National Bloody Mary Day

The story

It was the roaring '20s and amidst the glamour of Harry's Bar at The Ritz Hotel in Paris, a bartender named Ferdinand “Pete” Petiot was about to change the world of cocktails forever. With a dash of inspiration, he blended tomato juice, vodka, and a secret mix of spices, giving birth to the iconic Bloody Mary.

In those early days, it was originally called “Bucket of Blood” and later on “Red Snapper.” But Pete's story didn't end in Paris. With the end of prohibition, he packed his recipe and embarked on a journey to New York's King Cole Bar scene, there, he introduced the city to this sensational drink.

Now, here's where the story takes a twist as intriguing as the drink itself. Some say that this cocktail owes her name to the fiery reign of Queen Mary Tudor, who, in a mere five years from 1553 to 1558, left a notorious mark by executing hundreds of Protestants in the name of Catholicism. Others say that Pete Petiot's own girlfriend, who coincidentally shared the same name, might be the real inspiration behind it all.

Today, the Bloody Mary is a beloved classic with a twist of history in every sip. From pickles, olives, and celery to bacon, horseradish, tobacco, and peppers, it's a drink that's as versatile as it is timeless.