5 Crazy New Bloody Marys to Try Right Now
Bloody Mary Martini at Eagle Cafe, San Francisco, CA
There are many variations on the typical Bloody Mary. Some Bloody aficionados prefer to stay loyal to the traditional Bloody Mary with traditional garnishes, like celery, olives, or pickles. Others, however, are willing to take a step in another direction to explore the realm of what this marvelous drink can be. You can change up the garnishes, the alcohol, the spiciness, and nearly every other ingredient in the drink.
I’ve often asked the question, “What is a bloody mary?” To which I’ve received nearly every answer under the sun. Does it have to be red, made with tomatoes, served with vodka? Or is it something a bit more nebulous? Is a dirty martini garnished with a tomato a bloody mary? I clearly ponder the realm of bloody marys way too much. But regardless of your definition, we love the Bloody Mary for so many reasons. The excuse to have a drink or two before noon. The gorgeous red (or green or orange or even purple) color. The chance to rehash the night before with a few friends over brunch. We may be biased, but the Mimosa obviously has nothing on the Bloody Mary.
Beet Bloody Mary at Trinket, Portland, OR
1. Green Mary
Is it a Bloody Mary if it isn’t red? Some folks might disagree with us, but I say yes!
By most definitions, a traditional Bloody Mary is a drink that contains vodka and tomato juice. This iteration of a Bloody Mary is called a Green Mary and uses tomatillos instead of tomatoes. Keep in mind that these tomatillos add a more tart, vegetal flavor than the traditional tomato, and although tomatillos may look like green tomatoes, they are not tomatoes at all.
Add horseradish, cumin, salt, pepper, and even a handful of golden tomatoes to bring back some sweetness. The tartness also pairs well with jalepeño-infused vodka, which you can make at home by steeping sliced jalepeños in vodka for 12 – 24 hours. Just make sure to check it every so often so that it doesn’t get too spicy. And even if it does, you can always add regular vodka to bring the spiciness down a notch.
Green Marys may look a little whacky, but they’re excellent accompaniments to richer brunch foods, where you might want something that will cut through heavier foods like waffles, hollandaise sauce, breakfast burritos, French toast and frittatas. So, think of Kermit and try something a little greener next time!
Check out 5 Green Bloody Mary recipes over at So Fab Food!
Green Bloody Mary at Dirt Candy, New York, NY
2. Asian-Inspired Bloody Mary
Who doesn’t love sriracha? This hot, flavorful condiment has inspired a legion of followers so it makes sense we’d want to put it in one of our favorite breakfast drinks.
This type of Bloody Mary is made with Siracha and wasabi for a spicier flair to this staple of breakfast drinks. sriracha is an excellent substitute for Tabasco sauce. Clamato juice works well in place of tomato juice for this one to give it a little more flavor. This would be a great drink to pair with an Asian-inspired early lunch or to serve at a party when you want to change up the menu a bit.
Visit Pop Sugar for a Soju Sriracha Bloody Mary Recipe!
Asian Style Bloody Mary at Talde, Brooklyn, NY
3. Mezcal Mary
This wonderful drink is made from mezcal and garnished Chinese long beans, cherry tomatoes, and olives. Mezcal, in case you aren’t familiar with the drink, is made from the pina, or center of the agave plant, which is cooked in a smoky underground pit. It has been made this way for hundreds of years. Mezcal has a brilliant, smoky flavor that goes beautifully with tomato juice and salty garnishes. It’s tradition in Mexico to take Mezcal straight but we think the original creators would approve of our bringing it to the breakfast tables in this sharp, exciting, wonderful drink.
A Mezcal Mary is a more potent Mary, one that’s great for catching up with friends and family over a plate of huevos rancheros. You can also add garnishes like bacon that will complement its smoky flavor.
Head over to Serious Eats for a Mezcal Mary with Roasted Jalapeno and Bacon recipe!
Mezcal Bloody Mary at Sunday in Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY
4. Weirdly Garnished Bloody Mary
Some people believe that the best part of a Bloody Mary is the whacky, delicious, satiating toppings that go with it. Toppings on a Bloody are like a punchline to a joke. They can be hilarious, straightforward, or plain silly. It’s a kind of signature that the bartender puts on this cocktail. Pickled items are key but people have gone as far as placing an entire fried chicken, bacon cheeseburger, or crawdad sampler on top. Other whacko toppings include slices of pizza, Chex mix, fried eggs, muffins, ribs, candied peanuts, hot dogs, smoked fish, and packs of Skittles.
Whatever the topping, we appreciate the chance to have a bite-sized piece of food to accompany our drink. Bloody Marys are a celebration, and the hors d'oeuvres on top are a part of the festivities. Plus, what would those Instagram photos be without the insane toppings?
Check out Foodie Crush for a massive build your own bloody mary list!
Build Your Own Bloody Mary at Brick + Mortar, Santa Monica, CA
5. Meat Shot Glass Bloody Mary
One of the wildest Bloody Marys we’ve found is the Meat Shot Glass Bloody Mary. It comes in—you guessed it—a meat shot glass. Why? The question we think you should be asking, the question behind the most amazing cocktail creations is, why not? If you're looking for something out of the ordinary to share with your guests, then this might be the drink for you.
Take ground beef or pork, chop up a few peppers (we like jalepeños), add garlic and other spices you’d use for meatballs, and mold the meat around a clean, label-free, metal shot glass . Don’t use glass shot glasses! That’s dangerous! Fire up the grill and place the glasses carefully on top. Heat until the meat firms and crisps up, and then let the meat glasses cook through for 5 – 8 more minutes, checking every so often to make sure they don’t burn. Afterwards, let them cool and fill them up with your favorite Bloody Mary mix. You can garnish with a cheese stick, bacon, and something green or keep it simple. Great for cookouts with the guys or girls, football games (keep the meat shots chilled and heat them up over the grill when you’re ready), or even camping trips!
Check out the full recipe over here at The Mary Sue!