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“You call that a martini?”

Them’s fighting words. They’re also a tipoff that the guy sitting next to you at the bar is among that finicky subset of drinkers: the martini purist.

Also known as the martini snob.

No other cocktail has the mystique of the martini. And on June 19, National Martini Day (no, we don’t know who designated it), you’d do well to consider all the ways you can run afoul of the martini police.

When you think of Aretha Franklin, do you think of Maker’s Mark Bourbon? Or maybe Snow Queen Enigma vodka? Yann Bouvignies at Scarfes Bar in London's Rosewood Hotel does. Last month, for the first menu he executed as Head Bartender at the eclectic bar, he launched a bevy of drinks inspired by iconic singers, from Aretha and Prince to Pavarotti and the Spice Girls (representing pop, because... England). "Music is a topic that speaks to everyone," Bouvignies says, explaining that on the new menu, each drink is paired with a musical artist and genre, as well as the meaning behind the music and what it represents. 

This is the first of what I assume will be many lovely features of unique brands and spirits, with this particular lineup being 100% Canadian. Yes, I will always have a soft spot for Canadian Spirits and what we showcase to the world. So without further ado, meet the Crystal Head lineup.

Vodka sometimes gets a bad rap as being a flavorless spirit with little difference between brands. But with more brands experimenting with how they’re making it, infusing and distilling it with unique flavors, that’s not the case. Give these 16 vodkas a shot (or two).

Here's how the leading brands are positioning themselves into the future, with an eye on relevance, seriousness, and, yes, flavor.

Crystal Head Vodka is encouraging bartenders across the UK to get creative with the spirit for the chance to win £1,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Vienna.