Some like it more lemony, some like it more spicy. However you like your Bloody Mary, this ever evolving American classic never goes out of style.
![This simple vodka and tomato juice breakfast classic has turned into a brunch time favorite. The bloody mary continues to add ingredients along the way.](https://flourchild.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/bloody-mary-close-1200.jpg)
Few cocktails can lay claim to the evolution of the unique Bloody Mary. As usual, there are many who had a hand in inventing this classic. The drink we know today is said to have started as a simple vodka and tomato juice, blended by a New York city bartender as a hangover cure for a patron after a late night out in the city that never sleeps. It then grew more complex and spicy by adding ingredients like salt, pepper and hot sauce. It has now become a brunch staple that continues to evolve. I've seen bars that create a whole meal on a skewer over this drink, and what's not to like about that?
What you'll need
I like to start simple with this drink and add from there. So to get started you'll need the following:
- Tomato juice
- Vodka
- Fresh squeezed lemon juice
- Hot sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- Kosher salt
- Ground black pepper
- Celery salt
- Leafy celery stalk, lemon wedge and olive for garnish
Once you've built a solid foundation for the drink and are comfortable adding ingredients, let your imagination guide you. A friend makes these to include thick slices of bacon and avocado, but don't stop there!
Tips for a successful Bloody Mary
Some people like to use V-8 vegetable juice instead of only tomato juice, but I like to start with a clean pallet and mix the spices to my taste. I also like to use a tall glass -- think a Collins glass -- for this drink. It looks striking in the tall thin glass with a celery stalk sticking out of it and a nice layer of celery salt on top. Some people like to also 'salt' the rim with celery salt, but I find it gets too salty and bitter for my taste.
As far as the pepper sauce goes, the five drops I recommend starting with will give you a nice spice without making it too hot. Everyone has a different tolerance for heat, so you need to taste and adjust to your preference. Nancy likes to feel it burn all the way down her throat, but I prefer a spicy taste without the burn.
Follow these tips and build from there:
- Use fresh, organic tomato juice as a base.
- Use your favorite tasting vodka as a mixer.
- Avoid mixes which often have high sodium and can make this drink very salty.
- Go easy on the hot sauce until you find the right mix for your personal taste.
The tangy Bloody Mary is an ever evolving American classic.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz vodka
- 4-6 oz organic tomato juice
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 long dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 5 drops hot sauce
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 pinch black ground pepper
- Celery salt to taste
Instructions
- Add a scoop of ice to a tall cocktail glass.
- Pour in Vodka, tomato juice and lemon juice.
- Mix all ingredients in glass with a bar spoon to ensure proper distribution--you never want to have the spirit sit on top of the drink.
- Add salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste.
- Add celery salt to top of drink.
- Add leafy celery stick, lemon wedge and olives as garnish
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