Bloody Mary

Vodka, Tomato Juice, and the Spice Cabinet

A bloody mary is of the few acceptable, yet all telling, drinks you can have before 10am. It's such a popular morning drink, that New Years Day has been named National Bloody Mary Day, because 50% of the planet is hungover and have the day off. Cue more drinking!

I am a personal fan of this cocktail and I don't even need to be hungover to have it. I'm that weirdo that orders a bloody mary at 7pm. It's almost an appetizer with all the garnishes. In fact, I once saw a bloody mary that came in a pitcher and had a fried chicken on top. Yes, a whole fried chicken....That was more like a main course rather than an appetizer.

I wish I had ordered it for myself, but hindsight is 20/20.

Anyway, as a lover of this vegetative cocktail, it's been my mission to create a bloody mary that makes you want another. I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 oz vodka, Grey Goose or Tito's are my go-to's

A dash of Salt

A dash of Pepper

2 dashes Worcestershire sauce

2 dashes of Tabasco

5 oz tomato juice, preferably organic

...I am not the biggest fan of horseradish in my bloody mary's, but it’s a common ingredient that you can try, about a bar spoonful will suffice.

Garnish:

Pickles, lemon, chili salt rim, celery stalk, bacon, whatever you want really...

Process:

Depending on how many neurons are firing in your brain after last night, it's best to prep the garnishes before-hand because they can get out-of-hand quickly. After your garnishes are prepped, you’ll need a lemon wedge and a saucer of salt with a touch of chili powder.

Grab the Collins glass, rub the lemon wedge around the rim then roll the moist rim in the spicy salt mix. Squeeze the lemon wedge into the glass & discard.

Add all ingredients (except for the garnishes of course) into the cocktail tin. Add ice, close the tin, and move the tin back and forth slowly. You're essentially softly shaking the cocktail. Not just for the noise level, but tomato juice thins out really quickly if you shake too hard, and by "rolling" the drink you are maintaining the consistency of the juice.

Taste for preference. If it’s too heavy on tomato juice, add more Worcestershire sauce. If it's too spicy, don't worry, it'll clear your sinuses.

Strain into your ice-filled glass.

Garnish with the pickled produce aisle, as if you're creating a mezze platter but in your drink. Sweet pickle, cocktail onion, cornichon, celery stick, pickled green beans, bacon, lemon/lime, chicken wings, stuffed jalapeños...you get the drill.

Take a few slugs and you'll feel better in about 5 minutes...