Here’s something that just arrived in the Chicago Sun-Times newsroom that’ll put a little color in your dreary, gray day: UV Sriracha Vodka.
Phillips Distilling Company calls the vodka, launched last month, the first sriracha-flavored vodka to hit the market and “the perfect complement to any Bloody Mary recipe.” (And, as we all know, the Bloody Mary is the drink of choice among Chicago brunchers.)
It’s infused with a proprietary blend of chilies, garlic and vegetables that “honors the traditional sriracha hot sauce,” according to Philips.
“UV Sriracha is not too hot, not too spicy and the ideal vodka to punch up a Bloody Mary or any savory drink,” Phillips Director of Research and Development Jim Aune said in a written statement.
“The nose has a blend of chili peppers, including the hotter red chili pepper and the more subtle green chili pepper. UV Sriracha has a pepper character that hits you right up front, which is very quickly followed by the hot pepper. The hot stays mainly on the front of the tongue. It is buffered by the green pepper so the spice comes through, without offensive heat.”
That’s a pretty apt description of the flavor; it’s a little more garlicky than that. Our staff also sniffed notes of iceberg lettuce in the bouquet, or “something different every time.” (And, yes, that was before the shots.)
The consensus: Not the best shots, but for a Bloody Mary.
UV Sriracha is available in one-liter, 750ml and 50ml bottle sizes. The suggested retail price for a one-liter bottle is $12.99, according to the distilling company.
UV Vodka also comes in flavors like UV Candy Bar, UV Salty Watermelon and UV Blue.
Here’s a recipe for a Bloody Mary featuring UV Sriracha, provided by the company:
Sriracha Bloody Mary 1 part UV Sriracha Vodka 2 parts Bloody Mary mix Stir and serve over ice with your favorite Bloody Mary garnishes.
Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve experimented with sriracha cocktails. The rooster sauce was an ingredient in the Reader’s Cocktail Challenge.
