I recently realized that I hadn’t posted any recipes for adult beverages since December of 2015. That’s just sick and wrong! Because mixed drinks, when done correctly, rank right up there with any other truly great recipe. So I plan to immediately remedy my deplorable lack of good judgement in this regard.

The first recipe I am going to post is my rendition of a Bloody Mary.

To begin with, I don’t start with V-8 or any other already doctored tomato juice. I like to control the flavor completely by just the ingredients I add to the mix. Plus, V-8 tends to be more expensive than plain tomato juice, and contain more sodium.

Now one thing you should know about this recipe. It’s not for sissies! It possesses a goodly amount of pucker power from the lemon juice and a lively kick from the hot sauce and horseradish. But what it does for simple vodka is nothing short of amazing.

So next time you feel like greeting the morning with a new taste sensation, build a batch of this seasoned tomato juice. Then simply add a bit of vodka (or none at all for that matter) and watch the sun rise with new found enthusiasm. Good morning, America!

• 1 c. tomato juice
• juice of 1 lemon (save the juiced lemon carcass in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for when you serve the drink) 
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 5-6 drops hot sauce (I use Frank’s Red Hot)
• freshly ground black pepper
• ½ tsp. celery salt
• 1 tsp. prepared horseradish, or more to taste
• 3 oz. cold vodka
• kosher or other coarse salt
• celery stalks, pickled beans or asparagus, etc., garnishCombine the tomato juice, lemon juice, W. sauce, hot sauce, pepper, celery salt, and horseradish in a pitcher. Refrigerate overnight. Just before serving add the vodka. Adjust seasoning. When ready to serve, rub the reserved lemon carcass around the rim of the glass and dip in coarse salt. Add ice to 2 glasses and pour in tomato juice mixture. Garnish with celery stalks, leaves side up.