Bloody Mary Variants You Have to Try at Home

Bloody Marys are some of the more interesting cocktails of the mixed drinks world. It’s a drink that’s full of a variety of ingredients, yet it’s easy and accessible for pretty much anyone out there willing to try it. It’s got different variations depending on where you’re coming from, Like Canada’s Bloody Caesar or Mexico’s Bloody Maria, but the classic original Bloody Mary started in a small bar in Paris in the early 1920s.

The origin of the Bloody Mary 

There are two stories that attempt to explain the origin of the Bloody Mary drink that we know so well today. The first story attributes the Bloody Mary’s origin to a Parisian bartender who moved to New York City in the early 1920s, while the second legend has its roots in the reign of Mary Tudor, also known as Bloody Mary, of England. The bartender’s story is generally considered to be the more accurate origin story of the drink, although the tale of Mary Tudor is certainly far more dramatic.

The Bloody Mary came about as a result of the American Prohibition in the early 20th century. Americans travelling to France flocked to a Parisian bar named Harry’s New York Bar, a New York-Style bar that provided all the comforts of home — namely, alcohol and the English language. At the time, American bars served tomato juice to patrons in lieu of alcoholic drinks, and since the owner and bartender were American, that’s what was also served at Harry’s. 

At the same time that the Prohibition was in full swing, another cultural revolution was taking place halfway across the world: the Russian Revolution. Russians escaping the conflict and unrest of their home country migrated into Europe, bringing with them a wealth of culture, foods and traditions. By the 1920s, Russians had begun arriving in France and had introduced vodka to the bar scene. 

Harry’s bartender, Ferdinand "Pete" Petiot, started experimenting with the new Russian spirit at the bar. When he combined the tasteless vodka with the rich tomato juice, the resulting cocktail became an immediate hit. An American entertainer named Roy Barton coined the drink the “Bucket of Blood” in reference to a popular Chicago nightclub of the same name. Supposedly there was a woman there named Mary. 

Petiot moved to New York City in 1933 to work at the King Cole Bar at the St. Régis Hotel. He brought his Bucket of Blood recipe with him to the bar, where it was soon renamed as the “Red Snapper.” The King Cole Bar still serves plenty of Red Snappers today, tallying over 850 of the seasoned cocktails each month. 

This recipe is fairly well-established as the true origin of the drink’s ingredients, but where, when and how the drink was coined the “Bloody Mary” is much less clear. Some say that the drink’s name is attributed to Mary Tudor of England who, during her reign of terror in the mid-16th century, murdered hundreds in the name of Catholicism, giving her the nickname “Bloody Mary.” Others say that the drink was named for the friend of a prominent entertainer, while others still attribute the name to the woman who worked at the Chicago nightclub. No one is one-hundred percent certain of how the name came about, just that it did and that it’s stuck. 

What’s in a Bloody Mary?

A classic Bloody Mary has vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper and Worcestershire sauce, plus some lemon and celery for garnishing. That’s the base recipe that was introduced as the Red Snapper, and you can even order this exact combination at the King Cole Bar in New York City. 

Here is the King Cole Bar’s original recipe, exactly:

• 1 oz. Stolichnaya vodka
• 2 oz. tomato juice
• 1 dash lemon juice
• 2 dashes salt
• 2 dashes black pepper
• 2 dashes cayenne pepper
• 3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
• Lemon wedge and celery stalk, to garnish

Mix together in a cocktail shaker. Garnish.

There are endless ways to customize this drink, however, as we can see from the many different variants that have emerged over the years.

Different kinds of Bloody Marys

Bloody Fairy

This version of the drink replaces the vodka with absinthe.

Bloody Caesar

Keep the vodka, but swap out the tomato juice for clamato juice instead! This is Canada’s national drink, by the way, if you’re looking for an interesting tidbit of cocktail-related info.

Bloody Maria

Swap out the vodka for tequila, add some horseradish and hot sauce then top with a bit of jalapeño and queso fresco for a south-of-the-border take on this classic cocktail.

Bloody Roman

Toss in a raw oyster and some olive brine for this flavorful, beer-based concoction.

Red Snapper

Although the very first Bloody Mary was called a Red Snapper in the Prohibition Era, today the Red Snapper is considered to be the British version of the drink which features gin rather than vodka.

Bloody Bull

If you’ve ever wondered what a beef broth-based drink would taste like, then this is the drink for you! The Bloody Bull features a beef broth base along with the standard tomato juice and vodka, giving the cocktail a rich, deep flavor. Try it!

Michelada

If you’re not a fan of the standard Bloody Mary Ingredients, this beer-based drink is loosely-based on the popular cocktail but can be tailored to anyone’s preferences.

Bloody Geisha

Swap out vodka for sake.

Bloody Pirate

This sounds scary, but all it is is a dark spiced rum-based drink rather than vodka-based.

Give these Bloody Mary variants a try next time you’re feeling adventurous at your cocktail bar. Who knows? Maybe you will come up with your very own new variant! 

Cheers!

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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/AllyGuindi