Classic Cocktails
What is a 'classic' cocktail? - equal parts quality and simplicity, plus a dash of controversy and history. The quality comes in the form of the drink's spirit base, which must be one or more of the premium classic spirits - gin, vodka, rum, whisk(e)y, tequila, or brandy.
One such classic - the 'Bloody Mary' is associated with a number of historical and fictional women, most notably Queen Mary. However, there is no known connection between the two. Bartender Fernand Petiot of Harry's New York Bar in Paris claims to have invented the drink some time during the 1920s.
Says Petiot, "One of the boys suggested we call the drink 'Bloody Mary' because it reminded him of the Bucket of Blood Club in Chicago, and a girl there named Mary" If the drink is served without the vodka, it is called a 'Virgin Mary,' or a 'Bloody Shame,' Prefer Tequila in place of vodka? It's a 'Bloody Maria'; Sake? A 'Bloody Geisha'.