A Pinch of Page

Sunday rolled around and, seeing as it was a long weekend, we had a nice lazy day planned.  With no errands to run or work to do, the afternoon most certainly called for some late-summer cocktails.  I summoned my Maryland roots and created an Annapolitan version of one of my personal favorites.

The Bloody Maryland

I mixed the following ingredients for this drink in a cocktail shaker with a few cubes of ice.

• 3 ounces good quality vodka (I used Kettle One)
• 6 ounces V8 tomato juice (I used low sodium V8 and it didn’t make a difference)
• 1/2 teaspoon prepared horseradish
• 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 5-6 dashes hot sauce (or to taste)
• 2 pinches of table salt
• A few grinds from your pepper mill

Place the lid on the shaker and give it a few hearty shakes.  Wet the rims of your glasses with lemon juice and dredge them in Old Bay seasoning.  Fill your glasses with ice and strain your tomato juice mixture over the cubes.  Garnish with a stick of celery and serve.  Other garnishes could include a wedge of lemon, a skewer of olives, or a peeled and deveined shrimp.  Enjoy…