Cocktails with Tabasco

The collection of cocktails featuring the fiery Tabasco hot sauce traces its roots back to 1933, when Fernand Petiot, having just moved to New York and taken a position behind the bar at the St. Regis Hotel's King Cole Bar, first presented his cocktail know-how to the hotel's boss and co-owner, Serge Obolensky: vodka and packaged tomato juice. He thought the taste of vodka and juice was a little dull, and added some lemon juice, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and, of course, Tabasco.