UNICORN PEPPER MILLS ARE APTLY-NAMED BECAUSE THEY ARE RARE AND HARD TO FIND. YOU WON’T SPOT THEM AT WILLIAMS-SONOMA, SUR LA TABLE OR IN THE KITCHEN SECTIONS OF DEPARTMENT STORES. THIS IS BECAUSE THEIR INVENTOR TOM DAVID, WHOSE FIRST PRODUCT OF THIS TYPE WAS THE PEPPERGUN (A ONE-HANDED GRINDER SINCE DISCONTINUED), DOESN’T CARE ABOUT HOW MANY UNICORNS HE SELLS. ACCORDING TO ONE OF HIS THIRTY OR SO ADORING EMPLOYEES, MR. DAVID IS A SUCCESSFUL INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER, WHO LIVES AND WORKS ON NANTUCKET ISLAND WHERE THE UNICORN FACTORY IS LOCATED. “HE DOESN’T CARE ABOUT MONEY, SO HE DOESN’T CARE ABOUT WIDELY MARKETING HIS PEPPER MILLS,” SHE TOLD ME.
UNICORN PEPPER MILLS COME IN SEVERAL SIZES BUT I’M PARTICULAR TO THE MAGNUM,WHICH STANDS FIVE AND A HALF INCHES HIGH AND IS TWO INCHES IN DIAMETER. UNLIKE THE IT’S TALLER AND HOUR-GLASS-SHAPED COUSIN LE PEUGOT, THE SQUATTER UNICORN IS NEARLY UNTIP-ABLE WITH A GREATER STORAGE CAPACITY. THE PEUGOT’S GRINDER MECHANISMS ARE NOW MADE IN CHINA. UNICORN HAS EMPLOYED THE SAME ITALIAN-MADE TRES SPADE GRINDERS SINCE 1986 WHEN THEIR PEPPER MILLS FIRT TIP-TOED INTO THE MARKET. TRES SPADE HAS BEEN MANUFACTURING QUALITY METAL PRODUCTS SINCE 1864.
THE UNICORN MAGNUM IS A BREEZE TO FILL. LAY IT ON ITS SIDE AND TWIST TO OPEN THE AMPLE HOPPER FOR THE PEPPERCORNS. THE GRIND ADJUSTS EASILY AND ACCURATELY. I CALLED THE FACTORY DIRECTLY TO SPECIAL ORDER A SECOND MILL FOR WHITE PEPPER, WHICH CAME WITH A DISCREET WHITE BAND SO I CAN TELL THEM APART.
THE UNICORN IS ALISON ROMAN’S MILL OF CHOICE AS WELL AS JOSEF CENTENO’S. IF ITS’ GOOD ENOUGH FOR THEM, IT SHOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU!
http://www.unicornmills.org
