While no one tells the exact same story, most historians agree that French bartender Fernand Petiot is responsible for creating the Bloody Mary. He first served a variation of the iconic drink at Harry's Bar in Paris around 1920. He later came to the United States and started slinging drinks at New York's St. Regis Bar. In 1933, he added Tabasco to his already-popular combination of vodka and tomato juice and a brunch specialty was born. These days, there are endless variations on the original Bloody Mary, but most recipes include salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish and a celery stalk or two. One of my favorite Philadelphia bars, National Mechanics, has a weekend Bloody Mary Bar at which they allow patrons to add their own mix-ins, which allows for vast customization (if you're brave, opt for the house-made Bacon Vodka).
For those of you who are Bloody Mary lovers, what's your favorite twist on the classic?
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