Cîroc Snap Frost Vodka

A brilliant, crisp Vodka made from Cognac grapes by a master and commander of the art.

Jean-Sébastien Robicquet has the official title of "Commander of Bordeaux" for his lifetime of accomplishment in Wine and Spirits. His family has been making Wine in the region for more than four hundred years. When he decided to learn distillation, he took a position at Hennessy Cognac for ten years and then founded Maison Villevert to make his own. In 2001, Diageo approached him about a partnership to create a premium Vodka built on the same Eau de Vie used in Cognac production — thus Cîroc Vodka was born in 2003.

Cîroc Snap Frost Vodka is the core of the line. Like many Cognacs, the Vodka is made from 95% Ugni Blanc and 5% Mauzac Blanc grapes. But while most grapes are harvested in early autumn, "snap frost" grapes are harvested later — after the first hard frost or freeze. They are picked quickly and pressed quickly. In effect, this lightly "freeze-dries" the grapes and thus removes excess water for a more dense and more flavorful juice. After fermentation the Spirit is distilled five times at the historic Distillerie de Chevanceaux.

Smartass Corner:
The word "Cîroc" is a combination of the two words meaning "peak" and "rock" in French. The phonetically spelled circumflex letter "î" is signified with a peak over the letter — a natural addition to the brand.