Stolichnaya Halapeno Pepper Vodka

Stoli Hot is Stolichnaya's Jalapeno pepper vodka, and unlike most chilli-flavoured spirits it delivers genuine mouth heat rather than a token warmth. It is built on the same clean wheat-based Stolichnaya spirit that underpins the rest of the range.

The aroma is properly vegetal, with fresh green jalapeño, coriander leaf, a little garlic and cracked black pepper. On the palate the pepper flavour arrives first, savoury and true to the fresh chilli, then the heat builds steadily and holds through a long, peppery finish. There is a faint whisper of smoke behind it all.

A bloody mary essential, and excellent in a spicy margarita-style serve. Tart mixers such as pineapple, lime or grapefruit temper the heat while letting the savoury chilli character come through.