Bloody Mary: Best versions of the cocktail in southcentral Pa.
It's the foundation of a good brunch, the cure for a nasty hangover and is the spicy cocktail that has people coming back for more.
The Bloody Mary can be as versatile as the pickled garnishes that decorate the side of the glass. No matter where you go for this Sunday morning thirst quencher, the options are tempting and tasty.
The Bay Bloody Mary
6465 York Road, New Oxford
Get a taste of Maryland at C&D's with this salty, spicy Blood Mary. Featuring The Bay Vodka, a fairly new option on the clear liquor shelf, showcases an Old Bay flavor. Mixed with lemon juice, spices and a tomato mixture, the cocktail is topped with an Old Bay rim and a garnish of celery and olives.
Bar manager Lindsey Hersh said the seasoned vodka makes the drink a bit more special and the Old Bay on the rim put that extra bit of flavor directly on your taste buds.
Three Pepper Bloody Mary
324 E. Cumberland St., Lebanon
A family recipe, the Three Pepper Bloody Mary was invented by owner Mark Arnold's father. He and his wife, Michelle, now run the bar and continue to make the restaurant's classic beverage that customers order any day of the week.
A pepper puree made of poblanos, jalapenos and cherry peppers is infused in house with vodka. A homemade Bloody Mary mix with about 10 ingredients gets mixed into the concoction, garnished with olives and lime.
The Irish Bloody Mary
400 Forster St., Harrisburg
While the bar offers a classic house Bloody Mary, it's best known for its twist on the classic cocktail. Bartender Erin Walter said the Irish version comes with a choice of vodka, Guinness, the house Bloody Mary mix and it's garnished with green olives, lemon and lime.
"Beer cocktails are becoming so much more prevalent," she said. "It really thins out the Bloody Mary mix a little and makes it unique."
In addition to the Irish Bloody Mary, the Rising Sun is another beer cocktail that features Troegs Sunshine Pils, Sriracha, white rice vinegar and a garnish of wasabi, sea salt and a cucumber.
The Smoky Bacon Bloody Mary
1766 Columbia Ave., Lancaster
The bar features a Sunday Bloody Sunday menu full of unique Bloody Mary options. One of the crowd favorites is the one featuring America's favorite pork product: bacon.
The drink features bacon-infused vodka, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and horseradish, garnished with a bacon strip and celery stalk.
If you need more to choose from, try the Wasabi Bloody Mary, the Classic Bloody Mary and the Bloody Bull.
Sunday brunch Bloody Mary
234 N. Front St., Wrightsville
What could be better than putting your own twist on brunch beverage?
John Wright's Bloody Mary bar is stocked with olives, limes, spice mix, tomato juice and a salt and pepper grinder. Plus, there's Worcestershire sauce, more than 30 hot sauces, Old Bay, celery salt and celery. Owner Jim Switzenberg said there are usually local pickled vegetables, such a green beans or asparagus.
Not sure how to start?
Switzenberg said a good Bloody Mary is a balance of spice from the horseradish and black pepper with the sour from fresh limes. The best part is that people can make it however they want, no matter their tastes.