Bloody Mary: discover how perfectly this icon drink pairs with cold cuts – Every cocktail has a story that gives meaning to our favourite drinks and show us their journey to become iconic.
The history of the Bloody Mary cocktail
It is Paris in the early 20th century when a young bartender named Fernand Petiot invents the Bloody Mary at Harry’s New York Bar. This bar, in 1921, was a landmark for US expats looking for the familiarity of an American style bar during prohibition days.
Fernand Petioit combined tomato sauce – the cocktail imported in that period by the Americans – with famous Russian vodka. He then added spices, lemon juice and seasonings to this unique combination of imported flavors.
The legend of the name
But let’s come to the name! It seems to derive from the famous Queen of England Mary Tudor I, in order to restore Catholicism in the United Kingdom, sent Protestant opponents to their death, so much so that she earned the nickname of ‘Bloody Mary’. Among the various rumors, it is even said that the inspiration for this drink came from the famous actress of the time, Mary Pickford, who already had a cocktail dedicated to her, red in color, based on rum, maraschino and grenadine.
Bloody Mary Recipe
Want to make your home-made Bloody Mary?
Ingredients
- large handful of ice
- vodka (100ml)
- tomato juice (500ml)
- lemon juice (1 tbsp)
- Worcestershire sauce (a few drops)
- Tabasco (a few drops)
- celery salt (a pinch)
- black pepper (a pinch)
- 2 celery sticks
Steps
- Place the ice in a large jug. Then, add vodka, tomato juice and lemon juice.
- Add a mix of Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco and a pinch of celery salt and pepper. Stir and pour the cocktail into two glasses.
- Top up with fresh ice, add a celery stick and lemon slice to both glasses and enjoy.
For a Virgin Bloody Mary, you can put pickle juice or olive juice instead of vodka.
What to serve Bloody Mary with
Bloody Mary, thanks to its particular taste, is often drunk in the late morning or early afternoon. It is the favourite brunch cocktail, in fact it goes well with typical dishes of this meal, such as: Bagels with cream cheese, egg scrambles, savoury pancakes (about that, don’t miss this tasty recipe), sandwiches but also with beloved cheese and charcuterie boards made with our authentic Italian cold cuts. Specifically, to balance the acidity of this cocktail we advise you to pair it with salami, especially the spicy one, or with our deliciuos Italian Prosciutto, perfect for its flavour. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a real explosion of taste, try tasting a Bloody Mary together with our Roasted Pancetta.
And what about you? How would you pair this cocktail? Tell us your opinion and comment on our last Instagram post.
