A cocktail with benefits
Thanks to its bold, rich flavor and curative properties — tomato juice is said to counter the effects of drinking too much alcohol — a bloody mary often is the drink of choice for Sunday brunch. Yet the vodka-based cocktail is much more than a hair of the dog cure for a hangover. It hits the spot any time you feel like sipping a drink that puts a peppery burn on your lips.
Holla’s Sweetfire Jalapeño vodka, crafted in York, Pa., is infused with chili peppers, which gives a sweet and gentle heat to mixed drinks. It’s also the base for the official summer cocktail created by the distillery for the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association to raise money for Uplifting Athletes, a nonprofit that raises awareness and research funds for rare diseases.
The drink is spicy, but only moderately so; depending on your tolerance level, you may also want to add an additional dash or two of Tabasco or a tad more horseradish. (I garnished the rim with Old Bay Seasoning for extra oomph and flavor.) A crisp and crunchy celery stick is a mandatory finishing touch, but feel free to go crazy with other garnishes as well — think everything from pickle spears or cornichons to dilled green beans, bacon, olives, and lime or lemon slices.
If you prefer the shortcut of using a premade bloody mary mix, Holla founder Patrick Shorb recommends going regional with one made by a Pennsylvania
company like York-based EPIC Pickles or Bellefonte’s Bonfatto’s. Be sure to have plenty of ice — bloody marys are best served icy cold.