Make Good Use Of Leftover Pickle Juice In This Punchy Cocktail

Bite into a tart, juicy pickle, and it's easy to understand why the food is having its moment. And the delectable magic rests not only in the preserved cucumber, but the accompanying brine, too. Note savvy ways to use this leftover pickle liquid, and you can integrate it into a variety of applications, including a tasty tipple. An especially suitable cocktail candidate is a bloody mary.

Yet, effectively melding brine into this drink requires some expertise, so Food Republic is fortunate to have exclusive advice from Leslie K. Harris. As the Marketing Director and purchasing agent at Double Eagle Hotel & Casino in Cripple Creek, Colorado, she knows her way with a shaker. According to her, pickle juice is an excellent candidate for the tomato-based drink "because it adds a salty-sour note and brings out the spices."

While the cocktail embraces a variety of components, certain flavors can clash. With this in mind, Harris said that when measuring the pickle juice, "bartenders typically use just 1-2 [tablespoon] per serving," adding more only if necessary. Although it may not seem like much, the brine incorporates enough of its essence to elevate the drink with newfound complexity.

Two pickle jars are seldom identical, so you'll want to consider the spices and added flavors when building the bloody mary. Remember that pickles can be created through either pickling or fermenting; each of these preparation techniques lends a distinct type of juice. Both taste tangy, but naturally fermented cucumbers are slightly less acidic thanks to their lack of vinegar. For a more nuanced palate with a bit more bite, choose pickles that were made with vinegar. So carefully inspect your pickle jar ingredients before you build your drink: "The choice of brine depends on the flavor profile you are aiming for," said Harris.

After all, tartness is essential for creating a balanced bloody mary, but too much vinegar can overwhelm the drink. And you'll also need to consider the general flavor profile. "Dill pickle brine is a classic," noted Harris, as "it highlights spicy and vegetal notes." Yet for even more spice (which the Bloody Mary readily welcomes), she also recommended "a brine with jalapeño."

When incorporating such pickle juices, pair them carefully with other components. For instance, use less hot sauce alongside vinegar-based pickles juices to manage acidity, and watch the salt content alongside salted pickle brands. Always do a taste test, then finalize with an eye-catching bloody mary topping. Then, you'll get a delicious cocktail that also craftily makes use of a fridge leftover in your ultimate bloody mary.