The origin of the Bloody Mary is disputed. Fernand Petiot is said to have invented the drink in 1920 while working at Harry’s Bar in Paris, France, a frequent hangout for Ernest Hemingway and other American expatriots. This is still the story at Harry’s in Paris today. Another story is that it was originally created by George Jessel around 1939. Lucius Beebe, in his gossip column “This New York” (New York Herald Tribune, December 2, 1939, page 9), printed one of the earliest US references to this drink, along with the original recipe: “George Jessel’s newest pick-me-up which is receiving attention from the town’s paragraphers is called a Bloody Mary: half tomato juice, half vodka.”

Ingredients

• 1 quart Clamato Juice
• 1 cup Vodka
• 2 Lemons, juice and rind
• 3/4 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Pepper
• 6 dashes Tabasco
• Lemon pepper
• Lime slices, or traditional celery stalk garnish

Directions

• Combine the first six ingredients, stir, and chill 1 hour. Fill glasses with ice, sprinkle with lemon pepper. Garnish with limes or celery stalks.

Notes

• Yields 6-8 drinks.