fit for savory and citrus-forward cocktails. Although the price of the bottle might make some wish to pass out at the thought of putting this vodka in a cocktail, I don’t agree with that logic. I enjoyed this vodka on the rocks with an expressed lemon peel and a splash of Dappled Citrus Tonic Water. I also made a classic Dirty Martini; as expected, Shooting Star perfectly complements the savory flavors.
Dirty Martini
2.5 oz Shooting Star Vodka
0.5 oz Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth
1 tsp Filthy olive brine
1 lemon peel
1 olive
Add vodka, vermouth, and brine to a mixing glass with cubed ice and stir well until the glass is cold. Double strain into a martini glass and express a lemon peel on top. Skewer the lemon peel and the olive together and garnish. Note: too much olive brine will knock out the vodka flavors and the vermouth’s beautiful profile. Great martinis are a delicate balance of flavors.
For vodka lovers who enjoy sipping vodka neat, this bottle should float your boat. For spaceheads, this is a no-brainer as a collectible.
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.” Carl Sagan said that. He didn’t know he was talking about vodka but it turns out he was.
84 proof.
A / $200 / pegasus-distillerie.com
Pegasus Shooting Star Vodka
$200
