Bloody Mary (cocktail)
A Bloody Mary is a cocktail containing vodka, tomato juice, and usually other spices or flavorings such as Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, beef consomme or bouillon, horseradish, celery or celery salt, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and lemon juice.
History of the Bloody Mary
The origin of the Bloody Mary is somewhat disputed. One claim states that it was originally created by George Jessel around 1939. The New York Herald Tribune (December 2, 1939) printed what is believed to be the first reference to this drink, along with the original recipe: "George Jessel’s newest pick-me-up which is receiving attention from the town’s paragraphers is called a Bloody Mary: half tomato juice, half vodka."[citation needed]
Frenchman Fernand Petiot corroborates that George Jessel first created the drink and name, and that he (Petiot) merely added the spices to the plain vodka and tomato juice drink. From the New Yorker Magazine, July 1964:
“I initiated the Bloody Mary of today,” he told us. “George Jessel said he created it, but it was really nothing but vodka and tomato juice when I took it over. I cover the bottom of the shaker with four large dashes of salt, two dashes of black pepper, two dashes of cayenne pepper, and a layer of Worcestershire sauce; I then add a dash of lemon juice and some cracked ice, put in two ounces of vodka and two ounces of thick tomato juice, shake, strain, and pour. We serve a hundred to a hundred and fifty Bloody Marys a day here in the King Cole Room and in the other restaurants and the banquet rooms.”
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Origin of the term
The epithet "Bloody Mary" is associated with a number of historical and fictional women, most notably Queen Mary I of England (see Bloody Mary (person) for others); however, there is no known connection between the name of the cocktail and any of these people.
The name likely refers to the blood-like color of the cocktail.
Popular culture
- In South Pacific, the song Bloody Mary refers to the character Bloody Mary, a native trader.
- In the movie The Royal Tenenbaums, Richie Tenenbaum regularly drinks Bloody Marys.
- Mother Jefferson on the television show The Jeffersons regularly drank Bloody Marys.
Preparation and serving
Bloody Marys, and the non-alcoholic Virgin Mary, are frequently served in the morning (as are Mimosas and Screwdrivers), although they are a popular drink later in the day as well.
While there is not much complexity in mixing vodka and tomato juice, more elaborate versions of the drink have become trademarks of the bartenders who make them. A common garnish is a celery stick when served in a tall glass, often over ice.
Ingredients
- 2 parts vodka
- 3 parts tomato juice
- Ground salt and pepper
- 6 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
- 5 drops Tabasco
- 1 tsp. celery salt
- 1 tsp. horseradish
- Dash of lemon or lime juice
- Dash of orange juice (optional)
May be shaken vigorously or stirred lazily, as desired. Garnish with a celery stalk; a skewer of olives, pickles, carrots, mushrooms, or other vegetables; or even meat (salami, shrimp, etc.) and cheese (see photos).
Variations
- Variations in alcohol
- Virgin Mary, Bloody Shame, or Bloody Virgin - without alcohol; the second term is commonly used in Australia.
- Ruddy Mary - gin replacing vodka
- Red Hammer - In the Northeastern U.S. through the 1950s while vodka was scarce, gin instead of vodka was known as a Bloody Mary ; once vodka became readily available in those regions, the traditional vodka-based Bloody Mary was known as Red Hammer for a time
- Michelada - Mexican beer replacing vodka, usually flavored with a couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce
- Bloody Geisha - sake replacing vodka
- Bloody Maria - tequila replacing vodka
- Brown Mary or Whiskey Mary - whiskey replacing vodka
- Bloody Bishop - sherry in equal measure to vodka
- Red Eye, Calgary Red Eye, or Saskatchewan Red Eye - beer replacing vodka, usually in a 50/50 mixture with the tomato (or Clamato in Canada) juice.
- Variations in mixers
- Bloody Bull - beef bouillon and tomato juice. The drink originated at Brennan's restaurant in New Orleans and is served at Commander's Palace as well as other Brennan Family Restaurants.
- Bull Shot - beef bouillon or beef consomme in place of tomato juice. It may also contain salt, pepper, lemon juice, Tabasco sauce and Worcestershire sauce.
- Caesar, Bloody Caesar, or Clammy Mary - Clamato replacing tomato juice, much more popular in Canada than the traditional Bloody Mary.
- Bloody Eight or Eight Ball - V8 replacing tomato juice, or a mixture, usually equal parts
- Variation in drink format
- Frozen Bloody Mary - placed in a blender with ice.
- Flaming Bloody Mary - a small amount of 151 rum is floated on top and a string hangs outside the glass and is ignited for a cold weather drink.
- Flaming, Frozen Bloody Mary - a frozen Bloody Mary is topped with 151 rum and ignited. Also called "Bloody Fire and Ice". (Note be sure to use a ceramic mug to avoid shattered glass)
- Upside Down Bloody Mary - the drinker lies face up on the bar with head hanging backwards. The drink is poured into the mouth and the drinker stands mixing the drink in her mouth. This is a popular morning-after hangover cure as it also forces blood to the head.
- Bloody Mary Jane, - warm-steep marijuana in tomato juice with a little vodka for at least 2 hours, let cool, use as the tomato juice in any Bloody Mary recipe
- Miscellaneous
- Bloodless Mary - without tomato juice