Oh What A Great Thing

The Bloody Mary, any drink that is as good in the morning as any other time is near the top of my fav. list. So a little history; although there are some discrepancies the origins of the Bloody Mary go to comedian, songwriter and movie producer George Jessel, the “Toastmaster General of the United States.” He is said to have come up with it to clear his head after a night of drinking. Perfect! Like I said there are some who challenge this especially in the past when the recognition for its invention would have meant something, like before these guys all died of liver failure (No proof that happened just guessing). The way it seems to have gone down all seems much clearer ones all these guys confessed near the end of their lives. Fernand “Pete” Petiot had been given credit in some cases for the drink but in 1964 in The New Yorker, he clears the air a bit and says “I initiated the Bloody Mary of today,” he declared. “George Jessel said he created it, but it was really nothing but vodka and tomato juice when I took it over....I cover the bottom of the shaker with four large dashes of salt, two dashes of black pepper, two dashes of cayenne pepper and a layer of Worcestershire sauce.” He added lemon juice, two ounces each of vodka and tomato juice and some cracked ice; then, “shake, strain and pour.”
If these two would have quit bickering for a second they could have both received credit for contributing to a great drink. Either way I thank thee, for they have given us a drink to have in the morning to not only clear the head, but hopefully get some dirty looks from others not enjoying their mornings as much as I.
Here are some recipes for a more modern BM:
2/3 cup top-quality tomato juice
2 to 3 ounces top-shelf vodka*, depending on strength of drink
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
6 shakes Tabasco Sauce
1 teaspoon Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce
Juice of 1/2 large lime (or medium lemon)
1/8 teaspoon salt (preferably sea salt)
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Celery stalk
Or The Bloody Bull
2 ounces top-quality tomato juice
2 ounces top-shelf vodka
2 ounces canned beef bouillon
6 shakes Tabasco Sauce
1 teaspoon Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 scallion (green onion)

This will all make sense in the near future.