My friend Lu Ratunil was the man behind the bar on Sundays at Good World, my favorite brunch spot when I was still the sort of person who went out to brunch. He considers himself a bit of a purist when it comes to bloody marys, explaining that ‘‘since the drink has so many ingredients, the key is to balance them.’’

Ingredients

  • Lemon wedge
  • Lime wedge
  • 4 oz. tomato juice
  • 2 dashes Tabasco
  • 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • Pinch of celery salt
  • Pinch of coarsely ground pepper (pepper too finely ground will bring more heat and less flavor)
  • ¼ teaspoon peeled and freshly shredded horseradish (avoid using prepared horseradish from a jar)
  • 2 oz. vodka (not flavored)

Garnish

  • Slice of seedless cucumber
  • Pitted green olive
  • Lemon wedge
  • Black pepper
  • Nutritional Information
    • Nutritional analysis per serving (1 serving)

      165 calories; 0 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 7 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 1 gram protein; 380 milligrams sodium

    • Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.

1 drink

Preparation

  1. Squeeze lemon and lime wedges into a shaker. Add all other ingredients except vodka, and stir. Taste the mix, and adjust the seasoning if needed. Put the mix in the fridge, and let it sit overnight.
  2. Pour vodka into the shaker. Add ice cubes, and shake.
  3. Fill an 8-ounce glass about halfway with ice, and strain the shaker contents over it.
  4. For garnish, I prefer a slice of seedless cucumber, also known as a hothouse or English cucumber, rather than celery. (This isn’t a deal breaker, though.) Cut a 1/2-inch-thick slice of cucumber on the bias. Cut a slit in the slice, and place on the rim of the glass. Spear the pitted green olive with a toothpick, and stick it through the rind of the lemon wedge. Place the wedge on the rim of the glass. Crack a little freshly ground pepper on top.

Dining and Cooking