These garnishes could fill a plate.
If I’m going to drink a Bloody Mary, I want it to feel like a full meal. In fact, I measure the quality of a restaurant’s Bloody Mary based on its garnishes: It should look like the cocktail version of going all-out on a giant spread or seafood tower at your favorite breakfast spot. That’s the all-day Sunday brunch spirit I’m going for here, with what’s probably an excessive number of toppings, most of which can be purchased at the market or are quick and easy to make, like a shrimp cocktail made of store-bought cooked shrimp.
Mini cheeseburger sliders propped up on long skewers are charming and hilarious, and I recommend them if you have the time. Though I love every one of these garnishes, one Bloody Mary can only hold so much. Pick and choose the ones that most appeal to you.
Rocco DiSpirito’s Candied Bacon Burger Bloody Mary Recipe
Makes 4 cocktails | Total Time: 20 minutes | Ease of Preparation: Easy
Ingredients
Blood Marys
- Celery salt
- Ice
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 8 ounces vodka
- 16 ounces tomato juice
- ¼ ounce Tabasco sauce
- ¼ ounce Worcestershire sauce
- 2½ tablespoons prepared horseradish
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
Garnishes (Pick Your Favorites)
- Parsley sprigs
- Green olives
- Lime wedges
- Lemon wedges
- Celery stalks
- Cheeseburger sliders
- Candied bacon
(see Note) - Cornichons
- Cocktail onions
- Cooked shrimp
Instructions
- Rim four highball glasses or one giant glass with celery salt. Add ice to the glass(es).
- In an extra-large ice-filled cocktail shaker, combine the lemon juice, lime juice, vodka, tomato juice, Tabasco, Worcestershire, horseradish, pepper, smoked paprika, and 2 teaspoons celery salt. Shake until completely chilled and strain into the glass(es).
- Skewer the garnishes, loading on as many as will fit. Place the skewer(s) in the glass(es) and enjoy.
Note: To make candied bacon, preheat the oven to 350°F. Lay slices of bacon on a sheet pan and sprinkle with brown sugar or drizzle with maple syrup. Bake until crispy, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
