BLOODY MARY’S 101 Spice up your New Year’s Day drink of choice

BY SUZANNE LEDBETTER

Here in the San Joaquin Valley, we’re ringing in the New Year appropriately, by raising one of these festive cocktails to toast 2023. And what do you know? It just happens to be National Bloody Mary Day on January 1! Keep reading to learn the basics (and beyond) of all things Bloody Mary.

BASIC GARNISH:

A fresh and crunchy stick of celery

BEYOND GARNISHES:

• A crispy slice of cooled bacon • Fresh lemon wedges • Pickled or raw pepperoncini • Naturally sweet cocktail onions • Pickled veggies such as jalapeño peppers, okra, cauliflower, green beans, and asparagus • Shrimp and a sprinkle of oyster crackers • 1-2 teaspoons of prepared horseradish

TIPS FOR THE BEST BLOODY MARY

Rim your glasses with Old Bay Seasonings or sea salt. Chill your tomato juice and vodka. Strain prepared horseradish through a fine mesh sieve. Use skewers to thread your garnishes. Pour your Bloody Mary over ice-cubes. MIX IT UP:

• Bloody Maria. The Mexican version of the classic replaces vodka with tequila • Virgin Mary. Skip the alcohol and use zero-proof vodka. • Bloody Caesar. Replace tomato juice with Clamato juice to make this cocktail Canadian. • Red Snapper. Replace vodka with gin and you’ve got a New Yorkinspired Bloody Mary. • Green Mary. Use green tomatillo juice instead of classic tomato juice. Garnish with cilantro and cucumber. CLASSIC BLOODY MARY:

What you’ll need for 4 drinks: • 2 cups tomato juice, chilled • ¼ cup fresh lemon Juice • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce • ½ teaspoon Tabasco hot sauce • ½ teaspoon celery salt • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper • 1 cup (8 ounces) vodka, preferrable chilled • Ice-cubes, for serving • 4 tall serving glasses • Bamboo skewers to thread your favorite garnishes • Old Bay seasoning or salt, for rimming glasses

DIRECTIONS

1. Chill tomato juice and vodka.

2. Combine tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, celery salt, and black pepper in a large cocktail shaker. Shake to combine. Then, strain into a large glass jar or pitcher. 3. Chill until ready to serve (up to overnight).

4. When ready to serve, rim four glasses. Pour ¼ -cup vodka and ½-cup of Bloody Mary mix into each glass, followed by ice-cubes and desired garnishes. 5. Cheers and sip!