If You're Brave Of Heart, Consider Trying The Viral Hot Dog Cocktail
We can't be sure if it started as a whisper or as a full-on joke. Maybe it was a serious suggestion made by someone sitting in a stuffy boardroom that someone decided to run with. Whatever its provenance, the genius behind Kroger's viral hot dog-water cocktail struck a chord in the social media-verse. Appearing on TikTok on July 4 (appropriately), the 26-second video came with the caption: "Did we just make the cocktail of the summer?" Within 24 hours, the cocktail video was narrowing in on 100,000 views on TikTok and garnered more than twice that on Instagram.
@kroger Did we just make the cocktail of the summer?! 🌭 🤔#SummerCocktails #HotDogSummer #4thOfJuly #July4
Reactions have been mixed. Some viewers take an oh-hell-no stance and others go all in. The majority, though, tend toward, "Hmmm. Interesting." Make no mistake. The Kroger creation is made with real hot dog water, straight from the pan. This isn't the kind of bottled cocktail accoutrement you'll find in the specialty aisle at the local liquor store. And there's no recipe. The video opens with a shot of a saucepan containing hot dogs simmering in water, then it segues to a close-up of a jigger full of hot dog water being poured into a cocktail shaker. There's a squeeze of fresh lemon, followed by a shot of brown liquor — there's no voiceover or captioning, so the exact variety remains a mystery. Fill the shaker with ice cubes and do the hippie, hippie shake. That's right, throw it like pro à la Tom Cruise in "Cocktail."
The art of the craft
There's an art to serving a hot dog water cocktail. Run a pickle spear — we're guessing it's dill — around the rim of a lowball glass. Flip the coated rim onto a plate of salt and press gently until the salt sticks. Pack the glass with ice cubes and pour in the elixir. Garnish with a swizzle stick lineup of a pearl onion, a tomato wedge, a jalapeno pepper, and, of course, a cocktail frank. Take a step back and admire your creation. It's a pretty impressive-looking cocktail. Still, not quite ready to imbibe? Let's break it down a bit more.
When you get right down to it, hot dog water is just a briny, salty liquid. Depending on your choice of frankfurter, the water may have undertones of beef or spice. It's really no more of a novelty than pickle- or mustard-flavored soda. Yes, both exist and both have loyal followings. Even 7-Eleven got in on the alt-flavored soda action — at least temporarily. As an April Fool's Day prank, the ubiquitous convenience-store brand debuted Big Bite Hot Dog Sparkling Water. The company produced a limited supply of the unusual soft drink — just enough to support the farce. Turns out, the joke was on them. Consumers who tried the beverage actually liked it and wanted more. The idea of using hot dog water as a mixer may not be mainstream, but it's not necessarily cutting-edge either.
A brave new world
It's certainly not much of a stretch to imagine the behind-the-scenes cocktail wizards at Kroger — the grocery chain curates a cocktail guide on its website — conjuring a hot dog water cocktail to showcase the unexpected flavor. Believe it or not, there's precedent. Consider the Frank Collins, a tube steak-centric twist on a classic Collins (gin, lemon juice, sugar, and sparkling water). Like Kroger's hot dog water cocktail, it begins with, you guessed it, hot dog water. But that's where the similarities end. The Frank Collins is a blend of gin, frank consommé (aka hot dog water), and Worcestershire sauce, topped off with a splash of beer and garnished with a hot dog spear. For variety, try adding a dash or two of Tabasco, or consider replacing the Worcestershire sauce with soy sauce.
Another option: Ease into the meat-flavored cocktail phenomenon by starting with an infused spirit. In 2011, Bon Appetit featured an elixir created by New York City bartender Adam Seger. The cocktail, inspired by the Chicago-style frank (Seger was a longtime resident of Chicago before relocating to New York City), is an on-the-rocks libation featuring Templeton Rye infused with boiled Vienna Beef hot dogs, Colman's mustard powder, raw white onion, sweet pickle relish, dill pickle spears, sliced tomatoes, sport peppers, celery salt, and poppy seeds. An alternate version comparable to a whiskey sour incorporates lemon juice and double cane syrup. Or expand your horizons and explore the wider world of meat-infused spirits. Bacon-infused bourbon, anyone?