We also heard good things about Tipsy Parson in Chelsea.

We love, love, loved the decor in this tiny establishment that you’d almost miss walking by it on the street. So quaint and charming.

This Bloody Mary was served in a cute mason jar and was very tasty. However, we must warn you—garlic was the predominant spice used here, for sure!

Mix: Made from scratch.

Chaser: No (spoiler alert—none of the NYC bars offered a chaser)

Fixin’s: Two olives, one lime

Price:$13

We recognize New York prices are in effect for all beverages (no $4 Steny’s specials here!), but this one was on the higher side for the amount included in the glass.

Next, we moved on to sample the Bloody Marys at a couple of places in Chelsea. First stop? The Cookshop.

Again, a place that came highly recommended, so I was excited to try their version of our favorite drink.

Mix: Made from scratch.

Chaser: No (spoiler alert—none of the NYC bars offered a chaser)

Fixin’s: Two olives, one lemon

Price:$10

This Bloody Mary was light and refreshing. The salted rim (with worcestershire sauce, I was told) was a nice touch. Again, because this Bloody Mary came so highly recommended, I was expecting something a bit more. And again, we have unique standards in Wisconsin. However, this was very flavorful and the menu here is fantastic. Definitely give it a go for brunch or lunch if you’re in the area.

While in Brooklyn, we also stopped down the street from Clover Club to visit Char No. 4. Char No. 4 is a “whiskey bar & restaurant with a passion for bourbon” and hence, their Bloody Mary was made with—you guessed it—bourbon (which makes it a “Bloody Derby” for those of you scoring at home). 

Mix: Made from scratch with Very Old Barton Bourbon in place of vodka.

Chaser: No (spoiler alert—none of the NYC bars offered a chaser)

Fixin’s: Pickled Carrot

Price:$10

Now this is a unique New York Bloody Mary. I loved the flavor of this beverage. I described it as a cross between an Old Fashioned and Bloody Mary, but in a good way.

As with Clover Club and the rest of Smith Street, the vibe in Char No. 4 was also great—low key with a buzz of trendiness and excitement in the air. Definitely stop here if you get the chance.

Last week, I had the opportunity to sample several Bloody Marys on a trip to the Big Apple.

My first stop? Clover Club in Brooklyn.

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I had done my homework before my trip and Clover Club came highly recommended. Here are the stats:

Mix: Made from scratch with Aylesbury Duck Vodka.

Chaser: No (spoiler alert—none of the NYC bars offered a chaser)

Fixin’s: Olive, Lemon

Price:$12

The flavor of this drink was very good and the bartender was very kind; we had a great discussion about Bloody Marys and he even pointed me in the direction of other Bloodys I should try while I was in town.

I really liked the feel of this establishment as well, but I wasn’t sure that this Bloody was anything extra-special. I guess I’m really spoiled in Wisconsin. Next!

Steny’s Tavern

Posted: January 19, 2014 in Uncategorized
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Last weekend, we also visited Steny’s Tavern on 2nd & National.

Steny’s makes some big claims about their Bloody Marys, so naturally, we had to verify or deny them:

According to Steny’s website, Steny’s Bloody Mary was named #1 Bloody at an event last August… we’ll be the judge of that!

Steny’s menu even has an entire page dedicated to the history of their Bloodies:

And, from 11am-6pm on Saturdays and Sundays, they offer the Bloodies for just $4 each.

(Unfortunately, we didn’t have a chance to inquire about the Bloody Mary Club—-maybe they will fill us in on that!)

Anyway, here’s what you’ve been waiting for: Steny’s Bloody Mary.

Mix: Made from scratch

Chaser: Yes

Fixin’s: Pickle, olive

Price: $4

The taste of the Bloody Mary was a little on the spicier side, but other than that, I’m sorry to say, this was a pretty standard Bloody Mary. The price is great when you hit the special on the weekends, but I”m not sure this warrants a trip down there on a regular basis.

I’ve been meaning to get to Oscar’s on Pierce since last Opening Day when I came across an image on Twitter of a special Bloody Mary that included a brat as a fixin’!

Well, last weekend I finally got there and, while the brat was a one-day only special, their “everyday” bloodies are fantastic!

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Mix: Made from scratch

Chaser: Yes

Fixin’s: Pickle, celery, olive, cheese, lemon and bacon

Price: $7.50

My dining companion and I both agreed that Oscar’s “soon to be famous” Bloody Marys were delicious; extremely flavorful with kind of a unique “smoky” aftertaste. We will definitely be back to Oscar’s soon and next time, we’ll come hungry because the food looked amazing and the scent of burgers was heavy in the air.

I recently tried Durty Gurl Bloody Mary Mix and made myself a Bloody Mary using the mix, along with Skyy Vodka and my own fixin’s.

This company offers a complete line of cocktail mixers and garnishes, from cherries and to onions and Bloody Mary to Margarita mix, they’ve thought of everything.

The Bloody Mary Mix in particular comes in Classic, Spicy and Habanero & Horseradish Varieties. I tried the Classic and while it was no means bad in any way, I wasn’t wowed either; perhaps one of the others might have put a little more pep in my step?

While this particular variety wasn’t a standout, their website is worth checking out—they’ve got some pretty cool stuff, including the Olive of the Month Club.

Coast

Posted: January 11, 2014 in Uncategorized
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I recently visited Coast in Milwaukee  for a work function. The majority of the attendees were drinking beer and wine, but of course I ordered a Bloody Mary.

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I  should have known better than to order a Bloody so late when it wasn’t their focus, but I can never resist.

The verdict? Pretty standard:

Mix: I saw it being poured from a small can.

Chaser: No

Fixin’s: Lemon, Lime, Two Olives

Price: $Unknown

I’ve already reviewed the Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar at O’Sullivan’s Public House in Brookfield, but that was over a year ago and I felt the need to remind you how great it is:

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For just $6, this is a deal, especially during football games.

Read the full review here.

Cafe Hollander

Posted: January 11, 2014 in Uncategorized
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imageI can’t believe I haven’t formally reviewed the Bloody Marys at Cafe Hollander yet.

Cafe Hollander has two locations in the Milwaukee area— one on the East Side and one in Wauwatosa.

It is part of the Lowlands Grand Cafes, which include: Cafe Benelux, Trocadero, and Cafe Centraal.

I frequent each of these establishments quite regularly, with Cafe Hollander being closest to home. No surprise as each of these hot spots boasts an impressive and tasty variety of Bloodies.

On my most recent trip to Hollander for brunch with friends last weekend, I was “talked into” trying the special Bloody Mary of the day, what they called the Provincial (top photo), made with scallions, capers and garlic and garnished with a pickle, bean, asparagus, cherry tomato and an olive.

Other standard options at Cafe Hollander include: the Milwaukeean, Hasta Manana, and Frenchie.

My personal favorite is the Milwaukeean, which uses Milwaukee’s own Rehorst vodka and is served with horseradish, cheese and bacon.

Mix: Made from scratch

Chaser: Yes

Fixin’s: Varies by type

Price: Average price is $8

I definitely recommend you to stop into Hollander or any of the other Lowlands Group properties for  Bloody Mary (and great food!)—you won’t be disappointed!