Olive-distilled vodka debuts with Martinis in mind

Ammos, a vodka distilled with olives and lemons, has arrived in London to 'capture the spirit of golden Aegean evenings'.

Designed with the Martini in mind, Ammos is a new-to-market vodka inspired by the flavours and lifestyle of the Aegean. It blends two signature ingredients: fresh Vakhalou lemons, and handpicked, naturally fermented, dry-cured black olives.

The rare Vakhalou lemon, grown at the Todoli Citrus Foundation in Valencia, Spain, is prized for its sharp flavour and oil-rich zest.

Each ingredient undergoes a two-week maceration in British wheat grain spirit before being cold-distilled under vacuum using rotary evaporation.

This 'gentle' process reduces the boiling point to around 40°C, allowing the spirit to preserve delicate citrus oils, green herbaceous notes, and the olives’ natural salinity – flavours that are often lost through traditional distillation methods.

The result is a premium sipping vodka that is said to have a distinctive layered flavour profile.

While it is naturally suited to being sipped and savoured on the rocks, it was crafted with the perfect Martini in mind, as the serve allows all the 'complexity' of Ammos to shine.

In addition, the flavour profile can be accentuated by a garnish of either an olive or citrus twist, with the vodka's natural salinity highlighted by the former, and the zest of the vodka coming to the fore with the latter.

Will Ahier, founder of Ammos, commented: “Many premium vodkas lean into cold imagery – snow, ice and mountains – but this is for a different occasion. We wanted to create a vodka that felt synonymous with summer sipping. Classic Martini garnishes like olives and lemons grow in warm climates, so it felt natural to take inspiration from those landscapes and create a vodka that celebrates them.”

The vodka is housed in a distinctive ceramic bottle.

Sustainability plays a key role in the brand’s production, with restocks delivered to trade partners in refill cans, with larger 10-litre jerry cans available.

The spirit is distilled in the UK by Vault, a modern aperitivo distillery near Cambridge, led by founder Dan Joines.

Ammos is the only spirit produced at Vault that is not part of the distillery’s own portfolio. Instead, it is the first official graduate of the Vault Product Development Lab.

Joines said of the launch: “We worked together throughout the whole of last year to develop the liquid, refining it into the most elegant Martini-perfect vodka. The team have built and designed everything themselves, from brand identity to custom ceramic, and their attention to detail, passion and energy is simply inspirational.”

Ammos has begun gaining traction in the London on-trade, with the brand listed as the house vodka at the capital’s only Greek Michelin-starred restaurant, Oma. It also appears on cocktail menus at venues including Dorian, Rovi, Bentley’s and Bottarga.

The 42% ABV vodka is available via the brand's website and from speciality retailers.

It boasts an RRP of £62 (US$82) for a 700ml ceramic bottle, while the refill 700ml can is offered at £46 (US$61).