6 of Vegas’ craziest bloody marys — PHOTOS
The bloody mary used to be a fairly simple cocktail: You had your tomato juice, your vodka, some Tabasco for flavor and a celery stick.
Then we started dressing them up a bit: horseradish, beef broth, maybe some olives, definitely more Tabasco.
Today, like just about everything else in the culinary universe, the bloody mary has gone extreme. You want a waffle slider on your drink? A deviled egg? Pickled mushrooms? You can get those, and more.
Here are some of Las Vegas’ most elaborate bloody marys.
The Breakfast Bloody Mary, Mr. Lucky’s at the Hard Rock Hotel: A complete morning pick-me-up, it combines Belvedere Vodka, spicy tomato, shrimp, a celery stalk, a Slim Jim, beef jerky, a deviled egg, a waffle slider, pickle spear, horseradish and lime, $19.99.
Famous BLT Bloody Mary, Hash House A Go Go: House mary mix is trimmed with a tomato wheel, slice of smoked bacon, rib of lettuce and white toast and served in a 20-ounce glass with a salted rim, $10.99.
The Colossal, Hexx, Paris Las Vegas: Organic basil-infused vodka is garnished with jumbo shrimp, an Alaskan king crab leg, bacon, a beef stick, peppers and pickled vegetables and delivered in a mini-pitcher, $38.
Hangover Recovery Bloody Mary, Guy Fieri’s Kitchen & Bar, The Linq: Choices include five kinds of liquor, five levels of heat, candied bacon, chicken-apple sausage, pepperoni, shrimp, cucumbers, pepper, pineapple, pickle, olives, orange, celery, carrot sticks, pickled vegetables, lemon, lime and jalapeno in a 52-ounce punch bowl, $40.
Glutton Mary, Glutton: This kimchi bloody mary is made with American Harvest Vodka, shrimp, pickled mushrooms, celery and togarashi chili, $18.
Sunday Bloody Bar, Longbar, the D: Five styles of mixer (including a fruity Hawaiian-inspired one) and 12 liquor choices make the basic cocktail, $7, which can be topped with a cheese cube, ground herbs, a hot pepper, pickled green beans or okra, a dill pickle spear, giardiniera, roasted garlic, baby corn or carrot, cherry tomato, pearl onion, scallion or extra horseradish (50 cents each), or thick-cut bacon, beef jerky, hearts of palm, pickled asparagus or egg or smoked oysters or mussels ($1 each).
Bloody mary, Society Cafe, Encore: The house-made mix ($16) is exclusive to Society and has 16 ingredients, even before you add the vodka (three types), Clamato, lime, lemon, celery, spiced tiger shrimp, blue cheese-stuffed or traditional olives, bacon, cilantro, Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco and/or horseradish.
Bloody mary, Ellis Island: This not-so-traditional cocktail can be topped with lemon, lime, olives, bacon, chicken and waffles, Tabasco, horseradish and celery, $7; shrimp, $2; extra chicken and waffles, $1.
Bloody mary, Fleur, Mandalay Bay: The cocktail served at Hubert Keller’s new brunch involves a choice of five liquors, mixed with three levels of heat, 20 hot sauces, cucumber, pickles, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, lemon, lime, olives, prawns, bacon, celery, carrots, pickled jalapenos or peppers, and carrots, $18.
Contact Heidi Knapp Rinella at Hrinella@reviewjournal.com. Find more of her stories at www.reviewjournal.com and bestoflasvegas.com and follow @HKRinella on Twitter.