One Wicked Vodka!!!

Ankeny, Iowa – (October 23, 2000) - Just in time for Halloween, liquor stores in Iowa are being stocked with one wicked vodka. Inferno Pepper-Pot Vodka, a naturally infused vodka with a distinct pepper flavor, is newly listed with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division this month. Lynn Walding, administrator of the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, is introducing the product to Iowa. “Inferno Vodka sales, with its eye-catching packaging, should prove hot in Iowa, especially among the product’s target audience of consumers age 25 to 45 that are constantly on the lookout for new, quality products,” he predicted. “Initial sales are promising, especially for a newly-listed imported vodka”, added Iowa ABD Products Manager Dennis Mitcham. A 750 ml bottle retails in Iowa for about $18.

Inferno Vodka is truly a spirit possessed. Each bottle contains two “Flaming Red” peppers, that coincidently were originally given the code number “911”. Over time, the flavors of the peppers are naturally infused into the vodka, and the spirit emanates a golden glow of spice, heat and sweetness.

The search for the perfect pepper began a few years ago. Distiller John Hall, owner of Kittling Ridge Estate Wines and Spirits of Grimsby, Canada, searched the world for the right hot red peppers to add to Inferno. After trying close to 55 varieties, Hall discovered an experimental pepper grown hydroponically right in his own backyard in southern Ontario. His search ended a few miles away at Verkade Greenhouses. Under several acres of glass, a new hybrid pepper developed in Holland was being grown. The peppers had everything Hall wanted, and more. Because they’re grown hydroponically with heat, light, water and fertilizer computer-controlled, the peppers are consistent in size, taste and color. The flesh is thicker, giving the peppers more flavor than field-grown varieties. And, because they’re grown in greenhouses, the growing season lasts nine months and is not subject to the whims of nature.

Inferno Vodka was made specifically for the Bloody Caesar, a cocktail invented in Canada. In fact, Canadians consume more than 220 million Caesars every year, making it the country’s second most popular cocktail. Inferno is also used in recipes for a Spicy Bloody Mary, a Cajun Martini and a Mexican Greyhound. Hair-raising recipes for Halloween include: