The Gorillaz Are Getting Into The Vodka Business

Damon Albarn’s beloved virtual band, Gorillaz, have announced they will be collaborating with Smirnoff on a limited-edition vodka bottle. And that’s just the start.

The Smirnoff x Gorillaz bottle will feature all four band members as well as their own cocktail recipes, including the Murdoc’s Vodka Murdini (a pickled twist on the classic vodka martini), Hobbs’ Smirnoff Brooklyn (heavy on the chilli), Noodle’s Sayonara Martini (tweaked with yuzu sake), and 2-D’s Vodka Eyeball (which is garnished with eyeball gummies, of course).

Commenting on the collaboration, Murdoc said “Nothing to see here folks—just the OG vodka brand teaming up with the OG virtual band. Cheers Smirnoff—pleasure doing business with you! I’m not usually one for labels, but this is a beauty!”

According to both parties, this partnership will not end here, but lead into “a truly original experience” later in the year.

“It’s been a thoroughly collaborative process,“ says Mark Jarman, head of Smirnoff GB.“When the idea came up to work with the Gorillaz, we knew this had to be the first in Smirnoff’s True Originals series, celebrating disruptive creativity and the endless possibilities that arise from pushing boundaries.

“It was a no-brainer to join forces with Gorillaz, the world’s most successful virtual band and a globally renowned act. They are total innovators in their field, real risk-takers and a true testament to the power of originality.

This exclusive bottling will be available on Amazon from October 27th.

Exclusive Smirnoff x Gorillaz cocktail recipe for the Vodka Murdini

Until smooth Smirnoff Vodka came along, nobody had tried using vodka in a martini. In the 1950s, Smirnoff led a cocktail disruption across America by replacing gin in this classic serve and now millions of martini fans mix with Smirnoff Vodka instead of gin.

Murdoc Niccals is affectionately regarded by the Gorillaz fandom community as Pickle (owing to his green skin) and we wouldn’t put it past him to consider himself the ideal candidate for the next Bond, so it was a no brainer to take the shaken-not-stirred classic and whack a pickle in it… Hold the olive.

Ingredients:

● 50ml Smirnoff No.21 Vodka ● 15ml Belsazar Dry Vermouth ● 10ml Olive brine ● Dash of saline optional ● Pickles (to garnish)

Preparation:

1. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice.

2. Measure Smirnoff Vodka, Vermouth and brine in a jigger and pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker.

3. Shake until cold.

4. Double strain into a cold martini glass.

5. Garnish with pickles.