Wash jalapeños and bird's eye chiles. Slice jalapeños in half lengthwise; leave seeds in for more heat or remove for milder infusion. Lightly crush the dried bird's eye chiles to release oils.

Combine and steep

Place vodka, halved jalapeños, crushed dried chiles, and whole black peppercorns into a clean 16–24 oz glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Seal and shake gently to mix.

Infusion time

Let the mixture sit at room temperature out of direct sunlight for 24–48 hours, tasting every 12 hours. For a medium heat and clear pepper flavor, 24 hours is often enough; up to 48 hours will be hotter and more pepper-forward. Do not exceed 72 hours to avoid overly vegetal or bitter flavors.

Strain and finish

When the desired heat is reached, strain vodka through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth into a clean bottle. Discard solids. Add freshly cracked black pepper to the bottle and give it a gentle shake to integrate the aromatics. Chill before using.

Homemade Bloody Mary Mix

Combine base ingredients

In a pitcher, combine tomato juice, lemon juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, prepared horseradish, and hot sauce. Whisk until homogenous.

Season

Add smoked paprika, celery salt, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, Old Bay (if using), and sugar. Whisk thoroughly and taste. Adjust hot sauce, salt, or sugar to achieve a balance of savory, spicy, and bright acidity.

Chill and rest

Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (up to 4 hours) to let flavors marry. Stir again before serving. This mix will keep refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 3 days; stir or shake before use, and discard if it smells off.

Garnish & Assembly (per cocktail)

Prepare the glass rim

Run a lime wedge around the rim of a highball or pint glass. On a small plate, mix a pinch of coarse salt with cracked black pepper. Dip the glass rim into the mixture to coat as desired.

Assemble the cocktail

Fill the prepared glass with 6–8 ice cubes. Pour 1.5 oz pepper-infused vodka over the ice, then add 4 oz chilled Bloody Mary mix. Stir gently to combine (about 8–10 strokes) so the cocktail chills and dilutes slightly.

Garnish

Garnish with a celery stalk, a lime wedge on the rim, two green olives on a pick, and a pickled pepper if desired. Serve with a straw and an extra dash of hot sauce or freshly ground black pepper to taste.