The Best Bloody Mary

By LaLaCooks

Recipes & Menus / Recipes

The Best Bloody Mary
The Bloody Mary, to quote cocktail guru Dale DeGroff, is like "backyard barbecue: Everyone thinks his is the best." We just might be able to settle that debate. At Holeman and Finch Public House in Atlanta, co-owners and bartenders Greg Best and Andrew Minchow serve the definitive artisanal Bloody Mary using surprise ingredients.

Makes 12

Recipe by Greg Best and Andrew Minchow

Photograph by Jamie Chung

September 2009

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped
• 1 large carrot, peeled, coarsely chopped
• 1 large golden beet, peeled, coarsely chopped
• 1 small fennel bulb, trimmed, coarsely chopped
• 1 large garlic clove, chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
• 6 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
• 1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh horseradish
• 2 teaspoons coarsely ground whole black peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon hot chili sauce (such as sriracha)*
• 1/4 cup Guinness (optional)
• 3 cups vodka or gin
• Ice cubes
• Lime wedges
• Pickled vegetables (such as okra, green beans, or jalapeños)
• *Available in the Asian foods section of many supermarkets and at Asian markets.

Details

Servings 12
Adapted from bonappetit.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preparation

Place first 6 ingredients in large pot. Add enough water just to cover (about 6 cups). Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered until vegetables are very soft, about 50 minutes.

Discard bay leaf. Add 1 tablespoon coarse salt and lemon juice; cool slightly. Working in batches, puree vegetable mixture in blender until smooth. Add enough water, if needed, to measure 8 cups. Cover and chill.

Grind celery seeds with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt in mortar with pestle or in spice grinder. Add celery-seed salt, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, horseradish, black pepper, hot chili sauce, and Guinness, if desired, to vegetable puree. Cover and chill Bloody Mary mix overnight.

Stir Bloody Mary mix and vodka or gin in large pitcher. Fill tall glasses with ice. Divide Bloody Mary among glasses. Garnish with lime wedges and pickled vegetables.

Thirsty for More? If you have a question about this recipe, contact our Test Kitchen at [e-mail]. To see more recipes like this one, check out our Summer Drinks Slideshow.