About Bloody Marys

The Martini, mint julep, Tom Collins, egg nog and the bloody Mary are a few of the classic cocktails that are still popular today. Tom Collins is a favorite summer drink, while egg nog is a traditional holiday drink. The Bloody Mary is one cocktail classic that is popular year round. Perhaps it's the tomato juice and celery that appeals to people, or perhaps it's that splash of Tabasco sauce that adds a little spice to the drink that makes it so popular. Whatever the reason, the Bloody Mary has been around for over 75 years.

History

There are questions as to when the Bloody Mary originated and if French bartender Ferdinand Petiot created it. In a 1964 interview for "The New Yorker" magazine, Petiot claimed that George Jessel, an actor, created a drink of tomato juice and vodka, but he was the one who spiced up the drink. Petiot made the drink in the 1920s when he was a bartender at Harry's Bar in Paris. He moved to New York in 1925, and in 1933, he started adding Tabasco sauce to the drink. New York State celebrated the 75th anniversary of the drink on December 1, 2008, and honored Petiot's granddaughter.

Significance

Petiot was a bartender at the St. Regis Hotel in New York when he started adding Tabasco sauce to the drink. At first, the hotel called the drink the Red Snapper, but it was soon changed to Bloody Mary. It is questionable as to why the name Bloody Mary was chosen. Some say it was named for Queen Mary I of England. Others say it was named for Mary Pickford, a Hollywood actress of the times. A popular belief is that it was named for a waitress named Mary who worked at the Bucket of Blood bar in Chicago.

Features

The typical ingredients in a Bloody Mary are vodka and tomato juice. Other additives are salt and pepper, a dash of Tabasco sauce and Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and a garnish of a celery stick. A regular drink consists of 1 1/2 ounces of vodka. The rest of the glass is filled with tomato juice.

Considerations

There are various recipes for the Bloody Mary. Adding 1/4 cup of fresh horseradish and putting the drink through a blender is a popular choice. Celery salt is great around the glass rim. For garnishes beyond the celery stick, lemon wedges or a large shrimp is often used. Red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper are other alternatives for a slight kick.

Types

The Virgin Mary is a Bloody Mary without vodka. The Red Snapper is made with gin instead of vodka. The Bloody Maria is made with Tequila. A popular punch is Bloody Mary Punch, made with the typical Bloody Mary ingredients, one liter of seltzer and a ring mold of frozen water.

Resources

• Bloody Mary Punch
• Collection of Bloody Mary Drinks
• Bloody Mary Birthday