This Insanely Spicy Vodka Put a Man in the Hospital

Here’s a good rule to live by: Don’t drink anything with “Satan” in the name. A 30-year-old man from the U.K. recently found that out the hard way when he gulped down a swig of 1786 Satan’s Shot, vodka infused with the Carolina Reaper pepper, one of the world’s spiciest chiles.

For the most part, spicy spirits are great. They add a tasty kick to cocktails and a euphoric layer of heat. A good pepper-infused spirit leaves your lips burning and your tongue wanting more. A bad pepper-infused spirit, like Satan’s Shot, sends you to the hospital.

Emma Mirrington bought the vodka at the Guildford Cheese and Chilli Festival. She served it to a group of friends. And then came the pain. According to Mirrington, eight people were affected and one was sent to the hospital in an ambulance. According to the International Business Times, the man was unconscious.

Until recently, the Carolina Reaper was the world’s hottest chile (the current reigning champ is the Dragon’s Breath pepper). Hitting a whopping 1,569,300 SHU on the Scoville scale, it’s 300 times spicier than a jalapeño, which typically ranges from 2500 to 8000 SHU. Satan’s Shot Vodka is infused with that insanely hot pepper for three full weeks.

“I know people have reactions when they have something too hot, but there’s a warning on the back of the bottle,” a representative of the vodka’s parent company told the press. There certainly is a warning. It reads: “Only Satan himself is brave enough to drink this vodka neat.” Apparently, that’s not hyperbole.