Sriracha Cocktails with Sobieski

If you didn’t panic and purchase your local grocery store’s entire supply of Sriracha after news broke that factory operations had ceased this winter, I bet you know someone who did. Sriracha is hot, both literally and figuratively. It seems everything from potato chips to lip balm has been flavored with it, and science tells us it is more than just its taste that makes people so crazy for it. The potent compound capsaicin found in chili peppers triggers a reaction which leads your brain to believe you have been burned, thus releasing feel-good chemicals (endorphins) to cope with the pain. If that is more than you wanted to know, how about it just tastes good! And now, Sobieski Vodka brings you that burns-so-good feeling in a whole new way - in your cocktail!

Dante’s Essence:

½ oz. fresh-squeezed orange juice or half an orange

1 teaspoon Sriracha

1 ½ oz. Sobieski Vodka

¼ oz. lime juice

Dash orange bitters

Wheat beer

Orange twist

Muddle half an orange and combine with 1 teaspoon Sriracha. Add Sobieski Vodka, lime juice and orange bitters. Shake and strain into a martini glass or pour over ice in a highball or beer stein. Top with a wheat beer and garnish with orange twist.

The Kick-Start:

1 ½ oz. Sobieski Vodka

¼ oz. vanilla liqueur

¼ oz. lime juice

¼ oz. cranberry juice

Drizzle of Sriracha

Dash simple syrup

Lime wheel

Combine all ingredients then shake and strain into martini glass or high ball over ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Jason liked the cocktails better than I did, as he likes spicy things. But they were certainly different and fun to try!