Cocktails with Black pepper
Black pepper is the dried unripe fruit of the vine Piper nigrum, used as a pungent aromatic spice.
How it's used
Grind it fresh, either into the drink with the other ingredients or over the top as a finishing aroma. Cracked corns can also be muddled, or infused briefly in a syrup or spirit. Its usual partners are tomato and strawberry.
Substitutes for Black pepper
White pepper
Works grind for grind. It is less aromatic and leaves no dark specks in a pale drink.
Pre-ground black pepper
Works too, though its aroma is flatter than fresh-ground.
Grains of paradise
Woody and citrusy, they stand in the same way if you have them.
Chili pepper
Not a swap. It adds heat without the pepper's aroma.
Storage
Whole peppercorns keep their oil for years in a sealed jar; ground pepper is flat within months, so keep a grinder on the station. Store it away from heat, since warmth drives off the aroma first and leaves the burn behind.
