Poll : 12 December - 18 December 2007

Analysis

The inventor of the Bloody Mary is the subject of some dispute, but it’s generally accepted that the accolade belongs to comedian, songwriter, movie producer, and raconteur George Jessel -- the "Toastmaster of the United States" -- who even appeared in 1950s Smirnoff commercials proclaiming the fact. His contention was subsequently challenged by Fernand "Pete" Petiot, bartender of New York’s St. Regis hotel, who claimed that he created the drink back in the 1920s while working in Paris. The truth of the matter seems to be that Jessel first started serving a mix of tomato juice and vodka as a morning-after pick-me-up and Petiot then refined it with the addition of salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and ice.

Today, the drink exists in many variations and is a matter of personal taste. The regular vodka element might be substituted for hot pepper vodka, aquavit, tequila, sake, or, as Anthony Curtis’ dad makes it, with Bombay Sapphire gin (yum), whilst the range of spices and garnishes can involve the likes of Tabasco, celery, celery salt, pickle juice, horseradish, cornichons, clam juice, rosemary, lime, chipotle juice, and even additional alcohols including sherry, Pernod, or the newly-legalized absinthe (hmm, not so sure about that).

Is there any truth to the old wives’ tale about a Bloody Mary curing a hangover? Some, although it’s unlikely your doctor’s ever going to prescribe it for you. The hair-of-the-dog-that-bit-you part has validity insofar as alcohol’s a mild depressant, so having a dose of vodka the morning after overindulging helps to mitigate the effects of the previous night’s downer, but only in the short term. The tomato, citrus, and pickle juices and Worcestershire Sauce help to replenish some of the lost vitamins and minerals that your poor body is crying out for, while the whole drink (apart from the booze portion) helps to rehydrate you somewhat. As far as we can tell, the horseradish and Tabasco merely serve to make it all more palatable and blast that foul sour taste of last night out of your tastebuds, while possibly helping to sweat/flush some of the evil toxins out of your system a bit faster.

As far as your top choices are concerned, we echo them (with Wynn, Red Square, Hennessy’s, Hash House A Go Go, Magoo’s, Vox, Onyx Bar, and Gallagher’s all figuring prominently on the LVA staffers’ list of best Bloodies in town). Others you recommended include all bars at the Rio, O'Shea's, the Golden Nugget ("not only are they good, but you don't get a whimpy small glass, you get a good-sized drink"), and Gustav's Bar at Paris ("the bartenders will usually add a little extra spice if you ask, and they really help kick the night before out of your head!)

We haven’t tried the one at the downtown cocktail room yet, which we’ve heard good things about, nor have we plucked up the courage to attempt a Bacon Bloody Mary at the Double Down Saloon, but it’s only a matter of time (ask for Scott on a Sunday morning). And since we first ran this poll, Irene's (locations on Spring Mtn. and Tropicana) introduced a $1 Bloody Mary from 8 a.m. Sunday-8 a.m. Monday and they're the real deal : ) Plus, Mon Ami Gabi at Paris now serves breakfast with a KILLER build-your-own Bloody bar, while the Sunday brunch build-your-owns at Hard Rock and Simon are decent, too.