Sharkbait’s Cocktail of the Week: The Brazen Bull

Happy Friday everyone. The warmer weather is finally upon (most of) us, especially in the Northeast. With the temperatures rising, I thought it was time to add some heat to my cocktails and explore some spicy beverages. My first thought was a drink I’ve had numerous times at a bar in the South End of Boston called The Gallows. They infuse their own vodka with jalapenos, scotch bonnets, and habaneros. With that delightfully spicy infusion they created a drink called “The Brazen Bull”. Some quick Googling led to an article in the Boston Globe that lays out the recipe:

Makes 1 cocktail

1½ ounces of chile-infused vodka

¾ ounce fresh lime juice

¾ ounce simple syrup

1 lime wedge

In a shaker full of ice, add all ingredients. Shake vigorously. Pour into a lowball glass, garnish with lime wedge. Brace yourself.

So the home made version of this I used Stoli Hot. Following the instructions in the recipe, I braced myself.

Ok, so that might be a little too mean to the homemade version. The drink is still very refreshing and tasty, however the “hot” vodka I had is clearly lacking in the heat department. I got a little bit of heat near the end of each sip, but overall, it needs to be hotter. In all fairness, I don’t have the, pardon the pun, firepower that the Gallows does with their homemade infusion. The heat is really the star of this drink. When it’s made with the proper infusion, it’s spicy, citrusy, and extremely refreshing. This does provide me with some inspiration to infuse my own pepper vodka. In addition to the peppers The Gallows uses, I’m considering adding in chipotle or ancho peppers to add in a touch of smokiness into the infusion.

The next time any of you are in Boston, I highly recommend stopping by The Gallows and trying it at the source. If you’re wanting to make it at home, find the hottest vodka you can and mix away.

(Banner image found here)