With New Year’s Day knocking on the calendar’s door today, here’s a cocktail / punch recipe to add to your files – an easy and delicious Bloody Mary Punch. (Don’t forget that New Year’s Day is indeed National Bloody Mary Day too).
A wise and talented Yoda of adult beverages once shared what he claimed was the absolute secret to cranking out superior Bloody Mary cocktails one after another – use V8 (or the tomato-based vegetable cocktail of your choice, but V8 is the King) for it’s deeper, more complex flavors. This is his recipe in fact, though we’ve found it’s possibly a bit better with a splash more spice (try it with the Slap Yo’ Mamma cajun seasoning mix).
I’m supposing it’s due to some repressed childhood trauma that I can’t quite put a finger on, but I’ve never been able to enjoy (or swallow for that matter) just plain Jane tomato juice, though add a little Worcestershire and a healthy shake of Tabasco to a cold V8 and I’m all in – even more so with all the rest of the fixin’s for a Blood Mary.
This is a great way to mix up a big batch for a crowd if you’re entertaining and you can leave the mix virgin and add your mixer glass by glass if you need to serve a few non-imbibers at the shindig. And these need an acidic / sour garnish – we’re all in for the pickled spicy okra or spicy dill spears…
Roast a pig for New Year’s Day? Maybe you should give Miss Piggy’s Bloody Mary a spin.
1 bigass can (46 ounces) V8 or your choice
2 cups beef broth (1 can if you choose to go that route)
3 tbsp fresh-squeezed lime juice
1 tbsp fresh ground pepper
1 tbsp hot sauce of choice (Tabasco for tradition)
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp celery seeds
1/2 tsp Old Bay or Slap Yo’ Mamma Cajun seasoning
1/2 cup (+) vodka, or in shots on the side to keep the master mix virginGarnish: Celery sticks, pickled okra, pickled peppers, a spicy dill pickle spear, lemon or lime wedges, you make the call
Combine all ingredients save for the vodka and garnishes in a large pitcher, stir to mix and then chill for at least an hour.
Pour over ice in a tall glass (add the shot of vodka first if you’ve kept the master punch unadulterated), stir with a celery stick and garnish as desired.
Cheers.
