A Thanksgiving Cocktail: Ultimate Bloody Mary

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While I was searching for the ultimate Thanksgiving cocktail to prepare, test and recommend (somebody has to do it), I came across concoctions with cutesy names but that I was unlikely to personally select, much less serve. Plus, I have very limited preferences when it comes to alcoholic drinks.

Thinking back on recent Thanksgivings, the Bloody Mary has become my Thanksgiving morning favorite. One of the nice things about this recipe is that you don't need a top shelf or expensive vodka. The key is to choose a high-quality tomato juice, i.e., not concentrate. Unlike most of the recipes I've used, this drink is shaken, not stirred. It is so hot!

Here is one more thing to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.

The Ultimate Fully-Loaded Bloody Mary
Recipe, Serious Eats

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon celery salt or (or plain kosher salt, if you prefer)
• 1/4 lemon, cut into two wedges
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (or less to taste)
• Dash cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Franks)
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated horseradish (or 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish), optional
• 2 ounces vodka
• 4 ounces high-quality tomato juice
• 1 stick celery

Directions:

1. Place celery salt in a shallow saucer. Rub rim of 12-ounce tumbler with 1 lemon wedge and coat wet edge with celery salt. Place lemon wedge on rim of glass. Fill glass with ice.

2. Add Worcestershire, soy, black pepper, cayenne pepper, hot sauce, and horseradish to bottom of cocktail shaker. Fill shaker with ice and add vodka, tomato juice, and juice of remaining lemon wedge. Shake vigorously, taste for seasoning and heat, and adjust as necessary. Strain into ice-filled glass. Garnish with celery stalk and serve immediately.