Bloody Mary? Right, please! I am her number one fan. No, it’s not a ghost that appears in a dark bathroom when you say your name in the mirror. (Why did we do this when we were kids?) I’m talking about the spicy, tomato-based drink. I order them at most restaurants for every meal, and I make them at home for the holidays. I love to see how different places customize them, sometimes adding a whole meal’s worth of food on top for garnish.
Bloody Mary makes your taste buds sob with every sip that is unbeatable. But there’s nothing worse than a horrible thing that tastes like water poured into a V8. I even get nervous when I try gourmet mixers, like the Toma . craft brand—ready-made mixers don’t have the best reputation. But after trying Haand and Toma’s Bloody Mary Brunch Set, I fell in love. I want to give one to people I know and drink my little blood every day. These kits are alcohol-free, but (spoiler alert!) They also taste great without alcohol.
Drink on me
There is nothing better than a Bloody Mary. I want them thick and I want them spicy. I want them with vodka or tequila. (I assume the latter is technically a Bloody Maria, which is still delicious.) I even drink them without alcohol (it’s a Virgin Mary, apparently). Just add more pretty garnishes like olives, celery, or a piece of crispy bacon. It’s a meal in the glass that goes well with the actual meal. And there are tomatoes in it! That means it’s good for you, right?
When I got married in Vegas, I had a few drinks while walking around the strip, including giant frozen daiquiris in a long plastic cup, but I spent the night in the hotel bar drinking. Some of the best Bloody Marys I’ve ever had. ever had. (I emailed the hotel asking for the recipe. Unsurprisingly I was turned down—this was neither the first nor the last.)
So you see, I have high expectations. But Toma’s mixer is delicious. I tried the original mixture and horseradish, but there is also a light option if you don’t like spice. They’re just the right thickness — not too thin but not too heavy — and rich enough in flavor to taste as good as they should be or to withstand a variety of garnishes.
The brand doesn’t do a good job of listing ingredients on the website, but it does have what you’d expect: ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, various vinegars and, surprisingly, concentrated orange juice. and soy sauce, plus some other condiments. (These ingredients are taken from Toma’s bottle of Horseradish Bloody Mary.)
You must be thinking, wow, this girl loves tomato juice. In fact, I hate tomato juice. V8 makes me shiver, in a bad way. But somehow, when you add seasoning and hot sauce (I prefer Cholula at home), you’ve got a delicious drink. (I also recommend salt, garlic salt, lemon juice, and Worcestershire if you’re making it from scratch.)
Bottling Service
Photo: Haand
The two-person kit I tried came with two bottles of Toma blend—you can choose between pure and horseradish or pure and mild—and two Haand Chemist Cups. we have suggested before. We love these sturdy 9-ounce vases from a North Carolina handmade ceramic company, they’ll outlast morning watches.
But you can also choose larger kits. The larger set includes Haand’s salad plate, in addition to cups. It spirals from there (and is a bit pricey), but they include a brunch set for four and one with a cheese plate.
If you’re out of ideas for gifts this season, a cocktail set is more beautiful than simply taking a friend out for a drink. It means you’ve thought about the flavor they like and know they want to enjoy it at home, with a nice glass they can keep. Even if your giftee doesn’t love Bloody Marys like I do (and if not, why not?), there’s still so many option to choose Word. I’m also keeping an eye on a bar set at home and some classic decanters.
Gift giving is difficult. Drinking is easy. So just start donating drinks.
