The Perfect Bloody Mary
Photo © Anne-Marie Minhall
I love the story behind a dish or a drink & this cocktail has an impressive history.
It's thought that in 1921, Harry’s Bar in Paris, may have been the home of the vodka & tomato iconic drink that is the Bloody Mary.
According to the anecdotal history of Harry’s, a barman by the name of Fernand Petiot, invented the BM (as it's called in my family). The classic drink was then first published in a book called 'Harry’s ABC of Cocktails' in the same year.
I draw this to your kind attention as I have been gifted a bottle of said drink by members of my family. It's in the fridge & made by this company ..
https://lockdown-liquor.com/products/hail-mary
What's the mixology then?
Hmmm, there lies the rub.
Over the years I've had versions containing the following ..
Port
Sherry
Grated Garlic
Grated Horseradish
Here are the main components before you get too bold & inventive ..
For two glasses ..
Large Handful of Ice
100ml Vodka (a good one)
500ml Tomato Juice
1tbsp Lemon Juice (plus a few slices to serve in the glass)
A few dashes of Worcestershire Sauce
A few drops of Smoked Tabasco
A few drops of Sriracha
Pinch Celery Salt (a generous pinch)
Pinch Black Pepper
2 Celery Sticks
Here's how it all comes together
The ice goes into a large jug with the measures of the vodka, tomato juice & lemon juice
Next the Worcestershire Sauce, Tabasco & Sriracha plus the celery salt & pepper
Stir well & pour into 2 tall glasses before adding the celery & the lemon slices
Enjoy.
There's also another tale surrounding the legend of the origin of the Bloody Mary name.
Apparently Ernest Hemingway was involved. Just before he got married to someone called Mary, he visited the bar & allegedly did not want to have alcohol on his breath. He asked for a drink mixed with juice.
Tomato juice was added & while he was drinking it, he was saying: "Bloody Mary." ..
Harry's Bar in Paris serves an estimated 12,000 Bloody Marys a year.
A spicy beast & its spirit is still going strong.
AMM
