Bloody Mary: classic cocktail to combat the hangover

The most important facts summarized for you:

• The Bloody Mary is a pick-me-up cocktail made with vodka, spicy sauces and tomato juice.
• The cocktail was probably invented in Paris in the 1920s
• Whether the Bloody Mary actually helps against hangovers is controversial. One thing is certain: it has an invigorating effect.

The Bloody Mary is a well-known anti-hangover drink that supposedly combats the effects of a night of drinking. The legendary drink is said to have almost magical powers in this respect. Here you can find out which ingredients you need for the recipe, where the name comes from and whether the cocktail is really good for hangovers.

The Bloody Mary is supposedly a miracle cure for hangovers...

What is a Bloody Mary?

The Bloody Mary is a cocktail made from vodka, tomato juice and various seasonings, which is traditionally served in a long drink glass. It is one of the so-called hangover drinks, which are also known as corpse revivers or pick-me-up cocktails. They are said to be helpful if you have overdone it with the party and have a full-blown hangover waiting for you the next morning.

There are many variations on the Bloody Mary

The Bloody Mary recipe

The Bloody Mary consists of the main ingredients tomato juice and vodka, which are mixed in a ratio of 2:1 according to the standard recipe of the International Bartenders Association. The other ingredients are essentially the same as the original recipe by the alleged inventor Fernand Petoit. As there are many variations, the mixing ratio can vary depending on the recipe. The range is huge and offers you almost endless possibilities.

Basic Bloody Mary recipe

For a classic Bloody Mary, we recommend the following recipe.

Bloody Mary - the recipe

Ingredients:

• 5 cl vodka
• 10 cl tomato juice
• 1.5 cl lemon juice
• 2 to 4 dashes of Tabasco
• 4 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
• Salt and pepper (ideally celery salt)

Preparation:

1. Place the vodka, lemon juice, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt and pepper in a mixing glass and stir well
2. Add the tomato juice and stir again.
3. Pour the ice cubes into a highball glass and pour in the Bloody Mary. You can garnish the drink with a lemon or lime wedge, a celery stick is also ideal.

Buy high-quality vodka:

As tomato juice suffers somewhat from contact with oxygen, the ingredients should not be shaken if possible. As an alternative to the preparation method mentioned above, you can also shake the ingredients, with the exception of the tomato juice, in a shaker over ice cubes and then add the juice to the long drink glass. However, the ice cubes should remain in the shaker.

Bloody Mary variation with gin: the Red Snapper

The Red Snapper is a variation of the legendary anti-hangover drink in which you use gin instead of vodka.

The Red Snapper is prepared with gin instead of vodka

Ingredients:

• 5 cl gin
• 10 cl tomato juice
• 1.5 cl lemon juice
• 2 to 4 dashes of Tabasco
• 4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• Celery salt and pepper

Preparation:

1. Pour the gin, lemon juice, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt and pepper into a mixing glass.
2. Stir briefly, add the tomato juice and stir again.
3. Pour ice cubes into a highball glass and pour in the red snapper. You can also use a celery stick or a lemon or lime wedge as a garnish.

Buy craft gin for mixing:

Frequently asked questions about the Bloody Mary

Who invented the Bloody Mary?

There are several legends surrounding the creation of this cocktail, but unfortunately the real story can no longer be reconstructed with certainty. The bartender Fernand Petoit, who is said to have mixed the drink in 1921 in Harry's New York Bar in Paris, is regarded as the inventor. Even legendary celebrities such as the writers F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway are said to have enjoyed it there. In the 1930s, Petoit went to New York and presented his creation in the King Cole Bar of the St. Regis Hotel.

Another legend has it that Hollywood actor George Jessel first created the Bloody Mary in a bar in Florida in 1927. After a night of drinking, he was looking for a way to serve the hungover guests an anti-hangover drink. He grabbed an open bottle of vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. He is said to have used these ingredients to mix the first Bloody Mary.

In some cases, the spicy cocktail is even served with shrimp

We cannot conclusively determine which version reflects the truth. What is certain, however, is that Petoit certainly gave the actor Jessel a share in the development of the drink. However, he denied that the Hollywood star's creation had already been perfected and noted that the classic seasoning had only been created by him (Petoit) personally in the King Cole Bar.

Where does the name Bloody Mary come from?

The origin of the name has also not been conclusively clarified. Here is an overview of the most popular myths about the name Bloody Mary:

• Queen Mary I Tudor: Due to the bloody persecution of Protestants, she was given the nickname Bloody Mary by her half-sister and successor Elizabeth I after her death. Legend has it that Mary's ghost will appear if you say her name 40 times in front of a mirror.
• Mary Brown Warburton: She stained her white dress with a drink created by George Jessel and then allegedly called herself Bloody Mary.
• Mary the Waitress: According to Petoit's granddaughter, a guest suggested the name because he fondly remembered a waitress named Mary who worked at the Bucket of Blood Club in Chicago.

Legend has it that the Bloody Mary originated from a tomato cocktail stain on a waitress's white dress.

What does a Bloody Mary taste like?

You should definitely like tomato juice and not expect a sweet cocktail. The Bloody Mary has a characteristically spicy taste. The fruity tomato flavor combines with the aroma of the hot spicy sauces, making this cocktail taste very strong, salty and spicy.

Why does a Bloody Mary help against hangovers in the morning?

Drinking alcoholic beverages in the morning to combat an unwanted hangover has a long tradition. For a long time, it was quite common to greet the day with a corpse reviver after a night of drinking. In fact, cocktails were invented as a pick-me-up after getting up - as early as the 18th century.

Whether the Bloody Mary cocktail really has a positive effect on hangovers is controversial.

The positive effect of the Bloody Mary on the consequences of a hangover is highly controversial. The vodka is said to stimulate liver activity and thus improve the breakdown of toxins stored in the body. Tomato juice & co. are also said to provide you with important minerals. However, you should bear in mind that the Bloody Mary will reintroduce alcohol into your system and the level will rise again. It's therefore better not to indulge in more than one cocktail.

Would you like to mix yourself a delicious Bloody Mary or a red snapper? Then you'll find the right spirits here in our range.