Embrace the pickle! Toast National Pickle Month with these cocktails

Celebrate National Pickle Month with a toast to the pickle. These cocktails with a pickled theme will have you loving the extra pucker.

Do you love a good pickle? In honor of National Pickle Month, that delicious pucker, briny flavor can add a brightness to any dish, or even better, cocktail. Don’t just eat your pickles. To mark this food holiday, let’s toast to scrumptious pickles.

Pickling has become a popular food trend. While many people just think of the classic pickled cucumber, pickles come in all types of food, flavors and methods. Basically, pickling uses fermentation to preserve foods. While some recipes take a long time, a quick-pickle can offer a boost of flavor to any dish.

Toast National Pickle Month with these cocktails, photo provided by Tito’s Handmade Vodka

While often used in savory dishes or as a side dish, the pickle-flavor can be used in cocktails. Infusing a liquor with this flavor is rather easy to make. The intensity of infused flavor depends on how long you let the ingredient blend. For example, Tito’s Homemade Vodka combines pickle juice and vodka for several days. Plus, you can add a few jalapenos for a spicy kick. Just consider your spice comfort level. The longer the jalapenos infuse, the stronger the flavor.

A Bloody Mary, the classic cocktail, is a great way to highlight pickled flavors. From an infused vodka to extra garnishes, a Bloody Mary is a wonderful way to enhance this drink’s flavor. And, a Bloody Mary isn’t just a brunch cocktail. You can drink it anytime, but we do like it during a Sunday brunch.

Here’s a recipe that is quite tasty.

Pickle & Jalapeño Infused Bloody Mary, photo provided by Tito’s Handmade Vodka

"Pickle & Jalapeño Infused Bloody MaryIngredients•1 1/2 oz infused Tito’s Handmade Vodka•4 oz your favorite bloody mary mix or make your ownDirections•Just add infused Tito’s Handmade Vodka, bloody mary mix and ice to a shaker.•Shake and pour everything into a pint glass.•Go wild with your garnishes"

Adding the pickled flavors to other cocktails is quite easy. For example, the infused vodka can be used in a vodka margarita. Instead of using a mix, use fresh ingredients to create a margarita (a classic sour cocktail). Lime, orange liqueur, agave and infused vodka make for a delightful pucker-margarita.

Serve this libation with a hearty carne asada or a robust mole sauce. The brightness from the brine forward flavor balances all the strong flavors from those dishes. It might make you re-think your favorite margarita.

Pickle & Jalapeño TitoRita, photo provided by Tito’s Handmade Vodka

"Pickle & Jalapeño TitoRitaEnjoy this spicy, salty spin on a Team Tito’s favorite. Shake up your TitoRita with the Pickle & Jalapeño Infused Tito’s Handmade Vodka.Ingredients•1 1/2 oz infused Tito’s Handmade Vodka•1/2 oz orange liqueur•1/4 oz agave•1/2 oz lime juiceDirections•Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.•Shake and strain into a double rocks glass over ice or into a martini glass.•Garnish with a lime slice.•Pro-Tip: If you like it salty, use a glass with a salt rim."

If you really want to taste the pickle, why not try this martini. This simple cocktail brings the briny goodness directly to those fans of the big pucker. Even though you can garnish with a spear, why not try a pickled vegetable as a garnish. A pickled green bean or asparagus could be a nice substitute.

Pickle Martini, photo provided by Tito’s Handmade Vodka

"Pickle MartiniIngredients•3 oz Tito’s Handmade Vodka•1 oz pickle juice•1/2 oz dry vermouthDirections•Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.•Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass."

Which cocktail will you use to celebrate National Pickle Month? Why not sample all three! It could be the theme to your next weekend gathering.