Cocktailing | Bloody Mary
Just when you think a perfect Bloody Mary doesn’t exist - I figured it out. I actually think it’s harder to make a bad Bloody Mary instead of a good one, but once I undertook making my own Bloody Mary mix - I think I cracked into the best Bloody Mary ever.
The history of the Bloody Mary is really kind of hilarious. There are a million stories. The most likely originates at Harry’s Bar in Paris where a bartender named Fernand Petiot conceived of the cocktail and named it for the ruthless rule of Queen Mary I of England in the mid 1550’s. The tomato juice represents the blood shed, the vodka and spices mimic the brutal means the queen used. He devised it as a breakfast cocktail - but it was simple back then, just tomato juice and vodka with a dash of Worcestershire.
The funniest story of it’s origin is that Hemingway was in Harry’s Bar just before he got married. Hemingway ordered a drink mixed with juice so no one would smell the vodka on his breath - so tomato juice was added. While he was drinking, he was muttering “Bloody Mary,” the name of the girlfriend he was giving up in favor of marriage. Hilarious. For loads of reasons but the number one being, would Hemingway really give up a girl because of marriage?
See what you think about my best Bloody Mary and tell me if you think it’s named for a cruel queen or a future potential mistress.
The Best Bloody Mary
makes 4 drinks
2 1/2 tablespoons worchestershire
juice of 1/2 a lime
1 tablespoon olive brine
1 teaspoon crushed celery seed
1 teaspoon horseradish
16 ounces tomato juice
10 dashes tabasco (more or less to taste)
8 ounces vodka
olives, celery, pickled beans, cucumber, lime wedges, bacon, pickled onions, and anything else you love!
STEP 1
In a pitcher, mix together Worcestershire sauce, lime juice, olive brine, celery seed, and horseradish. Pour in tomato juice and stir to combine. Add tabasco to taste.
STEP 2
Fill four highball glasses with ice. Split the vodka amongst the glasses (2 ounces) and top with tomato mixture (4 ounces). Garnish to your hearts content! Add more tabasco or lime wedges as needed.
