Goodbye Goodnight – Windspiel Kampot Pepper

Pepper is not exactly a new gin botanical. However, when a gin producer and pepper experts team up, the resulting spirit should be quite interesting. So, when I discovered the new Windspiel Kampot Pepper Gin, I just had to give it a try. Apart from that, this gave me the idea of mixing up a “Good Night And Good Luck” cocktail variation with a great herbal tea.

For the Windspiel Kampot Pepper Gin the Windspiel folks collaborated with Hennes‘ Finest. In the end, they selected red Kampot pepper from Cambodia as an additional botanical. However, the pepper is not just thrown in the mix like the other botanicals, instead it is macerated and distilled separately. Afterwards, Windspiel adds the pepper spirit to the rest of the gin which is based on potatoes like the regular version. In the end, the gin is bottled at an ABV of 47 %.

Pepper and juniper

I already enjoyed the regular Windspiel Gin and things are no different with the Kampot Pepper version. Of course, the gin tastes predominantly of pepper. However, it is not just plain black pepper, but instead you are rewarded with multiplex pepper notes ranging from freshly grated black pepper to hints of white pepper. For me the Windspiel Gin has quite some power, but I like my gin to be strong enough to stand up against other ingredients when being mixed.

Tea and herbal notes

The original “Good Night And Good Luck” is a combination of Hendrick’s Gin, chamomile tea, lemon and sugar, garnished with cucumber slices. Therefore, I also used tea, but went for a high-quality, organic herbal blend named “Heidi’s Delight“. Apart from that, I included some mirabelle plum liqueur to counter the spicy pepper notes. At the same time, I add to the peppery taste by replacing the simple syrup with Szechuan pepper syrup.

The “Goodbye Goodnight” confuses your taste buds. At first, you are thinking it is just a regular gin sour. However, after a while the herbal notes from the tea mingle with the pepper from the gin and the Szechuan pepper syrup. The plum liqueur just lingers in the back, but also gives the drink structure and a hint more sweetness. Nevertheless, each sip of the cocktail tastes a bit different. This makes the drink very interesting and a welcome distraction from your average Gin & Tonic.

Speaking about Gin & Tonic

Well, obviously I also had to try the Windspiel Kampot Pepper Gin with tonic water. Even more so since I had all three different tonic water version from Windspiel on hand. Windspiel themselves suggest mixing the pepper gin with their hemp tonic. Yet, when comparing a small G&T with the regular Windspiel Tonic and their Dry Tonic, I enjoyed the dry one the most. Apart from that, the Kampot Pepper Gin makes an excellent, peppery highball when being mixed with the other two tonic waters. In the end, it is just up to personal preference if you like it a bit sweeter or dryer.

*The fact that I received a product reviewed in this article for free, did not – in any way – influence the rating of said product. The gin and the tonic waters were provided by Windspiel.