Dad's Spicy Bloody Mary

My Dad is known for his spicy Bloody Mary cocktails. Before each family holiday brunch {Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day} there is one thing certain: he can be found in the kitchen playing mixologist, masterfully creating each cocktail, one by one, always stirred and never shaken. 

Like so many chefs and bartenders, the recipe is in his head and the measuring aid is an eye and not a spoon. When he visited me recently, I asked him to record his actions so that all of us can recreate this delectable libation at home. Just in time for Mother's Day, I am happy to share this official recipe {although we swapped out his signature garnish of 3 pimento stuffed martini olives with my preferred triple threat garnish: 1 tomolive, 1 pimento stuffed martini olive and 1 jalapeno stuffed martini olive}. 

Consider this recipe the starting point - what my dad serves as a baseline - a drink that will tantalize but not blow heat out of your ears. Then allow everyone the option of really knocking it out of the park with their own hand - adding a few more dashes of Tabasco for heat and perhaps another dash or two of Worcestershire for depth. Not necessary, but let everyone go for it if the mood strikes.

And after a round of Bloody Mary's everybody will be ready for brunch.  For your Mother's Day brunch, how about preparing a warm frittata bursting with vegetables and cheese alongside a salad of fresh mixed greens?

frittata with smoked mozzarella

frittata with broccolini and cheddar

leek and roasted tomato frittata

mushroom, asparagus and goat cheese frittata

Dad's Spicy Bloody Mary

celery salt

1 lemon wedge

1 oz + 1/2 oz good Vodka {such as Belvedere, Chopin, Grey Goose, Ketel One}

1 heaping teaspoon prepared horseradish

1 smidgen (*) Nature's Seasons

1/8 t onion powder

1/8 t garlic powder

3/4 t Worcestershire sauce, or more to taste

3 good dashes of Tabasco, or more to taste

Spicy Bloody Mary mix {Major Peter's or Mr & Mrs T's}

Ice

1 tomolive

1 pimento stuffed martini olive

1 jalapeno stuffed martini olive

Place celery salt on a small plate. Run a wedge of lemon around the rim of a high ball glass {14 oz}. Dip rim of the glass in celery salt.

To the glass, add the vodka, horseradish, 1 smidgen (*) celery salt, onion powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire and Tabasco. Add about nice sized 4 ice cubes. Fill the glass 90% full with Spicy Bloody Mary mix. Stir and garnish with the tomolive and olives.

Serves 1.

{*} 1 smidgen = 1/32 t.

Source: Paul Boy