Brian Bartels unwraps the history behind this popular brunch beverage in The Bloody Mary.
Every great hero needs an origin story, right? Yet if you go hunting for the Bloody Mary creator you’ll end up with limbs tucked into multiple rabbit holes. One thing is certain, though, and that is when this great drink came into the world. Around the end of Prohibition, not only did tomato juice become available, but also, crazy as it may sound, vodka became a thing. Pairing the two seems such an afterthought today, doesn’t it?
To begin our fantastic voyage for the first Bloody Mary, let’s keep it simple. This recipe celebrates the tomato juice cocktail and how vodka decided to crash the party.
Old Mr. Boston’s De Luxe Official Bartender’s Guide, 1953
Directions
- Combine all of the ingredients in an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Stir until chilled and serve.
Reprinted with permission from The Bloody Mary, copyright © 2017 by Brian Bartels, published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.
