The Bloody Mary at Backyard Grill & Bar was made with Sacramento Bloody Mary mix, which is always one of our favorites. It came with a pickle, an olive, a lemon wedge and a salted rim.
Sometimes a good mix is all you need, and this one delivered. The flavor was really good, and the combination of the Sacramento mix and the classic garnishes made for an enjoyable Bloody Mary.
We don’t have a confirmed price, but we think it was around $8. No chaser was offered.
Overall, this was a really good Bloody and one we’d happily order again.
Price: Estimated $8 Mix: Sacramento Bloody Mary mix Garnish: Pickle, olive, lemon wedge, salted rim Chaser: None offered Our take: A really good Bloody Mary with one of our favorite mixes
After a round of golf, we headed to the patio at Mee-Kwon Park for a Bloody Mary. This one was pretty basic, served in a plastic cup with Zing Zang mix.
It did come with a beer chaser, which is always appreciated. I went with an Oktoberfest, so at least that part of the experience was a nice touch.
But when it came to the Bloody itself, there wasn’t much to get excited about. No garnish, no fixings, nothing to dress it up. Just the Bloody and the chaser.
At $9, we were hoping for a little more, especially when it comes to the presentation.
Price: $9 Mix: Zing Zang Garnish: None Chaser: Oktoberfest Our take: A basic post-round Bloody that could use a little more personality
A Bloody Mary and a good breakfast before a round of golf? That’s a pretty solid way to start the day.
This Bloody was made with Rush Creek Vodka and Zing Zang mix, with celery salt, two olives and a lime. No chaser was offered, and we’re unsure of the price.
However, most importantly, the bloody was good, and the breakfast was excellent. If you’re heading to Geneva National for a round, this is a great way to fuel up before hitting the course.
Vodka: Rush Creek Vodka Mix: Zing Zang Garnish: Celery salt, 2 olives, lime Chaser: None offered Price: Unknown Our take: A good Bloody Mary paired with an excellent breakfast before golf.
Another golf course Bloody Mary that kept things pretty simple.
The Bloody Mary at Oak Grove Golf Course in Harvard, Illinois was a pretty standard Bloody Mary with two olives. Nothing particularly wrong with it, but nothing that really stood out either.
It was perfectly fine if you wanted a Bloody while you were at the course, but overall, this one landed firmly in the “nothing special” category.
Mix: Unknown Garnish: 2 olives Chaser: None offered Our take: Standard, nothing to write home about (like my round that day)
Airport Bloody Marys can be a bit of a gamble, and this one definitely wasn’t worth the gamble.
I was at the St. Louis Airport in St. Louis, MO (Terminal 2) and stopped at one restaurant, where I overheard the bartender say they didn’t have olives. So I kept walking and ended up at the bar at Great American Bagel because I saw a woman there who was drinking a Bloody Mary and that one at least had olives… However, once I had my drink in hand, we started comparing notes and quickly agreed on one thing: neither of us could taste the alcohol.
She ordered a double. I ordered a double. Still couldn’t taste it.
She ordered another one. I decided I’d had enough of the experiment.
The Bloody came with two olives and, beyond that, there wasn’t much to write home about. Add in the airport price tag, and this one was pretty lackluster.
Mix: Unknown Garnish: 2 olives Chaser: None Our take: Overpriced airport Bloody ($24 for the double) that was light on flavor and apparently light on alcohol
Grabbed a post-round Bloody at Kettle Hills Golf Course in Richfield, Wisconsin. Nothing too complicated or over the top, just a straightforward Bloody with a pickle and an olive.
It did the job, but there wasn’t anything particularly memorable about it. If you’re looking for a simple Bloody while you’re out on the course, this one checks the box.
Mix: Unknown Garnish: Pickle, 1 olive Chaser: None offered Our take: Standard and straightforward
This one came with a pickle, lemon-lime pickle and two olives. We weren’t sure what mix they used, and there was no chaser.
Unfortunately, the Bloody itself was pretty forgettable. It was very plain and average, which was a little disappointing after the great Bloody we had on the mail boat. The food, however, was good, so we’d still say Speedo’s is worth a stop if you’re looking for a waterfront lunch in Lake Geneva. Just don’t expect the Bloody Mary to be the highlight.
Mix: Unknown Garnish: Pickle, lemon-lime pickle, 2 olives Chaser: None Our take: Plain and average Bloody; good food
We’ve always wanted to do the mail boat tour on Lake Geneva, so when we finally made it happen, we were pretty excited. Even the rain couldn’t stop us. After all, the mail must be delivered!
And, apparently, so must the Bloody Marys.
For $7, we got a Bloody made with Remedy Mix and topped with a lemon-lime pickle, two olives and no chaser. It was actually a really tasty Bloody, and the experience made it even better. We also weren’t expecting the mail boat to be as large as it was, and we certainly weren’t expecting there to be a full bar on board!
A rainy day on the lake, a Bloody Mary in hand and watching the mail get delivered from a boat? Pretty unique Wisconsin experience. We’re glad we finally checked this one off the list.
Sometimes a Bloody Mary starts with a drink, and sometimes it starts with spotting a bar from your paddleboard and deciding you need to come back. That was the case with Highwater Bar & Grill on Upper Nemahbin Lake.
We spotted the bar from the water while paddleboarding and immediately made a mental note to stop. The only problem? We didn’t have our wallets with us. So once we were done on the lake, we made it a point to drive over and check it out.
The Bloody Mary was simple but delicious. It came with a pickle and two olives, along with a beer chaser. No giant skewer or over-the-top garnish—just a straightforward Bloody that let the mix do the work.
And at only $7, it was an excellent value. The flavor was really good, and the relaxed lake atmosphere made it even better. When we stopped in, rugby was playing on the TV, which added to the casual, laid-back bar feel.
The Bloody Mary
• Spices/Flavor: Really good flavor • Fixin’s: Pickle, two olives • Chaser: Beer chaser • Presentation: Simple and classic • Price: $7
If you’re out on Upper Nemahbin Lake, keep Highwater Bar & Grill in mind. We literally spotted it from the water and went back specifically to try the Bloody—and I’m glad we did. Sometimes the best Bloody Mary stops are the ones you discover along the way.
Tucked between Upper and Lower Nemahbin Lake, just off I-94, Stolley’s Hogg Alley is one of those classic Wisconsin bar-and-grill spots that feels like it has been there forever. With its laid-back, up-north atmosphere and genuinely welcoming vibe, it’s the kind of place where you can picture settling in for a drink, some food, and a little time with the locals.
Their Bloody Mary was a really pleasant surprise. For $10, it came with a beer chaser and a fun lineup of fixin’s: half a pretzel rod, several pieces of sausage, a piece of cheese, a pickle, and an olive. It’s not the biggest garnish I’ve seen, but there was plenty there to snack on.
The real standout, though, was the mix. It had a really interesting flavor that almost made us wonder if there was some kind of seafood or Clamato involved. Naturally, we asked the bartender, and she confirmed there was no seafood, Clamato, or anything along those lines. It was one of those Bloodies where you keep taking sips trying to figure out exactly what you’re tasting. Turns out it was a cucumber lime infused vodka that created a unique flavor that I really enjoyed.
And that’s what made this one memorable. The combination of a flavorful Bloody, a beer chaser, a few classic Wisconsin bar snacks, and the relaxed atmosphere made for a great overall experience.
The Bloody Mary
• Spices/Flavor: Really flavorful with a unique, savory quality • Fixin’s: Half a pretzel rod, sausage, cheese, pickle, olive • Chaser: Beer chaser • Presentation: Classic Wisconsin bar Bloody with a solid lineup of garnishes • Price: $10
If you’re looking for a classic Wisconsin bar experience, Stolley’s Hogg Alley is worth a stop. You don’t have to be a biker to feel at home here—and you definitely don’t have to be a Bloody Mary expert to appreciate this one. The mix alone makes it worth trying.
