Cocktail Series: Bloody Mary

You either love it or you hate it. You can see the giant piece of celery sticking out of the glass behind all of the bottomless mimosas. Only the bold order it past brunch/lunch time. If you have an intense hatred for tomato juice, you might want to skip past this recipe. But for our friends who enjoy a beverage with a kick that can be topped with a variety of standout ingredients from celery to whole sandwiches (yes, these exist) then join us as we discuss the Bloody Mary. As it appears to be with most classic cocktails, there are debates surrounding the origin and even the name of this tomato heavy beverage. The top theory points to the 1920s when Fernand “Pete” Petiot at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris began mixing Russian vodka with tomato juice. As time went on and Petiot moved to the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis hotel in New York, Petiot began adding the multitude of spices we see in Bloody Marys today; however, this hangover cure was known as and is still on the King Cole menu as the Red Snapper. Now, what about the name? Well, it’s up to you to pick your favorite source! Many believe the name refers to the infamous Mary Tudor (Mary I of England and Ireland). Another name theory is intertwined with the belief that a man named George Jessel invented the tomato beverage before Petiot. It is said that Jessel was nursing a hangover and mixed up the tomato and vodka concoction when a woman named Mary walked in and spilled a glass filled with the tomato mixture down the front of her white dress, hence Bloody Mary. So what else goes into a Bloody Mary besides tomato juice and vodka? You’ll also need lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. You can throw in other ingredients such as cayenne pepper, celery salt, hot sauce, horseradish, lime juice, etc. The possibilities are truly endless, and you can create the Bloody Mary recipe that best suites your taste! You can go with the classics of celery, olives, and lemon as your toppings, or you can top your glass with your entire brunch. There are Bloody Marys out there with sandwiches, burgers, bacon, chicken, and yes, even donuts. If you do top yours with something new and shocking, make sure to upload a picture to Delectable. Happy drinking!