Bittermens Hellfire Habanero Shrub. This is an awesome product. It’s pretty much the “hot sauce” for cocktails. A few drops will add that lovely spiciness to your drink without too much other distracting flavors.

It’s noted as a shrub, which is a fancy way to refer to its vinegar base. Shrubs are basically vinegar-based syrups that have been used in beverages for centuries – vinegars were a good way to preserve fruit juices before the age of refrigeration and preservatives (see this post for more on shrubs). The original inspiration for this product came from traditional hot sauces, which typically have a vinegar base (i.e. Tabasco, Tapatio, Cholula, Sriracha, etc). It’s got a bit of a tartness (vinegar and fruitiness from the habanero), but really is spicy enough that a few drops will do the job so it doesn’t really lend too much sourness in a drink.

I’ve had this for years and it’s perfect to add that extra perk of spice in drinks, especially if you want to avoid the burden of spicy pepper infusions, or just to have more detailed control over the amount of spice added. Well worth keeping around, and a bottle will last you forever.

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