Ghost Pepper Pickles: Meet The Ghost Pickle, Our Hottest Jar

If you have been searching for ghost pepper pickles that actually taste like something other than pain, this is the jar. The Ghost Pickle sits at the very top of our heat scale, and it was made for October.

Here is what makes it different, who it is for (and who should pick a milder jar), and how to put it to work at a Halloween party, wing night or Bloody Mary brunch.

A pickle born in October

The Ghost Pickle comes from the days when our kitchen launched a new flavour every month. October was coming, ghost peppers were everywhere, and the name wrote itself. October is still its month.

How hot is it, really?

Our heat levels are fixed, not a matter of opinion:

• 0 out of 5: most of our jars, including the Banana Pickle (named for banana peppers, not spicy at all).
• 3 out of 5: anything with "Spicy" in the name, like the Spicy Okra, Spicy Cauliflower, Spicy Green Beans and Spicy Garlic. They use chili flakes and habanero.
• 4 out of 5: The Ghost Pickle. Nothing else we make goes higher.

The full lineup is in our spicy pickles heat scale.

It is not just heat

The Ghost Pickle has the most ingredients of any pickle we make, and they are there for flavour, not just fire. You get a bold, garlicky brine and a real cucumber crunch first, then the heat builds. That is the difference between a pickle you finish and a novelty jar that sits in the fridge.

Who should buy the Ghost Pickle

• Heat chasers who find most "hot" pickles disappointing.
• Wing night and game day hosts. It belongs next to buffalo wings and blue cheese.
• Bloody Mary and spicy margarita fans. A spear in the glass and a splash of brine in the shaker.
• Ramen and sandwich people. A few slices wake up a bowl of noodles or a fried chicken sandwich.

Who should pick a different jar

If you like a kick but not a sting, start at 3 out of 5 with the Spicy line. If you want sweet heat, go for The Heat and Sweet, made with red jalapeños. And if you want all the dill and none of the heat, The Vintage is the classic.

The Ghost Pickle at your Halloween party

It is the easiest grown-up Halloween treat there is: open the jar and let the dares begin.

• The dare jar. Set it out in its own bowl with toothpicks and a little sign: "4 out of 5. You have been warned."
• The board. Put it next to sharp cheddar, pepper jack and salami, with a cooling jar like The Bread and Butter on the other side.
• The drink. A splash of Ghost brine turns a Bloody Mary into a Bloody Scary.

More ideas for the night are in our Halloween pickle party guide.

Giving it as a gift

For the friend who puts hot sauce on everything, The Blazing Box packs The Jalapeños, The Hot Pickle and The Ghost Pickle in a gift-ready box, so they can climb the heat ladder one jar at a time.

Get the jars

Every jar is made in small batches in our Atlanta kitchen. US shipping is free on 2+ jars, and if you spend $150 a jar is on us.

The Ghost PickleGhost pepper heat, 4 out of 5. The top of our scale.Shop · $16.95The Blazing BoxJalapeños, The Hot Pickle and The Ghost Pickle, gift-boxed.Shop · $65.00The Heat and SweetSweet heat from red jalapeños, for the friend who wants a gentler kick.Shop · $16.95

Ghost Pickle FAQ

Is the Ghost Pickle the hottest pickle you make?

Yes. It is a 4 out of 5 on our heat scale and the only jar that really stings.

What do you eat ghost pepper pickles with?

Wings, burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, ramen, a cheese board, or straight from the jar if you are brave. The brine is great in a Bloody Mary or a spicy margarita.

Does it need to be refrigerated?

Not until you open it. Unopened jars keep for up to two years. After opening, keep it in the fridge.