Might I suggest using regular whole milk instead of the evaporated milk and water? My family makes a roux from the sausage drippings and then adds milk to thin out the roux. I love adding hot sauce to mine, but the rest of the family doesn't, so I just put a little bottle of Cholula at my place setting. If you use the Tennesse Pride brand you can get hot or mild (stay away from the sage). The hot will add a nice kick, but again with the family I have to use the mild.
Actually, I usually do use just regular whole milk for the gravy.
Sometimes we use use the evaporated milk though.
I can't stand hot sauce, but I do like the idea of using hot sausage instead of regular though. Yum. I'll have to make some for breakfast soon!