There’s nothing like a Bloody Mary when you really need it (i.e., after imbibing a little too much the night before).
But when you’re really wanting that hair of the dog, a bad Bloody will make things even worse. Properly mixing this daytime drink is an artform – there are many ways to make it transcend the typical mix of tomato juice and vodka, but you need to have a strategy to make it truly tasty. Check out these 10 tips to make your Bloody Mary one to remember.
1. Spice it up with Sriracha.
Like it spicy? Instead of the typical hit of Tabasco, a few squirts of this Vietnamese hot sauce will elevate the flavors in the drink and add the spice that you need the morning after.
2. Shuck some oysters.
Even better than a dollop of spicy sauce? An oyster! Oyster Bloody Marys are common at seafood restaurants, as the bivalve makes a tasty addition to your brunch cocktail. (And you get your protein with your booze!) Just shuck your favorite variety and drop it in.
3. Add V8 instead of tomato juice.
Instead of using typical tomato juice, why not toss a bunch of veggies in there? Grab a few cans of V8 and use it as a mixer.
4. Infuse your vodka.
One of the worst things about drinking a Bloody Mary are the dregs. The horseradish that makes the drink so delicious usually gathers at the bottom of the glass – not very appetizing. To avoid this problem, use horseradish-infused vodka (which you can easily make yourself). It will give you all the flavor you need, without the gross after effects.
5. Squeeze the lime.
A healthy squeeze of fresh lime really cuts through the gooey tomato and hot spice to make the drink much more savory.
6. Toss in a pickle.
It’s not uncommon to see celery or olives garnishing the drink – but there is an even better pairing! Instead of a long stick of celery, throw in a pickle. The pickle will pair well with the drink, and the brine that seeps into the beverage will make it even more yummy.
7. Don’t trim the celery.
A lot of cuisine is about presentation, and drinks are no different. Create an artisanal feel to your beverage by leaving the leaves on your celery stalk.
8. Go cheap!
Since there is so much flavor in the other ingredients, there is no reason to use the expensive stuff. Don’t waste your Grey Goose (or other expensive labels) on this brunch cocktail – the smoothness won’t stand out since the spirit is drowned in tomato juice.
9. Try Absolut Peppar.
What’s the best vodka to mix the libation with? Not a super premium label – Absolut produces a spice-laden spirit dubbed Peppar that was pretty much designed to elevate your Bloody to the next level.
10. Gin it up!
Vodka by nature is a flavorless spirit. If you want to add some nuanced notes of botanicals to your drink, use gin instead. The tomato juice and horseradish in the beverage is a lot to compete with, and labels like Hendricks or Bombay Sapphire can stand up to the drink’s base.
The best part of making Bloody Marys – experimentation! If you think it will taste good, throw it in. There’s really nothing to lose (because there’s always another round).
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