The keys to a good cocktail: unique ingredients full of character, an expert balance of flavors, and … a generous hit of hot sauce? That’s right -– while hot sauce might not be the first ingredient you reach for when you want to craft a premium drink (in fact it’s probably far from the first thing), a dash or two may very well be the thing that boosts your imbibement to the next level.
Just like how hot sauce can be your secret weapon in elevating soups, it can also be your hidden weapon when it comes to cocktail crafting. Hot sauce isn’t simply going to add a spicy factor to your drinks, but it can also add a helping of tanginess and of zesty acidity – things that could help to really amplify the flavors inherent in your concoction. And in fact, hot sauce might be just what you need to take your cheap beer to the next level, too. Whether you choose to purchase one of the hot sauces that are truly worth buying or you instead decide to try your hand in creating your own balanced hot sauce, you definitely shouldn’t be shy with throwing a couple of dashes into your drinks as well as your food.
Drinks that can benefit from the hot sauce treatment
Even if hot sauce has some unique characteristics that improve your cocktails, some drinks are going to be more receptive to the tanginess and heat that hot sauce brings than others. Take the tried and true margarita for example, which is no stranger to getting the spicy treatment — whether that be with a hot pepper-infused tequila or, more simply, with the addition of your favorite hot sauce.
Staying with drinks inspired by south-of-the-border fare, a spicy paloma is another drink that combines the cocktail’s citrusy flavors with the added zing of hot sauce. Choosing a fruit-based sauce like Melinda’s Mango Habanero Hot Sauce will complement the flavors. You could also rim your paloma or margarita with Tajin, a spice blend that offers an even more unique kick. Looking for a quick and spicy shot rather than something to sip? The flatliner is an interesting mix of tequila, sambuca, and Tabasco that packs a punch.
Not to be limited by tequila-based drinks, though, more savory cocktails like the bloody Mary can benefit from an amplified spice profile. It’s already common for some recipes to include Tabasco or Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. A classic Michelada is also a good shout. A cousin of the bloody Mary that’s made up of beer, tomato juice, lemon, and hot sauce, this is yet another drink that benefits from the added oomph. If you’re wanting to improve your spice tolerance, consider taking it up a notch with sauces hotter than the classic Tabasco, like Cholula.
Not all cocktails are going to work
The hot sauce and cocktail combination is an interesting one, and can prove to be quite fruitful, but that doesn’t mean that you should start tossing a few dashes of the hot stuff in every drink expecting to improve it. Hot sauce is a prominent flavor, so it’s going to play well with other strong flavor profiles, such as the lime in margaritas. But not every cocktail is as bold, and it’s here where you’ll need to practice some caution.
Drinks with more subtle flavors are going to require a little more finesse if you want to implement a spicy element. To offer two examples, an old fashioned and a negroni are both spirit-forward, refined cocktails where there’s a lot of focus on the unique flavors of their respective base spirits. If you wanted to add some spice to drinks that fall into this category, hot sauce might not be the ideal option. Instead, you could try an infused spirit or spicy syrup, liqueur, or bitters to bring the heat with more subtlety than hot sauce. So if you want to heat up your bar, you certainly have some choices!
