(Photo: Spirit of Gallo)
"Hot Ones," the viral wing-centric interview show hosted by Sean Evans, is teaming up with New Amsterdam Vodka for a pepper-infused liquor that's sure to raise the hairs on the back of your neck. Now, just as much as ever, please drink in moderation.
Decorated with faux-neon signage and the show's fire-belching chicken logo, Heat Check Vodka is said to combine flavors of serrano, Fresno and habanero peppers. The brand has yet to release a Scoville scale — the metric by which spice fiends judge how hot a product is — for the vodka, but we can make some lucky guesses. While serrano and Fresno peppers occupy the lower end of the spectrum alongside jalapeños, habaneros up the ante to a comfortable degree just shy of ultra-spicy peppers like the Trinidad Scorpion and Carolina Reaper.
Though certainly spicy, the spirit shouldn't veer into the regret-worthy likes of the infamous One Chip Challenge.
Distillation was headed up by New Amsterdam Vodka, arguably best known for its brightly colored Pink Whitney flavor (itself a collaboration with Barstool Sport's Spittin Chiclets podcast). Unlike Pink Whitney, however, Heat Check will debut as a limited-edition offering while supplies last. Now available nationwide, the vodka is bottled at 35%-ABV with a suggested retail price of $10.99.
“Hot Ones is bringing the heat to fans yet again with the launch of Heat Check, a not-too-spicy, not-too-mild, but just right pepper-infused spirit in partnership with New Amsterdam Vodka,” Evans said in a news release. “I’m thrilled to invite spice lovers to see if they can handle the heat, from celebrating with a spicy shot, to poolside sipping on the official cocktail of summer, the Heat Check Spicy Scorched Lemonade.”
The launch with be commemorated with a suite of supported content on the Hot Ones and First We Feast platforms. If you're hesitant to try the spirit by itself, find a variety of signature spice-laden cocktails like the Scorched Lemonade and Hot & Dirty.
Behind the scenes, New Amsterdam Vodka is managed by Spirit of Gallo, the alcohol giant behind High Noon Hard Seltzer, RumChata, Amaro Montenegro and more. Recognized as the third largest spirits supplier in the U.S. by volume, Gallo seems eager as ever to shake up the market with attention-grabbing releases sure to make a splash in the eyes of consumers.
"At Spirit of Gallo, we believe in crafting innovative spirits that not only taste great, but also spark cultural conversations," Brandon Lieb, VP of Spirits at Gallo said. "Heat Check invites drinkers to embrace the thrill of bold flavor, all with the stamp of approval from the discerning masters of spice in Sean Evans and the Hot Ones brand."
