Country Strong: Vestal Vodka

A far cry from the gothic eastern bloc environs typically associated with vodka, the pastoral landscapes of Poland’s vertiginous countryside serve as headquarters for new artisanal spirit Vestal Vodka. NOWNESS traveled to the picturesque region of Kashubia to shadow the brand’s father-son founders, John and William Borrell (whose brother is Razorlight’s Johnny Borrell) in the run-up to the harvest of their star ingredient, Vestal virgin potatoes. “All of the taste comes from the quality of the ingredients; the flavors come directly from the humble potato,” William explains. The Borrells launched their sipping vodka last year as a bespoke, single-distilled incarnation, whose nuanced flavor profile rivals the complexities of whisky and wine with notes as diverse as apricot, vanilla, honey and pepper. A retired war correspondent for TIME Magazine, John settled in Poland 15 years ago; his son’s love for the country grew with each family visit. “I’ve traveled there many times, from before the fall of communism, to more recently, when Poland has experienced the best time it’s ever had historically, socially and economically,” William says. Although Borrell junior prefers his vodka neat, in a wine glass, and with a single cube of ice, he confesses to a soft spot for a high-octane espresso martini; he shares his recipe below.

Make a cold press coffee like so:

Once the cold press coffee is ready: