It’s Time for a Bloody Mary – Like many, I do confess to enjoying a cocktail. For a nostalgic classic, with fond memories, as it is my mother’s favourite tipple a Blood Mary always hits the spot!
A savoury and spicy alcoholic drink the Bloody Mary is typically made with vodka and tomato juice and is known for its bold and distinctive flavours.
I was recently thrilled to be introduced Bloody Drinks, which not only offers convenient Bloody Mary cans, but a selection of perfect pairing partners too.
Founded by two great friends, the enthusiastic duo spent years obsessively seeking the finest examples of the drink, before eventually creating their perfect recipe. Mixing for friends quickly led to demand outstripping supply, and a search to find production partners who could take their recipe and scale it up without compromising on ingredients, flavour or quality was next on the agenda to get them to where they are today. With the perfect levels of spice, umami, and sweetness it is quite clear that this mix has been designed by people who truly love the cocktail.
Having tried a chilled can myself, I can clarify that they have created exactly what they had hoped for.
I was particularly impressed with The Bloody Box Set, which was the perfect starter box, but also an awesome gift for a fellow Bloody Mary drinker.
This box contains everything you need to make the perfect Bloody Mary, complete with garnishes and bar snacks to add a little ceremony to the proceedings.
In the box you will find:
4 x Bloody Classics (250ml) – Their premium ‘bells and whistles’ Bloody Mary is expertly blended with tomato juice, 58 Distillery’s triple distilled vodka, Amontillado sherry, fresh lemon juice, Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce, a dash of Kikkoman soy sauce, and the legendary TABASCO® Brand Pepper Sauce for just the right amount of heat.
1 x Tin of BLOODY Mary Salt – This adds a little flair to proceedings, alongside an extra savoury accent to every sip. It contains smoked salt, celery salt, onion salt, garlic salt, lemon pepper, and smoked paprika. Just add a little sprinkle to the top of your cocktail or line the rim of your glass if you wish to go the extra mile!
1 x Can of Perello Gordal Olives – These olives are huge fleshy pitted olives that have an intense, juicy flavour and firm texture. They’ve garnered a cult following because of the guindilla chilli in the brine, which imparts a nice tangy kick and pairs well with the Bloody Mary.
1 x Jar of Bloody Nuts – The nuts are specifically designed to echo the spectrum of flavours found in a Bloody Mary.
In the jar you will find:
- Salted Cashews.
- Chilli Battered Peanuts.
- Salted Macadamias.
- Smoked Almonds.
- Caramelised Sesame Peanuts.
The history of the cocktail Bloody Mary is surrounded by various anecdotes and theories. While the exact origin and precise details remain somewhat ambiguous, several stories attempt to explain the drink’s creation. Here is a popular account of the history of the Bloody Mary:
In the early 1920s, a Paris bartender named Fernand Petiot gained recognition for his cocktail creations. It is said that he invented the Bloody Mary while working at the New York Bar in Paris.
The original version of the drink was initially called the “Bucket of Blood” due to its deep red colour, which resembled blood. It consisted of vodka and tomato juice, seasoned with salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and a dash of lemon juice. However, the precise reason for its name change to Bloody Mary is disputed.
One theory suggests that the drink was named after Mary Tudor, the 16th-century Queen of England, who was known for her brutal persecution of Protestants, earning her the nickname “Bloody Mary.” Another theory links the name to a customer at the New York Bar who was known as Mary, and the drink was named after her.
In the 1930s, the cocktail gained popularity in the United States, particularly in the city of New York. The St. Regis New York, a renowned hotel, claims to have introduced the Bloody Mary to the American public. According to their account, the bartender Fernand Petiot relocated to the hotel and refined the recipe to suit American tastes. The St. Regis New York also claims credit for renaming the drink Bloody Mary.
Over the years, variations of the Bloody Mary emerged, allowing for customisation and personal preferences. Today, it is a classic cocktail enjoyed worldwide, known for its combination of flavours and its reputation as a popular hangover cure.
It’s worth noting that the history of cocktail origins often involves multiple stories, and definitive proof is sometimes challenging to establish. Nonetheless, the tale of Fernand Petiot’s invention of the Bloody Mary at the New York Bar in Paris remains one of the most widely accepted accounts.
Poppy Watt