Bloody Mary

"Ew, I would never drink a Bloody Mary! It's like chugging over-salted pasta sauce," your friend says with a bit of a superior air. She's always making grand statements and rolling her eyes; you love her because she knows what she likes and always lets you know what's on her mind. Your big group of pals are just about to order drinks at the trendy new brunch spot she saw on TikTok, but now you're second guessing whether you should try the tomato-based vodka drink for the first time.

The beverage is fairly divisive, as its distinctive texture and flavor profile isn't everyone's favorite. While some find it refreshing and hearty, others can't seem to stomach it. If you've never had one before, all the differing opinions swirling like an olive in the vibrant red beverage could be a bit confusing.

Luckily, your cocktail-loving buddy Joe was invited to brunch! I've got you covered with this all-inclusive guide to the Bloody Mary so you can decide for yourself if you want to give the supposed hangover cure a try.

The History of the Bloody Mary

As with most popular cultural staples, there are multiple layers to the history of the Bloody Mary. The origins lie in two legends.

In one, bartender Ferdinand Petiot came up with the drink in the 1920s while work at Harry's New York Bar in Paris, France and popularized it as head bartender at the King Cole Bar in the New York's iconic St. Regis Hotel. The New Yorker even credited Petiot with "[initiating] the Bloody Mary" in 1964.

However, Hollywood and Broadway star George Jessel wrote in his autobiography that he invented the cocktail while fighting for his life against a 1927 hangover at La Maze's in Palm Beach. He even claimed to have named it after an exclamation from socialite and politician Mary Brown Warburton, per Difford's Guide. The rest of the supposed story involves him dodging a literal bullet, so who's to say how it exactly went down.

No matter who invented it, word spread and the beverage gained widespread popularity.

What's In A Bloody Mary And What Does It Taste Like?

The standard Bloody Mary recipe is fairly straightforward. It calls for vodka as the alcoholic base, tomato juice as the main flavor ingredient, pepper sauce and Worcestershire for a bit of kick, and a bit of celery salt and black pepper for the finishing touches. Fresh lemon juice, hot sauce, a salted rim, or a garnish of a celery stick, olives, cocktail onions, and pickled vegetables may also be added. It's served cold, often over ice.

The tomato juice lends a thick consistency to the beverage as well as the major flavor: Your classic Bloody Mary is going to taste salty and savory, as well as a little bit spicy. There will be an undercurrent of smooth vodka flavor. Since the thick texture and earthy flavor isn't typical of an iced beverage, it may take some getting used to -- for this reason many people consider Bloody Mary to be an acquired taste.

Should I Order A Bloody Mary At A Bar?

The Bloody Mary is a hit in the morning, as its deep, hearty flavor is refreshing and filling. You're likely to see it featured on brunch cocktail menus and may even encounter build-your-own stations where you can add your favorite ingredients to the basic mix provided. You should definitely order the iconic morning drink at a restaurant with your breakfast or lunch, especially when the establishment specializes in it. It's a cocktail to drink before noon, so if you order one at that time nobody will bat an eye.

If you're craving one at a dive bar in the evening, however, you may encounter a disgruntled look from the bartender. While the bar likely has a house or pre-made mix handy, sometimes it's not an ideal drink to order during a busy happy hour rush. Of course, it depends on how busy it is and who is working that day as well. One of the sweetest bartenders at my favorite spot eyeballed the ingredients in front of me and made the best Bloody Mary I'd ever had on a slower Tuesday afternoon, so don't be afraid to ask if you're really craving one.

Homemade Or Store-Bought Bloody Mary Mix

At a bar or restaurant, the bartenders will likely make the house Bloody Mary mix ahead of time so that all they have to do is add vodka when you order it. If you wish, you could follow a recipe to make the mix for a breakfast celebration in your home.

You may have noticed grocery or liquor store shelves lined with Bloody Mary mixes. If you grab one of these, you can make the cocktail yourself at home really easily. There are even alcoholic canned Bloody Marys that take the mixing out of the equation completely.

Purchasing your own mix from the store makes it easy to experiment with the drink at home and figure out what flavor profile is your favorite even if you don't want to stock up on the individual ingredients or get your hands too dirty. There are many different brands with varying ranges of spiciness and unique flavors that you can choose from.

Bloody Mary Variations And Toppings

Now that you have a grasp of a typical Bloody Mary, you may be excited by the ways bartenders can customize their drinks with different alcohols, extra ingredients, and even special toppings that can make it even more delicious. Sometimes the vodka is switched out for a different type of alcohol, leading to a different name for the cocktail. For example, a Bloody Maria is made with tequila while a version made with gin is sometimes conflated with a Red Snapper. A mocktail recipe that omits alcohol altogether is smirkingly dubbed a Bloody Shame.

Many different bars and restaurants will put a twist on the classic drink by adding another layer of flavor. A Southern comfort food joint might imbue barbecue sauce into the drink. A restaurant in Canada might add clam juice to the concoction to make a Bloody Caesar. In addition or in place of the usual garnishes, heavy accoutrement like bacon, shrimp, full sliders, or even crab legs can add flair to the drink.

Be sure to look at the description on the specialty cocktail menu or ask the bartender or server if you're not sure what's standard for the establishment. Oftentimes, they'll be able to make you a standard Bloody Mary instead of their custom variation if you ask!

Bloody Mary Nutritional Facts

You may want to know the nutritional value of a Bloody Mary before you order it. This will vary with the exact ingredients but be aware that the tomato juice brings sodium, sugars, Vitamin A, fiber, Vitamin C and ascorbic acid, and iron to the table. Although the beverage is hearty, a single glass packs a punch and some consider it to be a low calorie vodka recipe.

The table grows quiet after I finish reciting facts about Bloody Marys. The server left about halfway through but has returned now that you're ready to decide. Our trendy friend gives me a side-eye. "Okay, fine! I'll admit I've never even tried a Bloody Mary. I was just repeating what my mom told me, lol." She turns to you with a warm smile, "If you get one, can I have a sip?"

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