We all have those days. The alarm doesn't go off, you run out to the bus stop half-dressed to see the bus pulling away (and the guy in the back is laughing). At work, the coffee cart is out of dark roast, you realize your shirt is on inside out and your boss tells you to scrap everything you've spent the last six months working on. These are the days that all you can do is come home, start a political debate with the cat and pour a drink.
This is that drink. Why, you ask? Because: (1) I almost always have all the ingredients on hand, (2) for some reason it's considered socially acceptable to drink these at 10am and (3) it can be varied infinitely according to taste or depth of moody darkness.
The Bar Fly's Bad Day Bloody Mary
- 2 oz of decent Vodka (or 1oz per disaster in your day)*
- Mixed Vegetable Juice **
Following ingredients to taste:
- Lemon Juice
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Your Favorite Hot Sauce (I often opt for Crystal or Cholula if there's nothing more interesting on hand)
Instructions: Throw some ice in a tall glass; I like pint glasses for this. Add the vodka (feel free to test it out with a generous swig from the bottle here). Gently shake or stir the remaining ingredients and pour over the ice and vodka. Garnish with a lemon wedge, celery, pickles or dilly beans.
* Note on Vodka: I usually don't go with infusions for a Bad Day Mary, but if you must, try a homemade pepper infused vodka or 46th Parallel in Wisconsin makes a nice Horseradish Vodka called Referent - not much heat, just a nice earthiness.
** For the purists: YES, I know that a traditional Bloody Mary calls for tomato juice. If that's what you want, go make your own damn drink, I'm having a bad day here!
So, here's hoping this will lighten even your darkest mood.
Cheers - from the Bar Fly!
