For our family, the drink of choice on New Year’s Day has always been and will always be the Bloody Mary. It really fits with our New Year’s Day theme of relaxing with family as dinner cooks low and slow. The best part about my New Year’s Day Bloody Mary is the garnish bar where everyone assembles their perfect glass. For a make-ahead option that takes my classic Bloody Mary up a notch, try my daughter Erin’s Bloody Mary Mix.
Prep time 15 minutes
Serves 8–10
Ingredients
2 ½ cups good vodka
3 ¾ cups tomato juice
1 ¼ cups fresh lemon juice
10 dashes Tabasco sauce
10 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp prepared horseradish
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp fine sea salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp celery seed
Garnishes:
Bacon slices
Celery sticks
Cheddar cheese cubes
Cocktail onions
Cucumber spears
Shrimp Jalapeno slices
Lemon wedges
Lime wedges
Olives
Rim:
5 tbsp kosher salt
1 tbsp ground celery seed
1 tbsp lemon pepper
1 tbsp sweet paprika
Lime wedges
Directions
- Pour all of the ingredients into a large pitcher or bowl, and stir to combine. For extra fun, set up a complete garnish station with skewers.
- For the rim mixture, mix all of the seasonings together and store in a small container. When ready to use, pour some on a small plate. Moisten the rim with a lime wedge, and dip into the seasoning mixture.
- Fill a tall glass with lots of ice and then add the tomato mixture. Go to town with your favorite garnishes!
