There are lots of decisions at brunch—savory or sweet, coffee or tea, that hot new restaurant or the chill diner on the corner, morning or early afternoon. Of course, deciding if you want a classic Bloody Mary or a different brunch cocktail is another a crucial choice to be made. If you want to break out of the same old routine, there are tons of other brunch-tails that will make your grin wider than a fully stacked Bloody and cajole your brain back into working order. And several of those fantastic cocktails are pretty similar to your fave Bloody, anyway. Here, eight cocktails to try instead of the O.G. Bloody Mary.
For proof that Canadians like to get a little freaky in their cocktail glasses, look no further than the Bloody Caesar, a riff on the Bloody Mary that swaps plain old tomato juice for briny Clamato. While you might expect the substitution to dilute your precious Bloody into a soiled wharf of fishy nonsense, the clam broth actually integrates smoothly with the savory spices and tomato. Think of penne alla vodka crossed with pasta and red clam sauce.
The Essentials
The Essentials
Another savory tipple from way back when, the Bullshot includes all the same hallmark spices and seasonings as a Bloody Mary, but calls for beef broth instead of tomato juice. Before you cry foul, recall your initial reaction to the concept of a spicy tomato cocktail. The Bullshot is worth giving a shot if you’ve never tried it, and worthy of your positive press if you already enjoy the beefy lowball on occasion.
The Essentials
The Essentials
An everything bagel with cream cheese and lox is about as iconic a dish as will ever rule the breakfast table. While a spicy as heck Bloody wouldn’t make a totally incompatible partner to the creamy, cooling, dill-punched nosh, we made an even better savory sipper to go along with our fave deli order. Bright red from beet shrub (not salmon), vegetal and juicy from cucumber vodka, and garnished with a rim of everything bagel seasoning, this brunch drink may be the only proper replacement for a Bloody Mary.
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There are Bloody lovers all over the world, so it makes sense the cocktail would take on flavors from different countries and cuisines. Swapping vodka for tequila adds a bit more boozy character to the cocktail, but supporting that tequila with other Mexican flavors like jalapeño, Tapatio hot sauce and Tajin seasoning gives the classic Bloody a whole new flavor profile. Different strokes for different folks.
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A step even further removed from the Bloody Maria, this tomato-infused tequila drink is actually a juicy take on a Margarita. Unlike the sweet, fruity margs you may have sampled, this savory riff satisfies the heartier appetites of a habitual Bloody drinker while remaining light on the palate, thanks to aloe liqueur and bright lime juice. It’s a boozy reminder that a tomato is still a fruit after all.
The Essentials
The Essentials
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