Hangar One is a boutique distillery noted for their old-fashioned approach to making premium alcohol. Their latest flavor, Chipotle, is made especially for pepper-loving drinkers and is quite possibly the most perfect vodka in existence for a Bloody Mary.
St. George Spirits' Lance Winters is the creative mind behind Hangar One Chipotle, and he says the vodka gets its flavor from a number of different peppers. First, chopped jalapenos and Fresno chilies are macerated in vodka. This peppery mix is distilled with unflavored vodka for a bright base. It's added to a separate distillate of smoked jalapeno and bell peppers, and a habanero infusion completes the well-rounded pepper vodka.
I love that Winters was inspired to create this pepper vodka to honor the Bloody Mary. While Hangar One Chipotle can certainly be mixed in other drinks, this reverse-engineered booze shows a level of care and quality that I can definitely appreciate.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Flavored Vodka
- The popularity of artisan flavored vodka, like Hangar One Chipotle, presents an opportunity for distilleries to create unique and innovative flavor profiles.
- Pepper-infused Spirits
- The rise of pepper-infused spirits, exemplified by Hangar One Chipotle, opens up possibilities for spicy and bold cocktail innovations.
- Reverse-engineered Alcohol
- The concept of reverse-engineered alcohol, as demonstrated by Hangar One Chipotle honoring the Bloody Mary, provides a creative approach for distilleries to reinvent classic cocktails.
Sectors Adopting This
- Craft Distilleries
- Craft distilleries can capitalize on the trend of flavored vodka by experimenting with unique ingredients and production techniques to create distinctive spirits.
- Mixology and Cocktail Bars
- Mixology and cocktail bars have an opportunity to incorporate pepper-infused spirits, such as Hangar One Chipotle, into their menus to offer bold and innovative cocktail creations.
- Beverage Packaging and Design
- Beverage packaging and design industries can explore new opportunities in creating visually striking labels and packaging for reverse-engineered alcohol products, like Hangar One Chipotle, that tell a story and capture consumers' attention.
