Photo credit: Daniel Djang (aka @ThirstyinLA)
It is perhaps no coincidence that National Bloody Mary Day—celebrated each year on January 1—coincides with National Hangover Day. For those who partied their way into the new year, a Bloody Mary is just what the doctor ordered when the sun rises on New Year’s Day.
The Bloody Mary was created in the 1920s by Fernand Petiot, a bartender working at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris. The original recipe called for equal parts tomato juice and vodka, and depending on which version of the story you believe, was either named for the friend of a guy who was in the bar when the drink was created, or was named for “Bloody Mary” Tudor, the English queen who murdered hundreds of Protestants in the name of Catholicism.
When Petiot moved to New York City in 1934, he introduced the drink to his patrons at the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel under the moniker “The Red Snapper.” The name didn’t stick, and neither did the original recipe. Patrons felt the drink was too bland, so Petiot spiced it up with cayenne pepper, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and a splash of Tabasco.
The drink was a hit, and even garnered the attention of the McIlhenny Company—the company who manufactures TABASCO. In 1976, they introduced a bottled version of the spicy sensation.
Today, Bloody Marys are still a classic hangover cure. They’ve also gone on to become meals in and of themselves. Classically garnished with a pickle or stick of celery, today’s Bloody Marys can include a host of toppings, with some restaurants even offering a Bloody Mary buffet, allowing brunchers to cap off their creations with ginger, Sriracha, steak sauce, bacon, shrimp, beef jerky, oysters and more!
Next time you find yourself needing some hair of the dog, start your day the savory way with a classic Bloody Mary. Or mix things up with a Clamato-infused Bloody Caesar or a tequila-laced Bloody Margarita. You’ll be back to yourself in no time, and ready to ring in the new year!
National Bloody Mary Day is typically celebrated in USA.