The Northern Main Distilling Company makes an excellent vodka called Twenty 2. We reviewed the straight vodka previously, explaining the care and craft the company puts behind their product. As it turns out, they are also highly committed to infusions. The produce a 150-proof and 160-proof vodka for at-home infusions. Recently, though, they have introduced their own line of infused vodkas they dub Rested Expressions.
Twenty 2 Rested Expressions Black Peppercorn Flavored Vodka is a little daunting. Like all of the Rested Expressions vodkas, the infusion materials are sitting right at the bottom of the bottle. In the case of the black peppercorn with a dark-hue of surrounding vodka, I’m a little intimidated, but I’m also excited knowing there is a bloody Mary in my immediate future.
Straight
There might be somebody in the world that would enjoy drinking this vodka straight. Let’s be honest, though. It’s peppercorn infused vodka. It tastes like Peppercorn and I can’t really taste (or feel) anything besides the peppercorn when I drink this vodka straight. It’s is hot and peppery, but, taking it at face value, it’s really not a bad vodka to drink straight. That said, I really don’t think The Northern Main Distilling Company intended for anyone to drink this vodka straight.
Mixed
At first, I tried to follow a recipe to make my own bloody Mary mix. It consists of blending for 2 minutes the following:
- 2 lbs of cherry tomatoes
- 2 tsp of Chipotle Tabasco
- 2 tbsp of Worcestershire
- Juice from one lemon
- 1/2 tsp of kosher salt
- A pinch of fresh oregano and fresh basil
I messed it up somehow, or else I’m just too spoiled with my favorite over-the-counter bloody Mary mixer, Zing Zang. My mix ended up tasting like tomato puree with a kick. Twenty 2 Rested Expressions Black Peppercorn Flavored Vodka in Zing Zang is simply delicious. The vodka adds a kick to the already punchy flavor of the bloody Mary mix. I don’t often think to order a bloody Mary, but I’ll never hesitate to do so if I see the bar has a bottle of this vodka.
Final Thoughts
Twenty 2 Rested Expressions Black Peppercorn Flavored Vodka is a wild infusion that’s expertly designed for making the best bloody mary you can find. And, if you’re into heat and pepper, it’s a pretty good straight vodka, too.
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