A Spicy Bloody Mary ... Because I'm Sure It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere

It's Friday afternoon,  and I keep daydreaming about cocktails. Not such a strange occurrence, I assure you!  But perhaps it's the rain and the sudden chill in the air that has me already looking forward to my Sunday brunch drink.  I love  the warm kitchen, the smell of onions and frying potatoes and eggs and toast ... but most of all, I love kicking back with a good brunch cocktail.

In the spring and summer, I gravitate towards light, fizzy cooling drinks. Think pomegranate juice and Prosecco, mimosas,  or a Bellini.  But come fall I want the hearty heat of a spicy Bloody Mary.  The thick vegetable juice, the celery stick, the tangy pepperoncini - it's practically a meal in a glass!

My Bloody Mary follows the Commander's Palace recipe very closely, except that so far I haven't made my own horseradish or Worcestershire sauce, but I will one of these days. (I'm sure it's worth it; Commander's Bloodys are outstanding.)  And full disclosure: I add an extra splash of vodka ... just because it's Sunday. 

Spicy Bloody Mary

adapted from In Commander's Kitchen

2 ounces vodka - I usually use Tito's Handmade Vodka from Texas. Whatever you do, please don't use a really cheap vodka! Not only will you get a headache (speaking from experience here) but the overall drink quality will be affected.

1 tsp prepared horseradish

2 splashes Worcestershire sauce

2 splashes of hot sauce (I use Tabasco, but I bet Crystal would be better.)

1/2 cup of vegetable juice (I use V-8. Don't use low sodium, or your drink will be bland.)

For garnish:

Creole or Cajun seafood seasoning

One stalk of celery

One pickled pepperoncini

Fill a 12 oz cocktail glass tumbler 3/4 of the way with ice. Add the vodka, horseradish, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and vegetable juice. Pour into a cocktail shaker, shake well, and let rest. Meanwhile, wet the rim of the glass and coat it with the Crole seasoning. Pout the drink back into the glass and garnish with the celery and pepperoncini. To make multiple drinks, just set up each glass with the drink ingredients and shake one at a time.

And I have a feeling that you will be making multiple drinks!