What drink could be more appropriate for Halloween than a drink that already has the word “bloody” in the title? And better yet, a cocktail that ties into a urban legend?
The histories of the drink Bloody Mary, and the terrifying truth or dare party game Bloody Mary are ill defined. There are multiple stories of how the drink was created and multiple tales of the legend of Bloody Mary.

Some say the legend of Bloody Mary is based on Queen Mary of England, who was nicknamed Bloody Mary because of her brutal persecution of protestants. Others say that it is a spin of an old wives tale that said that if a young woman walked backwards with a candle and a hand mirror, she would see the face of the man she would marry. If she saw a skull, it would mean that she would die before her wedding day.

Creepy.

But anyways, my favorite Bloody Mary tale is the one that I learned when I was a kid at sleepovers. The story is that if you go into a darkened room with only a candle and stare into a mirror, and you said “Bloody Mary” three times, a horrible ghost would appear to you, covered in blood and scare the crap out of you. Some even said she would try and scratch out your eyes, or otherwise harm you.

Kids are weird.

But, divination and connections to the spiritual realm have long been associated with mirrors. All I know is that when I was a kid, around the third “Bloody Mary”, we would usually start screaming/giggling and run off before she showed up. So, as you are drinking your Bloody Mary, maybe you and your friends should test your courage and see if you can call forth the terrible visage of Bloody Mary this Halloween. Could be a scream.

Now, back to the cocktail. According to Wikipedia, the Bloody Mary has been called “the world’s most complex cocktail”. It is a hangover cure and the way to start a day of drinking. And with the spooky addition of garnishes here, made to look like eyeballs, it is perfect for your Halloween festivities. 

 

Bloody Mary

• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 2 oz Vodka
• 4 oz Tomato juice
• 2 dashes Tabasco Sauce
• 2 tsp Prepared horseradish
• 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 1 pinch Celery salt
• 1 pinch Smoked paprika
• 1 pinch Ground black pepper
• radishes and jalapeño slices for garnish

In a cocktail shaker, mix lemon juice, vodka, tomato juice, tabasco, horseradish, worcestershire, celery salt and paprika. Stir and pour in a glass over ice. Grind fresh black pepper on the top.

For garnish, peel the radishes so that they look like eyeballs. Carve a hole in the radish and stick a jalapeño slice in the hole. Skewer with a toothpick or skewer to keep the jalapeño in place. Put in glass and enjoy the creepy garnish.

Photographs by Jessica Yager