The Bloody Mary cocktail has multiple creators, with variations including different spices and alcohol substitutions. A typical recipe includes vodka, tomato juice, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and celery salt. Low-salt versions and non-alcoholic versions are also available. The drink’s name is thought to be inspired by Queen Mary I or Mary, Queen of Scots.
The Bloody Mary is a cocktail credited to more than one creator. Some accounts suggest that George Jessel created the drink in 1939, while Fernand Petiot is thought to have improvised on Bloody Mary Jessel by adding extra spice. The original Bloody Mary was a very simple blend of tomato juice and vodka in equal proportions.
Today, Bloody Marys may contain additional spices and variations of the base ingredients. Some versions add consommé or stock to the tomato juice to give the drink a more substantial amount of protein, while others substitute vegetable juices like V-8 or Snappy Tom for the more traditional plain tomato juice.
To spice up the Bloody Mary, a variety of spices or flavorings can be added. These include salt and pepper, cayenne pepper, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, onion or celery salt, and lemon juice. There are numerous versions of Bloody Marys, including ones that substitute a different alcohol for vodka. This has led to numerous variations of the original drink, including the Bloody Maria, which is made with tequila and the Bloody Geisha, which replaces sake with vodka.
Since there are so many recipes for making Bloody Marys, you may have to try a few to decide on your personal preferences. A typical recipe is two parts vodka to three parts tomato juice, a few drops of Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a teaspoon of celery salt. The drink should be shaken vigorously so that all the ingredients are mixed, then poured into a tall glass and garnished with a celery stalk. You can get creative and add other garnishes like lemon wedges or diced veggies for an extra twist.
One drawback to Bloody Marys is that most commercial versions of tomato juice have a high salt content. This salt mixed with alcohol can create water retention problems. You can look for low-salt tomato or vegetable juice at stores like Trader Joes and Whole Foods, but they may require a little extra spice so they don’t taste sour.
Like many mixed drinks, the Bloody Mary has non-alcoholic versions, sometimes called Virgin Marys or Bloody Shames. These recipes simply omit the vodka and add a little more tomato juice. A low-salt version of a Virgin Mary can actually be a healthy drink.
While the Bloody Mary is often served as a morning drink, with breakfast or brunch, that doesn’t mean you should serve it exclusively in the morning. They make an excellent accompaniment to Mexican food or any egg-based dish such as quiche, which can be served at any time of day.
What intrigues most people about Bloody Mary is how the drink got such a violent name. Most connect the name to Queen Mary I of England, whose reign was short and somewhat vicious, as she relentlessly murdered over 500 Protestants. Others suggest that Mary, Queen of Scots more aptly inspires the name because she was beheaded. In any case, the bloody aspect of the drink evokes the idea of blood.
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