If you have $20 to shell out for this drink you will find out that pepper vodka is indeed an accquired taste but I like it. 8 seconds was a new vodka that the neighbourhood bar got back in August and wanted to see if it was like McNaughton's like people were saying it was. It does clash with the semi sweet taste of the pumpkin liqueur but add it a few steps down from it and you can tell how vastly different it tastes. If you don't want the absolut vodkas to be at the top of the drink, the first thing you taste then seperate them between the pumpkin.