Having been blown away by Conniption Navy Strength Gin (see my review of that sublime spirit), I didn't think twice about buying a bottle of cucumber vodka from the same distillery. And I was NOT disappointed!
Durham Distillery's cucumber vodka is crisp, clean, and has just the right amount of cucumber flavor. It's obvious from the first sip that the vodka base is of high quality, a necessary prerequisite for any good flavored vodka. And the cucumber flavor is authentic, not artificial or over-extracted.
I've tried this vodka in a martini, which did not disappoint, as well as "The West End" cocktail whose recipe is listed on the website (even my wife, not usually a fan of strong drinks, loved it). But it's also smooth and balanced enough to drink neat.
Perhaps my favorite way to enjoy Durham's cucumber vodka is on the rocks, with a nice cigar. Unlike bourbon or other brown spirits, this cucumber vodka doesn't compete with the cigar for which one has the dominant flavor. Instead, it's a cool, refreshing break between puffs of intensely flavored smoke.
If you enjoy a good cigar, or just a high-quality flavored vodka, do yourself a favor and grab a bottle of this spirit the next time you visit the ABC store--I promise you won't be disappointed!
