How to choose the right hot sauce for a spicy cocktail
Spicy cocktails have many fans, from micheladas to Bloody Caesars, and the key is to choose the right sauce according to the alcoholic base.
“both heat and a touch of tangy acidity that complements the flavors found in these spirits.”
The most common ways to add spice to a cocktail are muddling, infusing, adding spices, or using a good hot sauce. Each technique depends on what's available, the desired flavor, and the time you're willing to spend, as Ohio Liquor explains when discussing infusions and syrups.
A rim frosted with chili and lime, a simple syrup infused with chilies like serrano or chipotle, and a liqueur infused with a slice of chili are all ways to achieve a special touch. All require having fresh or ground dried chilies at home and handling them carefully.
Muddling fruits, herbs, and aromatics to enhance flavors and aromas requires the right tools and patience, so it's usually left to cocktail bars. For a quick spicy kick, a splash of your favorite sauce is all you need, adding heat, flavor, and even color.
The alcoholic base determines the sauce. Vinegar-based sauces, such as Tabasco, Crystal, and Zab's, pair well with rum and vodka because they provide a spiciness and acidity that complements those spirits, according to Ohio Liquor.
Bourbon pairs best with fruity sauces, such as Tajin Fruity Chamoy, Melinda's Mango Habanero Pepper, or The Hot Ones Jr. The Yellow. Tequila goes equally well with both sour and sweet sauces. Lisa Seabury, a bar expert who runs the hot sauce brand High River Sauces, used Blood Orange Trinidad Scorpion sauce in the Rogue Scorpion Tea cocktail, according to Thrillist.