Black Cow Miniature England Pure Milk Vodka 5 cl 40%

Tell someone you have vodka made from milk and you usually get a raised eyebrow. Five centilitres is exactly what it takes to end the argument — there is enough in the bottle for everyone round the table to check for themselves.

Expert description

Black Cow Pure Milk Vodka is an English Vodka from Black Cow in West Dorset, distilled from the whey of milk and bottled at 40% in a 5 cl miniature.

The content is the same as in the full bottle: whey from the farm's milk is fermented, distilled and bottled by hand in Dorset. Only the volume differs, and volume is precisely what makes the small format so useful when somebody needs convincing.

The miniature belongs in a tasting line-up of unusual raw materials. Set it against a vodka made from potatoes, one from grapes and one from grain, and the difference in mouthfeel becomes something you can point at rather than read about. The milk lays down a weight none of the others carry.

As a gift it is easy to give. Small enough for a gift bag or an advent calendar, and it comes with a story the recipient has not heard before. It also takes up no room in a suitcase if the bottle has to travel to someone at the other end of the country.

Tasting notes

Nose

Mild and lightly sweet, with a trace of condensed milk and a cool undertone.

Palate

Thick and velvety in the mouth. The sweetness is subdued, and there is no burn, only an even, round fullness.

Finish

Soft and short. It slips away without bitterness and leaves a faint dryness.

Specifications

Name: Black Cow Pure Milk Vodka
Producer: Black Cow
Region/Country: West Dorset, England
Type: English Vodka
ABV: 40%
Size: 5 CL
EAN no.: 5060323760086
Serving suggestion: Chill the bottle and pour it neat into two small glasses, or use it for a single Espresso Martini.

Flavour profile

Velvety · Mild · Round · Lightly sweet

Did you know?

The curds from the same milk become cheese. The farm makes both cheese and vodka out of every litre it brings in, which means there is effectively nothing left over once both are finished.

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Frequently asked questions about Black Cow Miniature

How much can you judge from 5 cl?

Plenty. Five centilitres covers two small glasses or four tasting pours, and a vodka's texture and finish reveal themselves in the very first sip.

Is it really made from milk?

Yes, and from nothing else. The whey from the milk is fermented and distilled, with no grain, potato or molasses added along the way. It is the same raw material that otherwise becomes cheese.

Is the content the same as in the 70 cl bottle?

Yes. Same farm, same whey, same strength and same filtration — only the bottle is smaller. No special version is made for the miniature format.

Does it make a good gift?

Yes, especially for someone who thinks they have tasted everything. It is small enough for an advent calendar or a gift bag, and the story of a dairy farmer who took up distilling comes along at no extra wrapping.

Can you make an Espresso Martini from 5 cl?

Yes, it lands at almost exactly one drink. Shake the vodka with a fresh espresso and a little coffee liqueur, and the creamy texture lifts the foam on top. For two, you need two bottles.

Should it be served cold?

Fridge cold is best. A small bottle chills right through in the freezer, and the fullness then closes up. Take it out a couple of minutes before pouring and the texture shows more clearly.

Does it suit a tasting of unusual vodkas?

Very well. With small bottles you can line up milk, grapes, potatoes and grain side by side and taste the difference between raw materials without opening four full bottles. To assemble the line-up, browse our Vodka brands.