by Kathleen Neves

Article from Issue Six

The Bloody Mary could be called the “meatloaf” of classic cocktails. The more ingredients added to a Bloody Mary, the better it seems to taste. A typical Bloody Mary consists of vodka, tomato juice, fresh lemon juice, black pepper, salt, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. And it’s always served on the rocks. But these ingredients are only a starting point.

Bartenders have their own “special” ingredient that makes their Bloody Mary recipe unique. Special ingredients can consist of different types of hot sauce, fresh horseradish, a shot of Guinness, a shot of red wine, or a super secret mysterious spicy concoction kept in a jar behind the bar, all of which add the bartender’s signature touch to the drink.

Not only can the basic ingredients in a Bloody Mary vary, but so can the garnishes for the drink. When it comes to garnishing a Bloody Mary, anything is fair game: lemon and lime wedges a celery stalk, green olives, pickles, asparagus, peppers, cocktail onions, or even slices of bacon.

The exact history of the classic cocktail intended to cure hangovers is unclear. No one knows for sure when and where the Bloody Mary originally came from. Some believe that the cocktail was originally concocted by a bartender named Fernand “Pete” Petiot at Harry’s Bar in Paris around 1920. Then there is the theory that the drink was originally referred to as a “Bloody Meyer” and was developed during Prohibition in a New York speakeasy. Then there is the story about a waitress named Mary who worked in a Chicago bar called the “Bucket of Blood.”

With a Bloody Mary, anything goes as long as the drink recipe consists of the main ingredients: vodka, tomato juice, citrus juice, and spice. In my own creation, the “Everything But the Kitchen Sink”, fresh tomatoes, cucumber, and basil are combined with essential Bloody Mary ingredients such as Worcestershire sauce, fresh lemon juice, Crystal hot sauce, salt and pepper. I also add capers and olive juice. Instead of serving this drink on the rocks like a typical Bloody Mary, all of the ingredients are muddled together, shaken on ice with vodka and served up in a chilled martini glass.

Craving a Bloody Mary that will kick you in the pants with spice? Try a pint-sized one at Zeitgeist (199 Valencia Street) any day of the week. Elixir also crafts up a meaty and savory Bloody Mary, and offers a Build-Your-Own-Bloody-Mary bar during their Sunday brunch.  Also check out the Bloody Mary Bar at Home on Market Street.