Sunday Bloody Sunday

As the halfway mark of our holiday journey falls on a Sunday just two short weeks before Christmas, I can only hope that the rest of you are feeling better than I am this morning.  Apparently there is such thing as too much Christmas spirit.  But fear not, along with being one of the all time classic brunch cocktails, the Bloody Mary is also an amazing hangover cure (the shampoo effect).

While there is some evidence to discredit the commonly held belief that the Bloody Mary was invented at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris around 1920, I love the bar and its history so I am going to stick with that until proven otherwise.

At its most basic level this morning after favorite is a combination of vodka, tomato juice and any number of fruits, vegetables, spices and seasonings. Everybody has their own personal touches to the point that one of the only compliment’s I can still give Delta Airlines is the Bloody Mary condiment tray in the crown room that allows each weary traveler to dress their cocktail as desired. I like this version as it is heavy on the citrus and a packs a nice kick. Start by mixing the tomato juice mixture below in a large pitcher and refrigerate until well chilled, it should make enough for six to eight cocktails. The time of day will dictate the amount of vodka to use. Prior to 10:00 AM use use one ounce, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM work your way to an ounce and a half, and from 11:00 to noon work from an ounce and a half to two. Once the clock hits twelve all bets are off, make them as strong as you desire. When ready to serve fill a glass with ice. Add the appropriate amount of vodka, fill glass with tomato mix and stir. Garnish each drink with a lime wedge and a spear of pickled asparagus.

Bloody Mary

46 oz tomato juice

¾ cup fresh orange juice

3 tbs worcestershire sauce

2 tbs prepared horseradish

2 tbs fresh lemon juice

1 tsp tabasco sauce

1 ½ tsp celery salt

Vodka

Mix first seven ingredients in a large pitcher and chill. For each drink pour one to two ounces of vodka into an ice filled glass. Pour in tomato mixture and stir. Garnish with a spear of pickled asparagus and a lime.

Boulevardier

          Boulevardier
          Pronunciation: \ˌbu̇-lə-ˌvär-ˈdyā, ˌbü-, -ˈdir\
          Function: noun
          Etymology: French, from boulevard
          Date: 1871
          a frequenter of the Parisian boulevards; a man-about-town

The name of the drink is enough to make a lesser man nervous. But have no fear; this is a drinking man’s cocktail.

The origin and history of this cocktail alone, should place it in the same company as the other bourbon based cocktail mainstays, unfortunately this red-headed step child of a drink has been relegated to second class status, known only in small but distinguished drinking circles.

Much like our third president, this drink is all American but very much at home in Paris. Harry McElhone, had been the bartender at the Plaza Hotel in New York prior to prohibition. Once Volstead’s law was passed he headed overseas to ply his trade. After a stint in London, he headed to France, eventually opening his own place. Harry’s New York Bar, maybe you’ve heard of it. The Boulevardier, first appeared in Harry’s 1927 bar guide, Barflies and Cocktails.

Similar to it’s cousin the Negroni, this concoction starts with Campari and sweet vermouth. The gin is replaced by bourbon. I like this drink on the rocks, but it can easily be shaken and served in a cocktail glass. Start with an ounce and a half of good bourbon, I like Gentleman Jack or a nice smooth small batch bourbon. Add an ounce of Campari and an ounce of sweet vermouth. This drink has the confidence to stand on it’s own, without the need for a garnish. This drink should be mixed, served and consumed with an extra air of panache.

Boulevardier

1 ½ oz bourbon

1 oz campari

1 oz sweet vermouth

Build this drink in an old fashioned glass full of ice.