That's a pretty subjective subject and, if you take your Bloodys seriously, as we do, you'll understand our reluctance to attempt to be definitive.
However, we did conduct an LVA Reader Poll on this very subject back in 2007, the results of which we can also share with you. Of course, 18 months is a long time in Las Vegas and a lot of water (beer, vodka, and tequila) has passed under the bridge since then, meaning if there was a particularly skilled bartender at a particular venue, we can't guarantee that they're still there and that the Bloody Marys are still up to scratch.
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 even absinthe (hmm, not so sure about that).
As far as the best on the Strip are concerned, Wynn was the winner in our poll (also a top pick among LVA staffers), followed by the Peppermill Lounge, Margaritaville at the Flamingo, and Red Square at Mandalay Bay (the latter’s a vodka bar, so they ought to know how to make a good Bloody Mary).
We can also suggest Mon Ami Gabi (Paris), especially if you go for breakfast and partake of the build-your-own Bloody Mary bar, which had all the right condiments and garnishes when we checked it out (we can recommend a Slim Jim marinaded in a spicy Bloody!) It's not on the Strip, but the build-your-own bar at Rare 120º steakhouse's Sunday Brunch at the Hard Rock was also impressive. We haven't tried Society Cafe's at Encore, yet, but we'd love to hear from anyone who has.
Off the Strip, the $1 Bloody Marys at Irene's (Spring Mountain at Tenaya) all day on Sunday are very good and hard to beat at that price, while the Onyx bar at Red Rock also does great ones (or at least it did last time we tried). Hash House A Go Go serves good Bloody Marys, along with large helpings of excellent hangover food. The Golden Nugget is said to serve respectable and good-sized Bloodys, while Hennessy's (also on Fremont Street) serves good ones, but not as good as the Hennessy's in San Diego. We haven't sampled 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).
