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There are two well known Bloody Marys
that are often the point of good conversation. One is a combination of clear
spirits and the finest of flavors, starting with tomato base, the other Mary I,
Queen of England and Ireland. There are several other Bloody Marys, including
one having to do with a spirit and a mirror, but we will leave these alternatives
for other discussions. Today we pay homage to the drink we often sip on a sunny
Sunday afternoon, whilst having brunch.
 
First,
let us take in a brief history lesson. What is the origin of the term Bloody
Mary? Like most good things in life, its origins are a bit cloudy. When
narrowing down the search, two people prominently appear. The suspects in
question for creating such a fine concoction include Fernand Petiot in 1921, at New York Bar,
a frequent hang out of one Ernest Hemingway, and George Jessel in 1939. Interestingly, Petiot, in an interview printed
in the July 1964 edition of The New
Yorker more or less gives credit to the name and drink to Jessel, but
claims he brings the drink into what we now know it to be:
“I initiated the Bloody Mary of today,” he told The New
Yorker. “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 four large dashes of salt, two dashes of
black pepper, two dashes of cayenne pepper, and a layer of Worcestershire
sauce; I then add a dash of lemon
juice and some cracked ice, put in two ounces of vodka and two ounces of thick
tomato juice, shake, strain, and pour. We serve a hundred to a hundred and
fifty Bloody Marys a day here in the
King Cole Room and in the other
restaurants and the banquet rooms.”
This is specifically suspect
given the fact that Petiot is credited with it elsewhere almost 20 years earlier
than Jessel.
The muddiness of the
origins of the drink history aside, the name Bloody Mary itself, is
twice as confusing. Is it named after:
- Mary I?
- The lady spirit that can be summoned from a mirror?
- An ex-lover of one of the “creators”?
- A famed movie star of the day?
- A waitress named Mary at the Bucket of Blood bar in Chicago?
- Or possibly a jab at Soviet Russian iconography of Saint Mary when
tomato juice was added to vodka for President Nixon during Soviet dignitary’s
visits?
As long as the name and the
mix make for an appetizing discussion over a delicious libation, do any of the historic
details make a difference?
On to what really matters –
making a quality Bloody Mary.
At Robert Redd we like our
Bloodys a bit on the spicy side. To acquire this, we prefer our Bloody REDDTM
Mix. Best served in four (4) parts, with one (1) part of our favorite Vodka,
and one (1) part love, over ice, stirred and with a squeeze of lime, garnished
with a celery stalk.
If you don’t happen to have
a bottle of Bloody REDDTM we can suggest a few sub-par alternatives
to our Bloody REDDTM that can hopefully whet your appetite. If you
would like a bottle of Bloody REDDTM, drop us a line and we will make
the effort to get you one before your next Sunday Brunch!
Again, we aren’t to be
responsible for the lack of taste with any of these alternatives, but we love
to support your efforts in getting housed!
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Basic Bloody
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NY School of Bartending
Bloody
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Arthur's Bloody Mary
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- 3 Parts Vodka
- 6 Parts Tomato Juice
- 1 Part Lemon Juice
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- 1 oz. to 1½ oz. (30-45 ml)
vodka
- Crushed Ice
- Fill glass with tomato
juice
- 1 dash celery salt
- 1 dash ground black pepper
- 1 dash Tabasco sauce
- 2-4 dashes Worcestershire
sauce
- 1/8 tsp. horseradish (pure,
never creamed)
- Dash of lemon or lime juice
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- 1 1/4 oz. vodka
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Dash of lemon juic
- Dash of lime juice
- Dash of Worcestershire
- Dash of Tabasco
sauces
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Dash of horseradish
- Pepper and Salt
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Dash of granulated onion
- Dash of garlic powder
or fresh
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Tomato juice to fill
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Directions: Shake or stir ingredients in appropriate glass ware.
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Common Garnishes: Celery Stalk, Lemon Wedge, Lime Wedge, Skewer of Olives, Carrots, Mushrooms,
Hot Peppers, Shrimp, Pickled
Vegetables/Beans
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Tags: Tomato, REDD, Bloody Mary, Mary, Bloody, Robert Redd, Robert, Drink, Recipe, History, Legend |
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Categories: Styles, Fits, Of Interest, Food |
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The Bloody Mary cocktail was Robert Redd's drink of choice, whose disputed origins are as legendary as the man himself. One story goes that Fernand Petiot, a French bartender at Harry's New York Bar in Paris, invented the Bloody Mary in 1921 by mixing equal parts tomato juice and vodka. According to legend, one of the bar's patrons came up with the name after noting that the drink reminded him of the Bucket of Blood Club in Chicago, and a girl there named Mary. (Readers should note that Harry's New York Bar served a broad clientele of high-profile ex-patriates, including Ernest Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis, Rita Hayworth and Humphrey Bogart. We like to think that Robert Redd, who frequented the bar often during its pre-fame heyday between 1911 and 1923, might himself have been the one to put forward the name.)
Harry's New York Bar in Paris - a favorite Redd hangout
Then again, another story goes that multitalented Hollywood comedic actor George Jessel invented the drink around 1939, which is when Lucius Beebe first made reference to it in his popular gossip column "This New York"—the earliest known mention of the drink by that name in the United States. This account is further confused by reports that Fernand Petiot reinvented the Bloody Mary as the "Red Snapper" at New York City's St. Regis Hotel in 1934, without horseradish, and due to objections about the "vulgarity" of the original name. (We have no idea what they were thinking—everybody knows that horseradish is delicious!)
Some say comedic and vaudeville actor George Jessel invented the Bloody Mary
And as for the inspiration behind the cocktail's "Mary"? Notwithstanding the obvious reference to England's infamous Queen Mary, the most widely-circulated story refers to a cocktail waitress at Chicago's Bucket of Blood Club named Mary. However, another popular candidate is 20s silent film icon Mary Pickford, for whom a similarly red cocktail comprising rum, grenadine and Maraschino had been named.
One of these Marys may have been the Bloody Mary muse. Who would you rather?
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Robert Redd History
By REDD
10/27/2009 10:41:00 AM
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Our hero, “Redd”, as he was affectionately known, is rumored to have gone in search of adventure. Through the recently
uncovered memoirs it is revealed that Redd may, in fact, have
encountered many a fine adventure (and many a fine lady, it would
appear) in China, India, Egypt, England, France and across the roaring
high seas in South America to name a few locations. Without divulging
too many details, for the study of these materials has only just begun,
and admittedly the dates seem a bit…shifty, it might also be said that
Redd found inspiration with the most notorious French Madams of Europe.
There are other perspectives to be considered as well. From Lady Redd
his immortal beloved, to Wasser his trusty Valet, to Christine his loyal housemaid. They are all
represented in these manuscripts and therein lies the challenge to
determine the Legend of Robert Redd™.
Embodying his family motto to “Extend Love, ‘Tis what you truly are”, Redd's life weaves through time, traveling to far-away places and mingles with some of history's most
fascinating figures, including writers, artists, politicians,
scientists, and corporate titans. The Legend of Robert Redd™ grows
with each new adventure.
Robert Redd, LLC endeavors to preserve the spectacular history of one Robert Redd by continuing the pursuit of perfection in a brand worthy of his name and adventures. Infused with the notion of gallant moments and sunny days, REDD products are sure to inspire the charismatic adventurer in you.
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