Wild West Vodka Essence 20 ml

Wild West Vodka Essence 20 ml

Every bar in the world has one bottle that gets used more than all the others: the neutral vodka in the speed rail. It ends up in everything from a bloody mary to a cosmopolitan, and it really has only one job – to give the drink strength and backbone without interfering. Wild West is that kind of vodka, the workhorse that never lets you down.

The style is as neutral as vodka gets, with a silky-clean softness that lets the spirit melt into juice, soft drinks and liqueurs instead of poking through. At the same time there is a small peppery nerve underneath, just enough to make the drink feel grown-up rather than merely sweet.

Colour & Appearance

Once mixed, Wild West is completely transparent and gleamingly clear. It looks exactly as it should: clean, simple and without the faintest haze – a blank canvas for the bartender to paint on.

Nose

The nose is neutral and discreet. If you go looking you will find a faint sweetness, rather like icing sugar, a suggestion of lemon peel and a streak of white pepper. Otherwise the impression is clean and pared back, with no grainy or bready notes.

Palate

The palate is silky-clean. The vodka lands softly on the tongue, almost a little sweet, and glides on without snagging anywhere. The body is light to medium and entirely free of off-notes. Towards the end a small peppery spark is lit – white pepper rather than chilli – which gives backbone and means the vodka holds together even when it is lengthened with ice and mixers.

Finish

The finish is short and clean, with a mild, peppery warmth that fades quickly. Nothing lingers to disturb the next sip or the other flavours in the drink.

How to Use

The essence is mixed with vodka or neutral spirit. 20 ml makes 750 ml of finished drink that is ready to use immediately. Instructions are on the label.

Serving Suggestions

• With tomato juice, celery, hot sauce and black pepper – a hearty bloody mary.
• With ginger beer, lime and lots of ice in a copper mug.
• A cosmopolitan with cranberry juice, orange liqueur and lime.
• With cola, orange juice or any soft drink you like – simple and dependable.
• As an ice-cold schnapps when you want something completely neutral.

About the Essence

Wild West is the vodka for those who see vodka as a cocktail ingredient first and a schnapps second. It is deliberately neutral: where other vodka styles in the range offer breadiness, barley sweetness or mineral coolness, this one stays in the background and lets the rest of the glass do the talking.

That also makes it a rewarding base for home-made liqueurs, berry schnapps and infusions, where you want the fruit or the spice to take centre stage. For large volumes the essence is also available in 25 litres.