Bloody Mary

This is a classic cocktail containing vodka, tomato juice and usually other spices or flavorings such as Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, piri piri sauce, beef consommé or bouillon, horseradish, celery, olive, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, lemon juice and celery salt. It has been called “the world's most complex cocktail”.

Ingredients

5 crushed ice cubes

Dash Tabasco sauce

Dash Worcestershire sauce

2 part vodka

6 part tomato juice

Juice of ½ lemon

1 lemon slice

Pinch of cayenne pepper

Celery stick

Method

Put the crushed ice in a cocktail shaker, pour Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce over the ice add the lemon juice and shake vigorously until the shaker is well frosted. Strain into a tall chilled glass and sprinkle the cayenne pepper on top. Place the celery stick in the drink with a slice of lemon and serve immediately.

Note: The mocktail version is without alcohol and normally with an increased volume of tomato juice. The vodka in the drink is merely being omitted with no substitute. “Virgin Mary” is normally used in the USA and “Bloody Shame” is usually used in Australia. “Bloody Barbara” refers to Barbara Castle, the British Minister of Transport who introduced tougher drink-driving laws.