Bloody Mary Social Theory
September 1, 2007
The Bloody Mary’s nostalgia is amazing. Name one other drink that permits Sunday morning preachers, business lunch goers, and responsible parents to drink so boldly in the face of a judgmental public. I have often wondered why this drink, which contains the same amount of alcohol as countless others, is permitted where others are frowned upon. There is no single characteristic of the Bloody Mary that seems to pinpoint its general social acceptance, but over my years of bartending, I have developed several Bloody Mary Social Theories (BMST’s). Hey! I just spent two years getting my Master’s in communication – I’ve got to do something with it.
BMST #1 – The Hangover Drink Theory
Ah, the morning after Bloody Mary! It is one of those simple pleasures that make the whole day better. Water may be best, but it lacks that same satisfaction that has made the Bloody Mary a staple after a night of excess. Could this relationship between recovery and the Bloody Mary indicate the root of social acceptance? This myth of a Bloody Mary treated hangover suggests that the cocktail is helping one to rid themselves of the effects of alcohol, making it acceptable where other cocktails would seem to be a sure fire sign of someone who has a problem. Try and have a simple gin and tonic the next day and people will ask you if you had enough last night; order a Bloody Mary and people think it’s a great idea. The only problem with this theory is that it would seem to suggest that those drinking Bloody Marys would have been drinking the night before, which in many situations would more unacceptable than ordering that G&T. Still, the presumed detoxicating characteristics of the Bloody Mary may contribute to a kinder social attitude towards the drink.
BMST #2 – The Cocktail Maturity Theory
I don’t think I have ever served a 21-year-old a Bloody Mary. It just isn’t a rookie call. Younger drinkers want to taste pleasant refreshing juices that can go down easy and lead to poorly made decisions that can be blamed on excessive drinking later. Perhaps, the use of tomato juice suggests a certain degree of cocktail maturity; you don’t chug tomato. The Bloody Mary is sort of an acquired taste; could this suggest someone who is capable of handling their alcohol and not a social threat? This might be true, but at the same time, the logical mind would suggest that the same individual simply can’t go without. I have never confused social perceptions with logic, but again, the theory seems less than perfect.
BMST #3 – The Food Conspiracy Theory
Bloody Mary garnishes seem to be becoming increasingly excessive. Recently, I saw a Bloody Mary served with a stalk of celery, a jalapeno pepper, three olives, a lime wedge, an 8-inch sausage link, and a warm roll. The glass had so much stuff piled on top of it that you had to almost unpack it to get a drink. I’m not complaining about this wonderful mound of food and drink served together, but I do think that it begs the question of whether this is still a singular cocktail. Instead, I propose that the increase in enormous Bloody Mary garnishes is a carefully calculated culinary addition that blurs the line between drinking and eating. Knob on the rocks is someone trying to get a buzz; a Bloody Mary is someone enjoying a meal. However, not all bars and restaurants take the effort to create large garnishes; some even barely place more than a lime. Somehow, even these neglected cocktails are socially acceptable. Could this theory be a bust as well?
I am not sure that these theories independently hold any water, but together I think they may partially explain why society is more accepting of this drink than any other. But what good are theories if we can’t apply them to other situations?
BMST #1 Application: If Bloody Marys have been pawned off as hangover cures, let’s launch a PR campaign that would give positive reputation to other drinks. Cocktail bloggers and bartenders alike should promote a gin = geniuses myth that will make drinking Old Raj suitable while at work. Could life get any better?
BMST #2 Application: Bloody Marys are acceptable because they demonstrate a degree of drinking maturity. Well, I don’t remember hearing about any underage pregnancies resulting from Campari. It is possible that Bloody Marys are the only cocktail that we know society is willing to accept in non-traditional drinking situations because we haven’t explored out other options in fear of ridicule. Be braver, start ordering other drinks at seemingly unacceptable times. Just make sure to order something that society has little knowledge of; they will be less willing to pass judgment and might even have one. Imagine that spreading the joy of Campari and being able to have some at any time.
BMST #3 Application: Put food on everything! Screw you man; I can drink Absinthe whenever I want as long as I have this freaking piece of bread resting on the cocktail napkin with it. I’m not drinking; I’m eating so leave me alone!
I hope that you weren’t expecting a synopsis of the history of the Bloody Mary or my thoughts on how to make the best Bloody Mary in the world. I love writing about that stuff and do make a killer Bloody Mary, but you can only think about the drink itself for so many years before you start to ponder the people drinking them. If you are interested in my Bloody Mary creations and find yourself in
The funny thing about Bloody Marys is, everyone thinks their recipe is the best. Everyone, that is, except for me. I just don’t like tomato juice. That, and my very first solo bartending shift came on a Sunday brunch where I woke up still drunk from the night before. Let’s just say my bartending career did not get off to a good start. Bleah. The Bloody Mary is most definitely one of those drinks I just mail in, going strictly by the books, although this is definitely one of those kitchen sink drinks (like a Planters Punch) in which the combinations are almost limitless.
“I don’t think I have ever served a 21-year-old a Bloody Mary. It just isn’t a rookie call. Younger drinkers want to taste pleasant refreshing juices that can go down easy and lead to poorly made decisions that can be blamed on excessive drinking later.”
Who’s a rookie when they’re 21? I’m 19 years old and an extra spicy Bloody Mary is one of my favorite cocktails. In the college town I live in, the most popular breakfast place is packed on Saturdays and Sundays with juniors and seniors drinking the joint’s signature bloodies (although, admittedly, some do opt for mimosas). And, at 10am on a Saturday game day, red keg cups with pepperoncinis, celery, or pickles sticking out of them is a staple at my place.
This country’s proprietary (and quite arbitrary) 21 year old drinking age (remember, almost every other country in the world has a loosely enforced drinking age at least three years lower) does not stop many of its citizens from developing a taste for alcohol at a reasonable age.
Keith - I definitely hear you on the fact that everyone thinks that their recipe is the best. Isn’t it interesting that this cocktail has such an undefined mix but maintains such widespread recognition? As for the Bloody Mary itself, I think that it is an acquired taste that is so much better when you fin one that you like. Don’t let that first shift keep you away from a great drink! LOL, just kidding; I understand tomato juice is an unusual ingredient and doesn’t work for some people - stick to the rye neat and you’ll be fine!
Anon - Who’s a rookie when their 21 - not many if you’re referring to the act of consuming alcohol, but if you are talking about ordering a drink at bar the number expands dramatically. This number increases even more so when consuming what is considered a “morning” drink - not the time when most college students are drinking. I have been doing this for six years and have never served anyone that age a Bloody Mary - sorry just stating from my experience in several cities. As far as the drinking age issue is concerned, I think that the drinking age in this country is right where it needs to be. While other countries have lower ages, fewer individuals in those same countries have demonstrated the lack of responsibility towards alcohol that ours has. Some would argue that this is a result of the legal drinking age, but I would posit that it results from a culture of excess that might need to continue to be regulated by legislation that prevents easier access to alcohol.
Just my thoughts, but I do think you make a good point about your college town and the popularity of Bloody Marys. This happens frequently in college towns where certain drinks become popular and almost gain a cult-like following. I don’t think the Bloody Mary is a common drink for this community trend development, but hey college student drinking has never been predictable. College students might “[develop] a taste for alcohol at a reasonable age”, but I think that this taste is usually more tolerant than refined. And, I think that almost any bartender who has ever dealt with college students would agree, which might as I discussed in the post prevent the Bloody Mary from being a popular choice. Thanks for your comments; it is good to know that maybe somewhere college students have a more refined taste. I just don’t think that it is very common and haven’t seen these collegiate cocktail connoisseurs yet.
Ha! I love the image of a Bloody Mary coming with a garnish of hoagie on a stick.
Regarding the exchange between Robert and Anon:
I come from a position very similar to that of Anon, yet my final verdict on our drinking age falls in line with that of Robert. I think I’ve got an interesting and fairly comprehensive perspective on the whole thing. Tell me what you think.
I too have developed a reasonably refined cocktail palate before reaching legal drinking age in the United States. Moreover, I attempt to cultivate similar tastes among my friends by hosting dress parties featuring classic cocktails and formal spirit tastings, all advocating a responsible approach to alcohol consumption. The reception to these events has been overwhelmingly positive - they’re among the biggest parties on campus, yet also by far the least likely to get out of hand.
For this and other reasons (explicated here), I disagree wholeheartedly with Robert’s comment that young Americans demonstrate a more significant lack of responsibility towards alcohol than other countries. Several studies (I believe the most recent was in Newsweek several months ago) have indicated the exact opposite - that binge drinking is less prevalent in the United States than in most countries of Western Europe. What’s more, right now I’m living in New Zealand - the newspapers have just reported a peer-reviewed study demonstrating that over one-third of the country’s adult population thinks binge drinking is an acceptable practice. My experience here bears this out, unfortunately. The American drinking scene is the epitome of refinement compared to New Zealand, trust me.
For these reasons, I believe that age, as an isolated variable, is relatively unimportant when it comes to predicting individuals’ relationship with alcohol. Societal attitudes and a drinker’s immediate environment are far better indicators. This is, frankly, how I justify flouting the law and helping my circle of friends to do the same. Yet at the same time, I recognize that throughout the majority of society, age cannot be seperated from the culture of getting “fucked up.” I also recognize research linking the drinking age increase to declining automobile accident deaths among teens. For these reasons, I believe our country’s official drinking age extremely reasonable.
Seems rather hypocritical since I completely ignore that official drinking age, but there you are.
Hilarious, although I’m not sure how mimosas are socially acceptable morning beverages under these theories.
I would suggest that it is the orange juice, but then why not a screwdriver?
Interesting points Jack, and get that blog going because clearly you’ve got great stuff to say. However, I still differ on your comparison of the US versus other countries because I think that gaging responsibility when drinking rests predominantly on how individuals act when intoxicated. While countries like England may be experiencing binge drinking epidemics (though this is debatable), many of our international counterparts handle their intoxicated states better than young Americans. Individuals falling into this category are far more likely to drive under the influence than annywhere in Europe (though I am unsure about New Zealand).
Also, I just tend to think that drinking in America is just generally reflective of a culture of excess that has grasped America. This doesn’t mean we drink more than anywhere else, but it may explain that we do it for the wrong reasons, specifically that we often don’t care about the quality of our alcohol, only the effects.
I am glad that you also have found a way to make the college part scene more sophisticated than the stereotype denotes, but I think that as with Anon’s situation, the incidents are extremely rare, but hey, if that helps create some other good young bloggers, then well, that’s a different story…
Oh, and Ariel, I think the Bloody Mary is distinct for reasons that extend beyond this post, but I will say that I do get more orders for screwdrivers during brunch than in the evening, so maybe there’s something there as well. OJ kind of comes with breakfast, so maybe it alcohol in disguise, who knows, but definitely a good point.
Oh, I certainly don’t deny that collegiate cocktail connoisseurship (I’m thoroughly enjoying that phrase) is rare. My points are simply that 1) it does exist and 2) if you spread its seeds, they will, in fact, grow. America does consume obsessively, and it does often drink for the wrong reasons, but these things reflect our culture at every age, not just the demographic between 18 and 21. My experience indicates that at least some youngsters want to consume more responsibly - they simply lack the depth of knowledge and self-awareness to do so. Flatly stating that liquor is verboten may actually perpetuate this problem; it essentially tells teenagers that they cannot drink because it will make them do stupid and dangerous things. When that’s the extent of kids’ understanding regarding booze, what else can you expect from them? Give American teens some quality education, and I firmly believe that many of them’ll tidy up their act somewhat.
Almost forgot: thanks bunches for your encouragement regarding the blog. I’m not entirely sure how to structure the whole thing yet. It’s going to be rather different from the rest of the cocktail blogosphere by necessity - it’s not like I have the resources to pop on over to LeNell’s for a bottle of Amer Picon and various Marie Brizard goodies on a whim. Nor have I any professional experience to speak of (though hopefully that’ll change at some point or another). So anyway, if you have any bright ideas or things you’d like to hear my opinionated opinion on, by all means drop me a line!
Any theories on the relationship of the Blood Mary and airport bars? I always have to have a Blood Mary when I am in an airport, even waiting to pick someone up. Is it coded in DNA?
Those are some interesting points Jack, but I don’t really know how to assist in that transition from uneducated bad drinking to refined positive drinking under current political and social environment toward drinking. It seems like before younger individuals reached a point of sophisticated consumption there would be an influx of bad drinking and irresponsibility.
As far as the blog goes, I think you should check out cocktailnerd.com’s Sept best blog posts post because there is a discussion there about what makes a good cocktail blog. There should be some good points there I would check out first.
Anon- Bloody Marys in airport? I haven’t really noticed that myself, but I have seen huge amounts of drinking going on in airports. I think drinking is related to airports because airports suck so much and you have to drink to get through the experience. I typically take a shot for each frisk I receive during the security check-point. Good rule to follow.
This is half-comment, half-question, so if anyone can shine some light (or similar personal taste) on it, I’d be delighted.
I do not like Bloody Mary’s. It has nothing to do with the tomato juice, the horseradish some people use (though I much, much prefer tabasco or some other hot sauce.. not a huge horseradish fan), or any kind of garnish included with the drink (celery is my fav): it’s the alcohol. I hate, hate, hate the way Bloody Mary’s taste when they have vodka in them. However, if you make me a Virgin Bloody Mary, as spicy as possible, I will drink glass after glass of it. I even love Bloody Mary Mix! It’s the only thing I order to drink on airplanes, and I even keep a bottle of Mrs. T’s Spicy Bloody Mary Mix in my fridge for hangovers handled at home.
Am I weird? Should I be getting better vodka in my Bloody Marys? (I admit — I can’t drink cheap vodka at all. My nose is sensitive, and the fumes that cheap vodka leaves in my sinus cavities make me gag). Am I doing something wrong? Or do other people have this flavor preference, too?
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