Tabasco® and Bloody Mary – A Challenge and A Giveaway:
Earlier this year I spent a happy lunch time trying twenty or so fabulous Bloody Mary cocktails and variations! It was, of course, the Bloody Mary Challenge, held this year at the American Bar at Brasserie Zedel, an event that attracts the UK’s top mixologists. It’s believed that the Bloody Mary was invented in the 1920’s by American bartender Fernand Petiot when he was working at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris. When he returned to New York, he took the drink with him and the American palate demanded a spicier version, so the recipe evolved to include black and cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, lemon, and a generous splash of Tabasco® Pepper Sauce. An American classic was born.
Now, I like my Bloody Mary fresh, chilled and spicy. But this challenge went way beyond anything I might normally concoct in my kitchen. The contestants were mixologists from some of the top bars in the country and their challenge was to create the ultimate ‘classic’ Bloody Mary – and then to create an alternative! We were in auspicious company too in the form of the judges, Charles Campion, Kate Spicer, Russell Norman and Tristan O’Hara. And, whilst we tasted most of the entries, I have to admit by the time we’d worked through the ‘classics’ I was finding it quite difficult to keep a fresh enough palate to understand the full skill of each drink. When the alternative cocktails appeared we had dry ice, foam and plenty of ingenious presentations!
The winning classic recipe came from Gareth Evans’ of Pollen Street Social, who produced this:
Classic Bloody Mary
35ml Absolut vodka,
125ml sundance tomato juice
2 dashes Tabasco® Pepper Sauce
15ml Worcestershire sauce
10ml lemon juice
Pinch celery salt
Pinch black pepper
Throw three times, serve on a board garnished with a candy striped straw, small piece of celery, nocelara olive and cherry tomato, with a side of heritage tomato salad and horseradish snow, plus a miniature bottle of Tabasco®.
And, the alternative winner was Marco Piroli of the LAB bar in Soho with
Mary & the Soldiers
30ml garlic infused vodka
15ml punt e mes
15ml lemon juice
125ml tomato juice
Pinch of black pepper, celery salt and sugar
7 drops of Tabasco® Pepper Sauce
1sp balsamic vinegar
Combine all the ingredients in a tin roll it with ice and strain in a highball glass. Garnish with Bovril, celery salt and chili flakes rim, boiled quails egg and soldiers.
Now, if you’d like a chance to concoct your own Bloody Mary, Tabasco® have kindly offered me a hamper of goodies to give away. There will be a selection of different flavoured Tabasco sauces, a branded apron, oven glove and a table cloth as well as a Tabasco Bloody Mary Mix and some caddies. The perfect solution for a New Year’s hangover cure!
A good slug of dry madeira. Celery salt. A squeeze of lemon. These are the essentials alongside the tomato and tabasco. All else is a trimming
I love the way the cocktail was tweaked. Perfect for holiday time actually!
Good quality tomato juice
A good squeeze of fresh lemon
A secret…try clamato instead of tomato juice…
Old Bay Seasoning is an absolute must!
Extra worcester sauce and a splash of lime
add salt and lime juice instead of lemon
Old Tom tomato juice, no celery salt just a celery stalk in the glass itself.
a teeny bit of horseradish to the mix gives it a real kick!
Good quality tomato juice and that Worcester Sauce/Tabasco combo
It’s not a great favourite of mine; I don’t really like the texture of the tomato juice – and I have to say that the garlic vodka sounds vile! So for me – just give me the ice chilled vodka and a dash of tobasco and I’d be happy!
Plenty of Worcester Sauce and Tabasco, of course!
The finest ingredients money can buy put together by the finest mixologist one can find.
I’ve never had one, so maybe I could find out if I win!
It’s all about the quality of the tomato juice and lime juice
Enough lime & Tabasco to mask the taste of the vodka would be nice
Good quality vodka and tomato juice. Bloody Mary tomatoes, made by marinading fresh cherry tomatoes in vodka and seasonings, are pretty awesome too!
Fresh tomato juice
Smooth, clean vodka and enough Tabasco to make your eyes water
a squirt of lemon and a lemon slice on top.
smooth tomato juice
Mmmm! I think I need a bloody mary now!
Worcester Sauce and Tabasco!
Good quality tomato juice and good quality vodka, like Stolichnaya. Don’t use cheap vodka, as you’ll only get a hangover as a result. lol
would have to be lots of Tabasco i like it spicy!!
Good quality ingredients, that you would have on their own is a good rule of thumb.
Good quality tomato juice
Definitely no ice, but plenty of Worcestershire sauce
Chilli
I use V-8 juice, it’s amazing!
good quality tomato juice makes the best ones!
decent ingredients
Try clamato juice instead of tomato
Fresh lemon juice is always good, and I’ve usually got some on a morning after the night before
Quantity?
For me the best Bloody Mary has to include A decent vodka, a glug of chilli infused sherry, some freshly grated horseradish,tomato juice, a few dashes of tabasco, a splash of Worcester sauce,a squeeze of lemon and finally a sprinkle of celery salt on top. Swirl together with a celery stick and enjoy! Make a jug as one is never enough!
Good, red tomato juice.
extra tabasco!!!
whack it in, its great xx
Really good tomato juice, nothing too sweetened!
The location you are drinking it – preferably on board ship where the BM has been made for you by a lovely waiter
Good quaity tomato juice and not too heavy with the tabasco
I use tabasco in a lentil bake but have never explored is alcohol uses
tomato juice and worcester sauce
Good quality ingredients = good taste
Gotta get the right quantity of Worcester/Tabasco sauce in there…
Good tomato juice and tabasco
Just the right amount of ingredients.
sprig of fresh mint
Worcester Sauce & Tabasco
The quality of the tomato juice
Do you know what I have never had one but I would guess it is about getting the right amounts of everything!
A good, thick tomato juice. It ruins a good Bloody Mary when cheap, watery juice is used!
Lots of ice, and celery is not necessary!
Smirnoff Black makes it extra smooth
……….quality ingredients and …… great company
vodka is my preferred spirit but I have never had a Bloody Mary. Perhaps I need to win this so that I can try one!
I like mine with a sprinkle of grated dark chocolate
this might be better with a dash of tobasco- pappa di pomodoro
A good quality tomato juice, worcester sauce and tobasco.
Getting it made for you by a hunky waiter!
ooh, I confess to never having tried one.. but I could be tempted
Nice tasting tomato juice
Great tomato juice.
I love salt and lots of lime.
The company you drink it with thats what makes a perfect bloody mary
xx
Worcestershire sauce
Sharing it with good company.
I think a Hangover makes the perfect bloody mary – makes you really appreciate it and senses are heightened so you taste it all
I’ve never tried one but would have thought the quality of the vodka and tomato juice would make all the difference.
FResh tomato juice
good quality ingredients!!!!
Good quality tomato juice, a dash of Tabasco and lots of pepper.
I tend to use lime juice instead of lemon juice.
Worcester sauce is a must!
Organic Tomato Juice
No worcester sauce for me – it makes a Bloody Mary taste too much like Spag Bol. I think you need to keep the flavours fresh and clean.
Lime juice and Tabasco
Good quality tomato juice to start with makes all the difference
The perfect Bloody Barman
Plenty of worcester sauce and really tomatoey tomato juice!
Lime Juice
good tomato juice and a crack of black peppper
Good Vodka
Good quality tomato juice
Celery stick to stir and celery salt
Tabasco sauce
Lime juices always good!
Good vodka. We have a tremendous bottle of Stoli in the freezer
Good quality vodka and tomato juice
A good Vodka!!
oooooooo I’ve never tried one but sounds delish!
A really good vodka and tomoto juice with a nice splash of tabasco.
A sprinkling of lime habenero salt rather than celery salt, the chef from the real Hotel California sold me some a few years back at a chilli festival and I’ve been hooked ever since!
A pinch of salt really enhances all the flavours.
Has to be good quailty Vodka and add a dash of Worcester sauce
Tabasco!
Good quality ingredients naturally, a little pepper and just an extra little dash of Tabasco sauce
Just a dash of Worcestershire Sauce
quality tomato juice
The best Tomato Juice you can get
lots of ice has to be cold
I’ve never had one but I’m guessing lots of Tabasco would be a good place to start!
must have a good squeezing of a lovely fresh lemon
Use a high quality juice that has a deep, rich flavor
Tomato juice with a splash of worcester sauce
2 ice cubes
6 dashes Worcestershire sauce
3 dashes Tabasco sauce
Fresh, organic tomato juice.
something along the lines of the classic version, but plenty of pepper and as fresh tomato juice as poss
dASH OF TABASCO, WORCESTER SAUCE AND TOMATO JUICE AS A BASE
Good quality ingredients always works wonders x
the best ingredients, although i’ve yet to try a bloody mary :/
good tomato juice
I love putting Tabasco sauce in a beef stew!
A great vodka and tomato juice and Tabasco Sauce makes all the differnce!
Lots of vodka!
Tabasco makes all the difference
Good quality ingredients.
Apart from the tabasco, it is the quality of the tomato juice that makes all the difference
Someone else drinking it! Love Tabasco and tomato, but can’t stand Bloody Marys!!
I’ve never tried one! I can’t believe it.
Good quality alcohol and tomato juice! and extra lime!
Worcester sauce and Tabasco with celery salt.
Has to be Ice Cold to be perfect !
It has to have great quality smooth tomato juice!
I’ve never had one, but a good quality chilli sauce has got to be a key ingredient.
A sexy bar man to make it ; )
Tabasco, pepper and worcester sauce!
An extra dollop of worcester sauce!
Freshly pulped tomato juice and a good glug of Worcestershire sauce!
Tabasco! =)
tabasco and good quality tomato juice x
Decent quality vodka and V8 Juice, alcoholic yet still one of your five a day ..
Good quality tomato juice and that Worcester Sauce/Tabasco
good quality ingredients; not the cheap stuff
as several people have already said – really good quality ingredients.
Cheap watery tomato juice is a real no no.
lots of tabasco sauce!
I’d love to try different combinations.
I always add a splosh of sherry and a big squeeze of lime!
good quality vodka
Definitely all good quality ingredients – no cheap imitations
The best vodka you can afford and a really good quality tomato juice
Tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce,Tabasco sauce and dont forget the vodka
Loads of tobasco and worcestershire sauce
good tomato juice and a stick of organic celery
Lots of them!!
Worcester Sauce and lots of salt and pepper
A good infused vodka such as Absolut Peppar
Tabasco
Good quality tommy juice
Tabasco and quality vodka
a splash of lime
I use V8 instead of tomato sauce for more flavour, a premium vodka and definitely ice cubes and a squeeze of lime.
A good quality vodka
Good quality ingredients and not skimping on the tabasco
Good quality tomato juice and the right level of kick!
The people you drink it with…
clamato tastes amazing in bloody mary
fresh lemon juice
Fresh tomato juice.
heavy on Worcestershire sauce and a couple of dashes of Tabasco
Black pepper x
Loads of vodka and a straw. And maybe a little cocktail umbrella.
horseradish
Some lime juice
Fresh tomato juice and lemon
Celery salt, tabasco, Lime
a good quality tomato juice
Tabasco
Plenty of worcester sauce and plenty of tabasco!!
Ice cold tomato juice
It is my favourite drink…
I love celery and toothpicks with many green olives stuck to it.. mmmmmm. I want one now.
finest ingredients and having it in a fun atmosphere with your friends!
A stainless steel cocktail-shaker (to retain the cold)
Good quality fresh tomato juice
Go easy on the Worcestershire sauce!
Tabasco
good quality smooth tomato juice
Lots of crushed ice and fresh lemon
vodka and tomato juice
yummmmmy
Homemade tomato juice
Big squeeze of lemon
I’ve never had one, so I’d have to experiment a lot if I won!
not sure but i had them in turkey and the heat and being on the beach made them fantastic
a very good tom juice, has to be just the right one x
the spicier the better in fact id use the habenero sauce
brtivic tomato juice does it for me, cannot drink it with anything else x
good quality tomato juice and Lea & Perrins
A spicy sauce and a smooth tomato juice
Loads of worcester sauce.
Really good quality ingredients x
Plenty of worcester sauce
ALCOHOL!!
I’ve never tried it I am a wimp and get tipsy very quick lol.
black pepper
good tomato juice and worcestershire sauce
Good quality ingredients.
Good ingredients
good quality tomato juice
Good quality tomato juice
Tabasco and a squeeze of lemon
Cold but spicey for me please !
Tomato Juice, Vodka, Tabasco Sauce lots of ice in a tall glass with a stick of celery as decoration and for stirring. Yummm!
A dash of lemon juice and quality tomato juice
Good tomato juice is a must!
Good quality ingredients
Definately quality tomato juice
Get the Worcester sauce in
Practice makes perfect
Smirnoff Vodka tomato Juice and Tabasco Sauce then give it a good stir.
freshly ground black pepper
Salt and lemon
Tomato juice with a splash of worcester sauce
as a vegetarian I have to make sure that it’s a vegetarian worcester sauce
Tabasco and Worcester sauce is the winning combo in my mind
Decent vodka
Cutting her head off
Tomato juice, grey goose, celery salt and tabasco
Tabasco
Tabasco of course!
I’ve got to admit, these cocktails scare me a bit!
I think it’s the vodka :p
Have to make sure I use gluten free worcestershire sauce and tabasco sauce
Good quality tomato juice and a generous splash of tabasco
Tabsaco and celery!
Worcester Sauce
plenty of tobasco
A perfect man to drink it with!
Drinking one in Prague makes it perfect!
Good quality tomato juice and original Worcester Sauce
Quality Vodka!!
Fresh tomato juice
worcester sauce vodka and a dash of tobasco
No ice and a little worcester sauce.
Top quality tomato juice
Good tomato juice!
A hint of lime!
Good friends to share it with!
A little dash in a home made shepherd’s pie
Perfect bloody mary = the quality of the tomato juice
good company
Good vodka thats been in the freezer at least a day ,fresh tomato juice and as many drops of tabasco to your own taste
Extra worcester sauce
A little Horseradish too.
Super-fresh high quality tomato juice
good quality tomato juice
Mine always have to have a good squeeze of lemon juice in them
worcester sauce & only the best tomato juice
Someone else making it for me!
Plenty of Vodka! And the right amount of Lea and Perrins!
Good quality tomato juice and plenty of Worcestershire sauce.
Chilled and good quality tomato juice.
Splash out on a good quality juice and lots of worcester sauce.
The best quality tomato juice that you can but ….. or even better make your own
Good quality ingredients
Chilled tomato juice (from a bottle, not a carton) a pinch of white pepper and celery salt.
I’ve never had one! But I love a bit of tabasco sauce or just chilli on everything! Call me an addict.
Erica xo
The perfect Bloody Mary needs LOTS AND LOTS and Vodka.
good quality tomato juice and a good bartender ;o)
Fresh tomato juice and a little chilli
oodles of worcester sauce, decent tomato juice and vodka, a splash of salt and tabasco and a celery stick to dip in it!
A spinkle of pepper on top
Lime instead of lemon and extra tabasco
add salt and lime juice instead of lemon
more than one ;D
Making sure you get the best quality vodka – and perfecting the amount of Tabasco!
Fresh tomato juice and lime
tomato juice ice lemon and a drop of sherry, not forgetting the vodka and tabasco
Good quality vodka
Has to be Tabasco
Good quality ingredients make a better bloody Mary. A good quality vodka, and tomato juice and a good slug of tabasco for a big kick!
A little fresh chilli
The celery stick makes it complete
Plenty of tabasco
a good dose of salt and pepper
A big slug of extra hot tabasco
A Friday evening!
Fancy tomato juice!
Plenty of vodka.
Good quality tomato juice.
Worcester sauce and a good amount of it!
A good quality tomato juice, some are just too watery. The rest is all dependent on taste.
Plenty of tabasco & worcester sauce
Good quality ingredients and the right amount of tabasco
Quality ingredients, especially the tomato juice
lots of fresh lemon
Whats the question? lol
The best tomato juice you can get!
lemon
Quality ingredients
Decent vodka makes all the difference
olive oil and peppercorns
Quality ingredients
Good quality tomato juice and jalapeno pepper to garnish as I love them
the tomato juice
The hotness!
The Tomato Juice is the key quality needed
Good quality tomato juice
good quality sauces
Best quality vodka
a really good vodka and ‘proper’ sauces
authentic worcester sauce and chilled tomato juice
a good quality vodka for a smooth finish
Get someone else to make it
Good quality tomato juice and vodka
A hint of mustard goes a long way!!
A good quality potato vodka, with a healthy helping of pepper and, of course, Tabasco.
good quality ingredients, and chilled tomato juice
A great fresh tomato juice.
Tomato juice I think
I’ve never tried one – always wanted to but never have had all the ingredients at home at the same time!
Good quality tomato juice.
A good fat glug of tabasco!
Quality vodka
Good quality tomato juice..
tomato juice, loads of vodka and Worcester Sauce
celery salt + a good spicy kick from Tabasco
Good quality tomato juice.
loads of good quality tomato juice
Good quality ingredients.
Plenty of vodka
Organic tomato juice
plenty of everything – especially Vodka & Worcester Sauce/Tabasco
A splash of lime
Splash in the Habanero !!!! Give it some NUTS !!!!!!
Celery salt! very important!!
Oodles of Worcester sauce, pinch of celery salt, good splash of Tabasco and a great glug of tomato juice
Lots of alchohol
spice
Good friends to drinks it with
A good quality and fresh tomato juice.
Lots of tabasco! The spicier the better!
Chocolate syrup!!
sacrilege…. but coriander