On the hunt for the perfect bloody mary recipe? Maybe you’re looking for one that’s incredibly easy and equally delicious that you can add your own signature twist to? Meet the Fire Cider Bloody Mary!
This simple recipe gets all its flavor from a popular immune-boosting remedy that brings a perfectly blended punch of spicy and tangy to this classic cocktail.
Don’t partake in the booze? Try the alcohol-free version for an equally savory, satisfying, and wildly nourishing brunch beverage.
SEARCH THIS ARTICLE:
Fire Cider, Meet a Cocktail Classic
Why You Should Add Fire Cider to Your Fave Brunch Beverage
Potential Health Benefits of Fire Cider
How to Make a Fire Cider Bloody Mary
Tips, Tricks, & FAQs
Recipe for Fire Cider Bloody Mary
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Fire Cider, Meet a Cocktail Classic
I’m always on the hunt for easy ways to get plant medicines into our every day, out of medicine cabinet jail, and onto our plates… or in this case, into our glasses.
Granted, there are definitely plant medicines that belong more in the medicine cabinet than they’ll ever belong on our plates. But there are just as many that easily bridge the divide between food and medicine.
I think one of the easiest ways to bring more nutritive and medicinal plants back into our every day is by adding them to the foods and drinks we’re already consuming. This way, there are no new habits to form or giant learning curves standing in our way between the simple act of nourishing ourselves better.
Here’s we’re taking a classic cocktail and introducing it to an incredibly popular herbal remedy known as fire cider. Believe it or not, I really think Bloody Mary’s and fire cider were destined to find each other.
A (Very) Brief History of the Bloody Mary
I’m a sucker for a good story full of intrigue, mystery, and a slew of fascinating characters. Aren’t you!?
The origins of the Bloody Mary are unclear. Typical, huh? According to an article in Imbibe Magazine, it was either invented by a Parisian bartender in the 1920s who would mix Russian vodka with tomato juice for American ex-pats or a hungover comedian after an all-nighter in Palm Beach, Florida. Another theory suggests that maybe it was a joint effort.
In fact, in the book, The Bloody Mary, the author’s research leads him to suspect that perhaps the hungover comedian started it and the Parisian bartender (who landed in New York in the early 1930s) finessed it into the perfect Bloody Mary recipe that it is today.
The first record of the Bloody Mary in print didn’t appear until the late 1930s/early 1940s. And as for where this classic cocktail got its name, that’s just as unclear.
Maybe it was named after the murderous Queen Mary Tudor or socialite Mary Brown Warburton who spilled an early version of the cocktail all down her dress and proclaimed, “Now you can call me Bloody Mary!”
Or perhaps it was named after a popular waitress named Mary at the Bucket of Blood Saloon in Chicago.
As far as the real story behind the Bloody Mary, no one knows for certain.
Why You Should Add Fire Cider To Your Favorite Brunch Beverage
The perfect Bloody Mary recipe is a precise savory blend of spicy, salty, and tangy. And doesn’t that sound strikingly similar to fire cider?
Fire cider is an apple cider vinegar infusion that may be made with any combination of onions, garlic, ginger, cayenne, turmeric, and horseradish that is then usually sweetened with honey.
However, there are many versions of this popular herbal remedy as it’s so incredibly easy to customize to your tastes and personal health needs. My personal favorite is a ruby-red fire cider that includes hibiscus, habanero, orange peel, and rose hips!
Not only do these flavors and ingredients pair so well with savory tomato juice, but they also add significant immune-boosting health benefits.
And with the Bloody Mary being such a popular hangover “cure,” the more nourishing, immune-boosting potential, the better.
Potential Health Benefits of Fire Cider
Fire cider itself is a relatively new addition to herbalism, as it was only created in the 1970s. This means that there are not really any scientific studies to support any health claims about fire cider. It simply hasn’t been around long enough.
However, the ingredients used to make fire cider are as old as time and have well-documented nutritional and medicinal benefits. In this sense, it helps to view fire cider more from a food-as-medicine perspective.
In herbalism, fire cider is touted as an immune-boosting tonic that can help to prevent and shorten the duration of immune attacks like cold and flu. Over the decades, it has become a wintertime staple in many herbal wellness bags of tricks.
If we look closer at the ingredients in fire cider, it’s a no-brainer where this immune-boosting reputation gets its clout.
- Both onions and garlic are naturally antimircrobial and antioxidant. The sulfur-compounds found in both garlic and onions, have been found to have therapeutic potential as anti-inflammatories as well as in cancer prevention and treatment.
- The health benefits of ginger also include antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory. Plus, ginger can help to warm the body and stimulate circulation, helping us to fight off infection.
- Horseradish, as you might imagine, is a potent medicinal. A 2021 review of shared that studies have found horseradish to also be antioxidant, antimicrobial, and even anticancer. It also contains enzymes that stimulate digestion, help to regulate bowel movements, and prevent constipation.
- Even apple cider vinegar has been found to have many health benefits. These include protection against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, antimicrobial activity against E. coli and Candida albicans, prevention of heart disease, and so much more.
How to Make the Perfect Bloody Mary Recipe with Fire Cider
This Bloody Mary recipe is going to vary in taste depending on the fire cider you use. With unlimited fire cider versions and recipes, there are literally unlimited ways this fire cider Bloody Mary could turn out.
That means your version might need some tweaking to suit your tastes in the end.
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need to make this fire cider Bloody Mary. If you’re ready to jump in and get to sippin’, jump ahead to the recipe card at the end of this post.
Equipment You’ll Need:
- Measuring Cups & Spoons or Cocktail Jigger
- Rocks Glass (or get a lil’ fancy with a wine glass)
- Stir Stick (like a fork or spoon) or a Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients:
- Ice
- Habanero Hibiscus Fire Cider with Rosehips (You can use any fire cider. Make your own or try these: Classic Fire Cider or Turmeric Fire Cider.)
- Organic 100% Tomato Juice (I used RW Knudsen’s Organic Tomato Juice.)
- Fresh-Squeezed Lemon or Lime Juice
- Bitters (I used a homemade turmeric, black pepper, and orange peel bitters. Any aromatic bitters like Angostura works too. Or get creative and dream up your own homemade bitters perfect for your Bloody Mary!)
- Fresh Cracked Black Peppercorn
- Your Favorite Hot Sauce (For a classic bloody mary hot sauce, stick with Tabasco. Sriracha is also nice.)
- Your Choice of Vodka
- Optional Garnishes: Celery Stalks, Pickled Veggies, Green Olives, Sprig of Fresh Rosemary, Nasturtium Flowers, Savory Salt Rimmer
Method:
- Prepare your glass. If using a glass rimmer, rub a lemon wedge around the edge of your glass and then dip the edgef the glass into a shallow dish filled with a savory cocktail rimmer of your choice. (Old Bay Seafood Seasoning is a popular Bloody Mary rimmer.)
If not using a rimmer, just fill your glass with ice and set aside while you prepare the cocktail.
- Combine remaining ingredients. Add all remaining ingredients except for the garnishes to a cocktail shaker or another glass. Shake or stir until well-combined.
- If necessary, adjust the taste. Taste the bloody mary and then if necessary, you can add more hot sauce or more lemon and lime juice to suit your tastes.
- Pour bloody mary into your prepared glass. Then garnish as you please. I speared some green olives on a fresh sprig of rosemary, added some celery stalks, and a few dried nasturtium flowers. The rosemary is a game changer; I highly recommend it!
- Sip, enjoy, & applaud yourself for adding a lil’ plant-powered goodness to your day.
You Might Really Enjoy These Other Herbal Drinks:
Pink Paloma with Chamomile-Infused Tequila
Iced Cacao Elixir with Coffee Bitters
Hydrating Herbal Electrolyte Drink
Ginger, Mint, & Licorice Root Whiskey Hot Toddy
Iced Lavender Matcha Latte
Tips, Tricks, & FAQs
I don’t want to make fire cider. Where can I buy it?
You’re in luck! There are many reputable herb companies that make and sell fire cider. Many online retailers such as Mountain Rose Herbs make great fire cider products. Try their Classic Fire Cider or Turmeric Fire Cider.
Alternatively, you may have local herbalists that also made and sell their fire cider. Just make sure you’re checking ingredients labels for anything that doesn’t belong in your herbal remedies such as chemical preservatives or artificial flavorings and colors. And fire cider made from organic ingredients is always a good choice.
Why is it called a Bloody Mary?
No one knows for certain as the origins of the Bloody Mary are unclear. It’s possible this classic cocktail was named after Queen Mary Tudor for her proclivity for murder. Another theory is that it was named after a popular waitress named Mary who worked at the famous Bucket of Blood Saloon in Chicago.
Or perhaps it was named after socialite Mary Brown Warburton after spilling an early version of the Bloody Mary down her dress and proclaiming, “Now you can call me Bloody Mary!”
There are many possible namesakes and if you’d like to dive further into the mystery of the Bloody Mary, check out The Bloody Mary, a book written by bartender Brian Bartels all about the lore and legend of this cocktail classic.
Can a Bloody Mary cure a hangover?
Unfortunately, the Bloody Mary’s reputation as a hangover cure is false advertising. The “hair of the dog” doesn’t work.
Alcohol-induced hangovers are actually symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Trying to “cure” those awful hangover symptoms with more alcohol only serves to delay withdrawal. However, all the vitamins and minerals in a healthy Bloody Mary (ie. one that is not made with poor, highly processed ingredients or mixes) can help nourish your body back to feeling better. However, additional alcohol will not.
What’s the best tomato juice for a Bloody Mary?
Look for tomato juices with no added chemical preservatives, flavorings, or colorants. Thick tomatoes juices that aren’t watered down too much always make for the perfect Bloody Mary. My favorite tomato juice is RW Knudsen’s Organic Tomato Juice made with only organic tomatoes, lemon juice, and a little salt.
Also note that tomatoes are heavily treated with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. If it’s accessible, always choose organic tomato juice as the most healthful option for both you and the planet.
What’s the best vodka for a Bloody Mary?
The best vodka for a Bloody Mary is really up to you. I highly recommend using your favorite vodka. Any food or drink is only as good as the ingredients you start with. However, this doesn’t mean you need to use expensive vodka. Look for a mid-shelf vodka, avoid those in plastic bottles, and peek at this list of the best Bloody Mary vodkas for inspiration.
For more plant magic & herbal wellness in your life, be sure to follow along on ➡️ Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter, & snag my herbal 📚 eBooks Nourishing Herbal Gifts & Holiday Pies from the (Un)Bakery. 🌿 And please don’t forget to tag me in your snaps 📸 @_botanyculture_. I love to see all the plant magic you make happen!
Fire Cider Bloody Mary (with or without alcohol)
Course: Breakfast, BrunchCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy1
servings10
minutesThis Bloody Mary made with fire cider is a unique immune-boosting twist on brunch’s most popular vodka cocktail. The taste will vary depending on the fire cider that you use so play with the amounts of lemon or lime juice and hot sauce to get it just the way you like it. You’ll end up with a perfectly delicious Bloody Mary made with only the healthiest ingredients. Leave out the vodka for a non-alcoholic version.
Ingredients
2 oz. (1/4 cup) Vodka (optional)
6 oz. (3/4 cup) 100% Tomato Juice, organic if accessible
2 oz. (1/4 cup) Habanero Hibiscus Fire Cider with Rosehips (or any fire cider you enjoy such as Classic Fire Cider or Turmeric Fire Cider)
1/2 oz. (1 Tbs) Lemon or Lime Juice, fresh-squeezed is best
few turns of Fresh-Cracked Black Pepper
3 dashes bitters like Angostura Bitters
1 dash hot sauce (or more to your taste)
Optional Garnishes: Celery Stalks, Pickled Veggies, Green Olives, Sprig of Fresh Rosemary, Savory Salt Rimmer
Directions
- Prepare your glass. If using a glass rimmer, rub a lemon wedge around the edge of your glass and then dip it into a savory cocktail rimmer of your choice. Old Bay Seafood Seasoning is a popular Bloody Mary rimmer.) If not using a rimmer, just fill your glass with ice and set it aside while you prepare the cocktail.
- Combine the remaining ingredients. Add all remaining ingredients except for the garnishes to a cocktail shaker or another glass. Shake or stir until well-combined.
- If necessary, adjust the taste. Taste the Bloody Mary and then if necessary, you can add more hot sauce or more lemon and lime juice to suit your tastes.
- Pour bloody mary into your prepared glass. Then garnish as you please. I speared some green olives on a fresh sprig of rosemary, added some celery stalks, and a few dried nasturtium flowers. The rosemary is a game-changer; I highly recommend it!
- Sip, enjoy, & applaud yourself for adding a lil’ plant-powered goodness to your day.
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DISCLAIMER: The information given in this article is intended for educational purposes only. Always consult with your healthcare practitioner before consuming certain herbs & medicinal foods, especially if pregnant, nursing, or taking any prescription medications.
