Bloody Mary (cocktail)

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This article refers to the drink. For other uses see Bloody Mary
This drink is designated as an
IBA Official Cocktail
Bloody Mary
A Bloody Mary with lots of vegetable garnishes.
Type: Mixed drink
Primary alcohol by volume:
Served: "On the rocks"; poured over ice
Standard garnish: Celery salt
Standard drinkware:
Highball glass
IBA specified ingredients†:
  • 4.5 cl (3 parts) Vodka
  • 9.0 cl (6 parts) Tomato juice
  • 1.5 cl (1 part) Lemon juice
Preparation: Add dashes of Worcestershire Sauce, Tabasco , salt and pepper into highball glass, then pour all ingredients into highball with ice cubes. Stir gently. Garnish with Celery Salt and lemon wedge (optional).
†Bloody Mary recipe at International Bartenders Association

A Bloody Mary is a popular cocktail containing vodka, tomato juice, and usually other spices or flavorings such as Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, beef consomme or bouillon, horseradish, celery, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and celery salt.

Contents

[edit] History

The origin of the Bloody Mary is somewhat disputed. One claim states that it was originally created by George Jessel around 1939. Lucius Beebe, in his gossip column "This New York" (New York Herald Tribune, December 2, 1939, page 9), 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]

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. “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.”

Garnished with a shrimp.
Garnished with a shrimp.

[edit] Origin of the term

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The epithet "Bloody Mary" is associated with a number of historical (particularly Queen Mary I of England) and fictional women, especially from folklore. It is believed that inspiration for the cocktail was the Hollywood star Mary Pickford who earlier had a similar cocktail consisting of rum, Grenadine and Maraschino named after her.

In 1934, the cocktail was called "Red Snapper" at the St. Regis Hotel, where Petriot was hired at the time. It was here that tabasco sauce was added to the drink, and the name "Bloody Mary" eventually won popularity. In the 1960s it became popular to serve the cocktail with celery due to a guest at The Pump Room at the Ambassador East Hotel in Chicago.

The name likely refers to the blood-like color of the cocktail.

[edit] Preparation and serving

Bloody Mary with multiple garnishes
Bloody Mary with multiple garnishes

Bloody Marys, as well as the non-alcoholic Virgin Mary, are frequently served in the morning (as are mimosas and Screwdrivers).

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 stalk when served in a tall glass, often over ice. A beer chaser may also be served with the Bloody Mary, although this varies from region to region.

[edit] Ingredients

Bloody Mary recipe courtesy of the New York School of Bartending:

Garnish with celery stalk.

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 or fish (salami, shrimp, etc.) and cheese (see photos). Occasionally, pickled asparagus spears or pickled beans are also used.

Prepackaged Bloody Mary mixes that combine the spicy, non-alcoholic components of a Bloody Mary are commercially available.

[edit] Variations

[edit] Variations in alcohol

Bloody Philip 
Thailand Lao Khao (literally white liquor) 80 proof, rice distilled, replacing vodka in equal measure
Bloody Bishop 
Sherry in equal measure to vodka
Bloody Fairy, Red Fairy 
Absinthe replacing the vodka.
Bloody Geisha 
Sake replacing vodka.
Bloody Muff 
Baileys (cream liqueur) and 2 small Anchovies replacing the Vodka
Bloody Maria 
Tequila replacing vodka.
Brown Mary or Whiskey Mary 
Whiskey replacing the vodka.
Bloody Pirate 
Dark rum replacing vodka.
Bloody Scotsman 
Scotch replacing vodka.
Bloody Molly 
Irish whiskey replacing vodka.
Bloody Maureen 
Guinness replacing vodka.
Michelada Clementina (or simply "Chelada") 
Mexican beer replacing vodka, usually flavored with a couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce and Maggi Sauce and Tabasco sauce. Usually the proportion of beer equals the tomato juice.
Ruddy Mary 
Gin replacing vodka.
Red Eye, Calgary Red Eye, or Saskatchewan Red Eye 
Beer replacing vodka, usually in a 50/50 mixture with Clamato in place of the tomato juice.
Red Hammer 
Through the 1950s in the Northeastern U.S., 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 a Red Hammer for a time
Virgin Mary, Bloody Shame, or Bloody Virgin 
Without alcohol; the second term is commonly used in Australia.

[edit] 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, Bloody Clam, Red Wings 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

[edit] 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". (Be sure to use a ceramic mug to avoid shattered glass)

[edit] Miscellaneous

Bloodless Mary 
(also called a Mary) Without tomato juice
Bleeding Mary 
Without tomato juice, 1:1 tabasco to vodka.
Screaming Emo 
Traditional Bloody Mary, but with a habanero pepper added to it for more heat.
Screw Mary 
Equal parts vodka, orange juice, and tomato juice or V8, spiced to taste.