Five Bloody Marys to kickstart your weekend

BY MEGHAN FITZGERALD

Tomato haters might want to sit this one out…or at least sit at another table because the highball glasses are set and I’m serving up a round of bloody marys.

A libation that tastes just as good after 5pm as it does before noon, the loody Mary is one of those drinks that transcends any designated happy hour to be enjoyed all weekend long. That being said, there is little doubt that the bloody mary finds its most rapt audience during that late morning/early afternoon weekend ritual known as brunch.

The brunch crowd is a collection of personalities as vast and varied as the ingredients used to craft a bloody mary, standard or otherwise. Fortunately, the beverage has a little something for everyone, from the regulars looking to catch up with friends to the good-time Charlies looking to catch up on a little sleep...and maybe a little hydration.

No matter when or why you enjoy a bloody mary, the point is that you enjoy a glass, and I am here to let you in on where exactly you can find one near you, so pull up a chair and enjoy!

Even without the bells and whistles, the bloody mary in its simplest form makes a statement. A concoction crafted from scratch using vodka, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, celery, olives, lemon juice, lime juice, celery salt, back pepper, and salt, it’s no wonder pre-made Bloody Mary Mix is sold at most liquor stores and retailers. Preparing the drink is one thing, but perfecting it is another entirely. However, that is exactly the thing Cinola Restaurant and Lounge has accomplished. Available upon request, the bloody mary is a modest representation of the beverage, basic in appearance, but authentic to taste, mildly acidic, slightly sweet, and comfortably spicy.

Maybe ‘comfortably spicy’ isn’t exactly the adjective you’d use to describe your ideal bloody mary. After all, some do like it hot, and maybe you are one of those people, in which case, your bloody mary fix is an easy one. Just add Tabasco! A few drops of the hot sauce will elevate your bloody mary from pleasantly hot to it-hurts-so-good hot. Satellite Diner and Lounge provides just such a spicy experience, offering a hot, hot, hot homemade bloody mary, in addition to the classic.

To accent a bloody mary with a couple of olives, an asparagus or two, and/or a rib of celery is hardly surprising as far as the standard is concerned. In fact, to do so is greatly encouraged being that the flavors of both the vegetables and the beverage complement each other so well. However, one cannot live off of asparagus and celery alone, especially if you’re looking to eat your bloody mary as well as drink it. Not to fear. Bark Rescue Pub has got you covered there. Their signature bloody mary is just the hair of the dog you need to get you through the weekend. House bloody mary mix gets taken up a level or twelve as it is topped with the pickled veggies ones comes to expect, plus a helping of bacon, sausage, shrimp, and a chicken slider–for good measure.

On the off chance you love a good bloody mary but aren’t exactly crazy about vodka, there exists a variation concocted specifically with people such as yourself in mind. The bloody maria gives the classic bloody mary a twist with tequila, forgoing the vodka, but continuing to employ the remaining ingredients, such as the tomato juice and the horseradish. Juice and/or slices from a hot pepper are included from time to time to add an extra layer of heat to an already hot cocktail. The Maria is more often than not an order available upon request and chances are a restaurant and/or bar that offers the classic version of a bloody has the ability to mix up a maria as well as a mary. 1898 Public House located out of the Kalispel Golf and Country Club demonstrates just such flexibility with flavor, giving you the option to build your own bloody, from the toppings to the mixer to even the salt.

Personal preference has been mentioned a time or two to describe the perfect drink, more specifically your perfect drink. Nobody—not the waiter, not the bar staff, not me—can dictate to you your personal preference, and that is the beautiful reality of the bloody mary bar. An increasingly popular feature of the brunch scene, the bar typically includes everything a person could possibly need or imagine to build a bloody mary to his or her exact preference, from the herbs to the liquor, oftentimes. The Sunday brunch at Max at Mirabeau includes a bloody mary bar, giving you the opportunity to leisurely peruse the options available and craft the cocktail to your liking and to your specifications.

Cinola Bar & Grill

14712 N Newport Hwy
Mead, WA 99021
cinolabarandgrill.com

Satellite Diner & Lounge

425 W Sprague Ave
Spokane, WA 99201
Satellitediner.com

Bark Rescue Pub

905 N Washington St
Spokane, WA 99201
Barkrescuepub.com

1898 Public House

2010 W Waikiki Rd
Spokane, WA 99218
Kalispelgolf.com

Max at Mirabeau

1100 N Sullivan Rd
Spokane Valley, WA 99037
maxatmirabeau.com

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