Taste is the most important sense in both food and drinks. You really don’t want to accompany a tasty rack of ribs with a mediocre drink. You’ve probably visited a bar and seen a bartender light your Bloody Mary on fire. If you’ve been wondering why it tastes better than any you’ve tasted before, the answer is smoke.
The good news is, you can improve the smell and look of your drinks at home! Better still, you can create your own taste to suit your mood and function. You don’t need to own a fancy cocktail smoker either. You can use your electric smoker to smoke your Bloody Mary and achieve that great flavor.
Join us as we go through the exciting world of smoke flavors and how they can improve your Bloody Mary. We’ll explore how smoke permeates into your drink, adding flavor and aroma that takes your taste buds on a journey through savory woods.
Best Bloody Mary Recipe
The Bloody Mary is a classic drink that is easy to make. It is a cocktail drink made from vodka, tomato juice, lemon, and celery salt. The drink is believed to have been created by Fernand Petiot, a bartender at the King Cole Bar in New York City in the 1930s. It has been speculated that the original recipe was “a blend of vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce.”
The Bloody Mary is quite popular and often served as an appetizer or brunch drink. All bars offer this drink, and there are many variations of it. You can tweak the original recipe a bit and create your own version of the Bloody Mary at home.
The ingredients needed to make a classic Bloody Mary at home are simple. Of course, vodka has to be present. You’ll then need 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon of Tabasco sauce, and tomatoes or tomato juice. Add some chili powder, salt, and pepper to taste. You can garnish your drink with herbs after smoking, too, if you prefer.
How to Smoke Your Bloody Mary at Home
Just as with meat, smoking your drinks can significantly improve their flavor. It’s a pretty simple process, and the results are nothing short of delicious.
Different people have different preferences when it comes to infusing cocktails with the flavor of smoke. You can experiment with different types of wood to settle on the flavor that works best for you.
Smoking cocktails at home can be done through smoking machines or other smoking techniques such as sugar cubes and dry ice. Using a smoker will give you a more rustic experience and maximum smoke. A pro-food smoker like the Bradley Smoker gives you 17 different bisquette flavors to choose from!
The key to great flavor is picking the right wood. Cherry, mesquite, and pecan are popular woods you can try. Cherry is mild and fruity, which will work great with a drink. If you prefer an earthy taste, try mesquite. Pecan is sweet but also mild, so it won’t overpower your drink. You can use hickory for similar results.
Once you settle on the wood, preheat your smoker.
Fill a highball glass with ice cubes, and then pour in 1 oz of vodka, 1 tsp of Worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp of prepared horseradish, 2 tsp of lemon juice, and 4 oz of tomato juice.
Cover your jar with aluminum foil, leaving a small opening for the smoke to penetrate through. This will insulate it from heat and prevent cooking your Bloody Mary (you could also use a double boiler for this step). Place the foil-covered jar inside the smoker and let it absorb the smoke. Take it out of the smoker after 5 minutes and check the smokiness level.
Stir the Bloody Mary when you are satisfied with the amount of smoke. Place a few ice cubes in another jar. Strain the Bloody Mary into the chilled glass over ice. Stir vigorously with a celery stalk or other long thin garnish until well-chilled.
Note that you can adjust the ingredients accordingly if you need to prepare more drinks than that. Have fun with different ingredients and create your own drink in the comfort of your home!
Alternatively
If you don’t know how smoky you want your Bloody Mary and don’t want to risk spoiling it, you can try a simpler alternative. Smoke individual ingredients and then blend them afterward. Take the tomatoes, for instance. Cut them into quarters and then smoke them. Repeat the process with the vodka, taking care not to cook it on the smoker. Combine the ingredients of your Bloody Mary and see how you like the taste.
To Conclude
You don’t need to be an experienced bartender to create a great-tasting Bloody Mary. You can experiment with different, readily available ingredients and create a memorable taste. Make use of your smoker to create wonderful meals and accompany them with great drinks. Happy smoking!
Interested in learning more about smoking cocktails? Check out the articles below:
5 Delicious Types Of Smoked Meat & Cocktail Pairing
5 Ways To Use A Food Smoker For Cocktails
For more great ideas on how to get the most out of your Bradley Smoker, check out the awesome articles on our Bradley Smoker Food Smoking Blog for more tips & tricks.
