Tinsel Mary
I never used to be a big Bloody Mary fan. I mean, I loved tomato juice and I loved vodka, but for some reason when those two liquids were mixed together, my taste buds went cold. But I knew other people liked them and imbibed them regularly, especially over long Sunday brunches. So, I continued to try them and every time I’d get one or two sips in, I’d turn up my nose.
But then something happened early in the 2000’s: I discovered there were other vodkas out there besides Absolute. There were vodkas infused with flavors, vodkas that were smooth, vodkas that could be sipped straight or over ice. That’s when I realized if combined with the right juices in the right measurements, vodka could turn a cocktail I’d previously found disgusting into something I couldn’t wait to sip.
Cucumber Vodka
So, I went back to the Bloody Mary. But this time I tried it with cucumber vodka. I mean, if this is a drink that’s meant to be imbibed in the morning, why not use a vegetable that’s found so often in smoothies and breakfast shots. I loved it! It was light and cool and soooooo refreshing! Of course I added all the extra condiments you find at Bloody Mary bars these days: celery, smoked sea salt, olives and of course bacon, because let’s be honest… these days the Bloody Mary is no longer just a drink, it’s a feast in a glass!
And so it went… every time I ordered a Bloody Mary, I got mine with cucumber vodka. If they didn’t have cucumber vodka, I didn’t have a Bloody Mary. Then a few weeks ago I heard Liquor.com was looking for twists on the Bloody Mary. I liked my cucumber vodka version, but I knew it needed something more.
The Holidays
Everywhere I look these days all I see is green and red, red and green… it is the holidays after all. And that’s when it hit me: if I’m going to use cucumber vodka in my Bloody Mary, why not use cucumber juice as well! So I layered fresh Persian cucumber juice with tomato juice and cucumber vodka and got not only a refreshing morning cocktail, but one that fits right in with the holidays!
So, on Monday when the kids wake up before sunrise to see what Santa has brought, you could make yourself a large cup of caffeine, but a Tinsel Mary would be so much better. Not only will it match all your holiday decor, it’ll definitely get you in the holiday spirit.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces fresh cucumber juice
- 1-1/2 ounces cucumber vodka
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2-1/2 ounces tomato juice
Instructions
- Pour the cucumber juice into a highball glass filled with 3 or 4 ice cubes.
- Pour the remaining ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously until chilled.
- Using a bar spoon, slowly pour the tomato juice mixture over the spoon so you get a nice red tomato layer on top of the green cucumber layer.
- Garnish with cherry tomatoes and sliced cucumbers and serve.
