Bloody marys, no matter when they happen, bring joy and comfort
I’d been holed up in a midtown Manhattan apartment for six weeks. To be clear, I’m a downtown girl, so this skyscraper strewn refuge was a little high brow for my taste.
It was the first warm day of Spring, and I had to get out. One very long walk took me as far as my previously couch-bound legs could take me — the East Village. I didn’t have any expectations in mind. My only desire was a change of scenery and maybe a hint of pre-corona NYC life.
The East Village was quiet. Most businesses closed. The same as Midtown. Yet as I crossed the corner of 9th Street and Avenue B, I saw the equivalent of a Tesla in a fleet of 1990’s Geo Metro hatchbacks. There it was. A small rush, a small glimmer of hope. What I had been looking for. A large window revealed a man behind a table and a small sign that read “Bloody Mary $12.”
Throughout all the mayhem and turmoil surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic, the bloody mary community has not only weathered the storm, it’s taken that storm, added some hot sauce, cheese whips, maybe a whole chicken, and crushed any doubt that bloody marys, no matter when they happen, bring joy and comfort to our lives.
Restaurants
Bars and restaurants across the United States have taken a hit. According to the National Restaurant Association, so far more than 8 million restaurant employees have been laid off or furloughed, with the industry losing $80 billion in sales by the end of April. But there is hope. Some restaurants have changed their business model to takeout or delivery, and some states are allowing bars and restaurants to sell cocktails for offsite consumption for the first time. Global pandemic or not, brunch must go on. Enter, The Takeout Bloody Mary Kit.
Handlebar in Chicago created the $20 “Bloody Hammer for 2” containing a 200ml bottle of Titos, 12oz of house-made bloody mix, two skewers with cherry peppers, olives, gherkins, hammer salt, and two fried pickles aka “Hammers.” Similarly, Merlins Rest Pub in Minneapolis partnered with Lovejoy Bloody Mary to offer a “Build Your Own LOVEJOY Bloody Mary Kit.” Each $15 kit comes with enough bloody mix for two people, lemons, limes, pickles, olives, seasoning, and two mini breakfast pies. My East Village discovery, Maiden Lane, sells both cocktails and pre-made mix to go.
Festivals
While people may be stuck at home or social distancing, Bloody Mary Enthusiasts welcome any chance to celebrate their beloved drink. Previously planned festivals have turned to virtual gatherings. After hosting three extremely successful sold-out bloody mary competitions, the New England Hemophilia Association hosted their first Virtual Bloody Mary Extravaganza. Participants showed off their homemade bloody marys while competing for prizes in virtual scavenger hunts. With proceeds from the event benefiting families living with bleeding disorders in Rhode Island, why not drink for a good cause?
Makers
Bloody Mary Enthusiasts are also enjoying great deals from bloody mary mix companies, allowing people to try out new mixes or restock on old favorites. Demitris “SIP (Shelter in Place) Special” provides everything from mix and pickled veggies to rim salt and even a garnish tree. Plus $5 from every order is donated to Meals on Wheels. Others, such as Three Sisters bloody mary mix are donating a percentage of sales to the United States Bartender’s Guild.
Consumers
But as Bloody Mary Enthusiasts, we don’t just stop with good deals and charitable contributions. Creativity is a mandatory ingredient for any bloody mary, and members of the popular Bloody Mary Enthusiasts Unite Facebook group have embraced it with open arms. In addition to trading recommendations and showing off gravity defying garnishes, new traditions such as weekly virtual toasts and birthdays celebrated with birthday candle topped bloody marys have emerged.
No matter how long these current circumstances last, two things are clear. One, you can shut down an entire country, and I will still find a bloody mary. And two, this close knit community will always remain a place that encourages creativity, supports small business, and brings smiles to people’s faces over and over again.
