My Big Fat Bloody Mary Podcast: Day Drinking | Recipe Sharing | Product Reviews

Drunken Tomato Awards with Shelley Buchanan

Lovejoys-Thai-Basil-Bloody-Mary-Mix-Review-My-Big-Fat-Bloody-Mary

Very Few mixes have made the impression upon me that Lovejoy’s new Thai Basil Bloody Mary mix has. Holy Smokes! From the first look it’s obvious that this is not a macro mix. A great looking bottle and label hold a beautiful bright red mix with lots of visible herbs and spices floating around.

Pouring the mix into my glass I’m reminded of a Vietnamese pho restaurant. The smell is amazing. I first taste the mix on its own- no vodka. Immediately the fresh basil and savory shiitake mushroom flavors hit me. Wow! Delicious! Lemongrass and spice come right behind. Complex but balanced.

Adding vodka thins out the mix a bit while making it a bit more refreshing. The intense flavors now have a little space between them and are easier to identify.

I’ve tasted lots of avant-garde mixes and usually they go sideways trying to make an impression. This one nails it! A little heat but no more than you’d want. This mix is clearly the product of someone’s refined culinary skill.

I recommend a hazy IPA as beer chaser. It’s hearty enough to compliment all the flavors packed into this bloody Mary mix without dumping all over it.

Lynn Miller and I also tried Lovejoy’s rim salt- an herb-forward rim, it picks up the flavors of the mix and doubles down with a big hit of dried chive. Nice!

Lovejoy’s also makes a traditional bloody Mary mix. We didn’t review it on this episode but I’ve had it in the past. It’s great too. I understand they also make a melt-your-face-hot sauce. I may need to try that too.

A Link to Lovejoy’s Website

Highest marks on this mix!

We also interviewed Shelley Buchanan of the Drunken Tomato Awards- an event that I am proud to have judged at 4 times. Take a listen…..

Shelley Buchanan of the Drunken Tomato Awards

-Greg Tooke, MBFBM

An Old Fashioned Approach

Gary’s Premium Cocktails Bloody Mary Mix

Last Episode/ Review: Morning Wood

The Company Story:

Gary’s Premium Cocktails is a Wisconsin based family business. They got their start making a Whiskey, (or Brandy in Wisconsin), Old Fashioned mix.

From their website:

Early in 2001, Gary Ver Voort was frustrated with the lack of consistency in taste when ordering old-fashioned cocktails at bars and restaurants. This frustration inspired him to start developing a recipe that one day would become Gary’s Old Fashioned Mix. After a few test batches, Gary thought he had perfected the old fashioned after getting rave reviews from friends and family. Before too long, Gary was receiving numerous requests to make bottles of the mix for people. Soon he was struggling to keep up with the demand.https://www.garyspremiumcocktails.com/pages/about-us

A great organic start to a business- solve a problem that exists. From the Old Fashioned, Gary moved into other mixes- most recently, a bloody Mary mix. Let’s dig into it!

What’s on the Outside?

The mix is sold in a traditional glass bottle- not plastic, not a jar- just an, “old fashioned,” bottle. (See what I did there?) I like this packaging because the glass isn’t going to leach into the mix at higher temps and the shape of the bottle is ideal for pouring.

The label also has a traditional style. This isn’t one of those tongue in cheek slick marketing kind of labels. It makes me think of a Wisconsin Supper club.

The mix appears slightly dark with very small particulates evident.

On to the ingredients:

Gary’s Premium Cocktails Bloody Mary Mix Ingredients

The Taste:

The first taste of the mix reveals a tangy medium thick profile. Aftertastes of vinegar and pickle brine with a little back spice.

Adding Vodka:

As we add vodka those stronger tangy flavors level out revealing more subtle flavors of aromatic bitters, celery salt, and a hint of horseradish. In addition to thinning the consistency to a more drinkable texture, the vodka seems to level the playing field for the ingredients, improving the balance.

The Price!

This detail initially gave me pause. A price point under $4 is almost unheard of in a decent mix. “Gary’s is half the price of Zing Zang and tastes twice as good!” – Lynn Miller-from the podcast

Gary’s Premium Cocktail Bloody Mary Mix Price

Summary:

Gary’s is a very traditional Midwest bloody Mary Mix. It won’t knock your socks off but for the price it’s a damned good value. With vodka it’s a pretty drinkable cocktail that holds up after a second glass. We recommend drinking it with a session IPA

“Rise to the Occaision”

The Story

Located in Des Moines IA, Morning Wood is one of several newer mixes with an edgy marketing approach. Sam and I discussed this in our last podcast episode. (Uncle Walts Bloody Mary Review)

From their website:

Morning Wood Bloody Mary Mix Stiffens Up The CompetitionMorning Wood Bloody Mary Mix is a premium craft bloody mary mix made in West Des Moines, Iowa. As bloody mary lovers, we found it hard to find the perfect mix. That inspired us to create Morning Wood Bloody Mary. Do you ever find yourself adding every hot sauce, seasoning, or spice in hopes to create the perfect flavor? Well, those days are over. Morning Wood Bloody Mary Mix comes in two flavors; Original and Dill where only three steps are needed. 1 part vodka to 3 parts mix poured over ice and you are set. 

Unlike our competition, we value serving a Premium Product that is FREE from Artificial Coloring, Adulterants, and Impurities. Our aim is to be a nationally recognized brand with a grasp of several large markets. 

What’s on the Outside?

I always start with a visual review of the bottle. The company sent two bottles; the Original and a new flavor- “Thrill of Dill.” I’ll address the dill later but for now, I’ll focus on the original. Unlike the last couple mixes we reviewed, Morning Wood Bloody Mary mix comes in a glass bottle. (No pun intended!) I prefer this to plastic or a jar. It’s easier to pour and I don’t worry about plastic leaching into the mix. The label is eye-catching and fun. It features a cartoon bird sitting a wooden branch. The bottle’s neck is clad in a plastic wrap the implores us to, “shake it baby!” -Good advice.

Looking through the glass, the mix is a very dark red color. Lots of dark flecks float around- Black pepper? Looks thick and rich.

Onto the ingredients:

Morning Wood Bloody Mary Mix Ingredients

Well it starts off ok but as the ingredient list progresses we get into some questionable stuff. Xanthan gum, sodium benzoate, and potassium sorbate do not reside in my kitchen- yours? …”Shelf stability,” I suppose.

The Taste

I always start by tasting a mix on its own- no vodka. This first taste is thick, tangy, and full of Worcestershire. Mouth feel is thick and saucy with some acidity.

Adding Vodka

With the addition of vodka, all the tastes and feels are reduced. It thins out, becomes less acidic, and a bit more drinkable.

Summary

Overall I’d say this mix is what people in the Midwest expect when they order a bloody. If you like Zing Zang, you’ll like Morning Wood Bloody Mary Mix. It’s bold, tangy, sweet, and a bit thick.

The Dill flavor, Thrill of the Dill, is better. Less salt, more sweet. Not heavy on dill but present. It’s a little higher in acidity. I find it more interesting with a better balance of flavor. If I was served the Thrill of Dill at a bar I’d ...

Check out our review/podcast from Last week –Happy Belly by Vermont Fermenters

Sam Tooke hopped onto the podcast to help me review this mix. Click on the player above or go wherever you get your podcasts to take a listen to My Big Fat Bloody Mary Podcast

The Company

Uncle Walt’s is part of Fat Boy Natural BBQ out of Hickman Nebraska. In addition to the bloody Mary mix, the company also makes barbecue rubs, sauces, and my favorite- a bacon rim salt called Denny’s Bacon Salt. More on that later…

The company does an amazing job on social media. I steal from their Instagram posts regularly. It’s always edgy and funny. They have separate accounts for Walt’s and Denny’s. I didn’t put two and two together until this review. I’d followed and enjoyed them both. Reaching out to the company I found them to be…cranky and less than welcoming. That’s fine. I’m told they distribute to 40 states in the US and also to South Korea and New Zealand. Rock on! Let’s talk about the mix..

What’s on the Outside?

Fat Boy Uncle Walt’s Bloody Mary Mix and Denny’s Bacon Salt Review

The mix came in a plastic jug- not my favorite package but I get it- It’s cheaper and easier to ship that way. I see on the website that they do also offer glass bottles.

Unlike some mixes that show off the little bits of ingredients in an almost 3D appearance, Walt’s looks pretty homogenized. it looks dark and thick in the bottle.

*Note- after the tasting it was clear that the packaging and dark complexion of the mix belied the actual texure

The Taste

Fat Boy Uncle Walt’s Natural Bloody Mary Mix Ingredient List

Pouring confirms the dark and thick appearance. First taste reveals an almost sauce-like mouth feel. Tastes are smokey and sweet. Surprisingly, there are indeed little bits of ingredients floating around in there. As the ingredient list might signal, there are a ton of flavors competing for my attention. It’s a bit intense and thicker than I like on its own. But that’s not how the end user is likely to drink a bloody Mary. Let’s add vodka…

Adding Vodka

Much better. The vodka thins out the texture of the mix and provides a little space between flavors. Now it’s a pretty tasty smokey, sweet, and with a light spice and a celery salt retrohale. I like it! It’s still on the saltier side so don’t forget the beer chaser!

Don’t Forget The Rim Salt!

Included with the mix was a tiny packet of Denny’s bacon rim salt- about enough for two, maybe three rims. Well the company seems to have emerged with BBQ as its genesis, so it’s not surprising that the rim salt adds even more smokey flavors.

This is NOT your Father’s Bloody Mary

Hi. My name is Greg and I’m a fermenterHi Greg…

I caught the fermenting bug several years ago and have been hooked ever since. I love the live tingly sensation of a fermented food on my tongue. I’m also aware of the relationship of gut health to our mental and physical well being. I’ve fermented everything from cabbage to cayenne and shared my exploits on social media. One day I shared a photo of a batch of Korean kimchi on Instagram. It caught the attention of Jeff Staab of Vermont Fermenters.

Jeff reached out to me as a fellow fermenter and bloody Mary enthusiast. He wanted me to try his bloody Mary mix. I’m always open to a new adventure- send it on over! Within days my mailbox was graced by a package containing a jar of kimchi, another of bloody Mary mix, and a pouch of rim salt. I love my job. Speaking of job, they actually use the term rim job on the packaging of the rim salt. This industry is far more edgy than when I entered it. “Lick, don’t bite,” the package reads. Laughing Out Loud I was.

What first impressed me was the care with which these items were packaged and shipped. Clad in protective styrofoam and packed with ice, it was clear that Jeff cared about what he was sending. You’d be amazed and disgusted by how many broken bottles show up on my doorstep. The day the package arrived, Jeff texted. “Be sure to refrigerate it right away.” There isn’t one preservative in this mix. I love the passion. I CAN NOT wait to try it!

It’s been busy. The samples have been rolling in and I’m trying to keep up. Some good, some…ok. The Happy Belly Bloody Mary Mix has waited patiently mid- refrigerator for a couple weeks. I see you there. I’ll drink you soon…

What’s on the Outside?

Vermont Fermenters package their mix in a jar. I love and hate this packaging. It looks great and I think it’s right for this product. Think farmer’s market. As a bartender I appreciate the functionality of a conventional bottle for pouring. It’s ok, I can pour this. The label has a certain Tim Burton, Night Before Christmas feel. Check the photo. It’s fun. The ingredient list warmed my heart. No crap! First ingredient: Fermented Kimchi Juice!

Happy Belly Bloody Mary Mix Ingredient List

The Taste

I open the jar and hear a welcome sound. It burps. Any fermenter knows and loves the chemistry of gas releasing from a ferment. This jar is alive. looking at it I clearly see bits of dill weed, dulce, and white pepper.

To say this product is unique is to state the obvious. The label instructs to cut 50/50 with water and booze. Ok but I always try a mix right out of the box first. A pure drink of this mix is pretty intense. I don’t recommend it. Let’s try diluting with water and booze…

The Story

This mix first caught my eye on Instagram. They tell a good story and make the mix look good. From their website:

Kickled Mary was born from my family’s pickle recipe passed down five generations from my Polish ancestors. Making pickles was a big part of my childhood and continues to be a passion my wife, daughter, and many of our friends now share. So, how did Kickled Mary come to be? Well, many of our friends told us they used the brine from our pickles when making homemade Bloody Mary’s (because yes, it is that good). So in 2019 we decided to create a premium Bloody Mary mix using our rich, spicy pickle brine as the base. We toiled many fun hours, days, weekends, perfecting the recipe, because, as we all know, Bloody Marys have to be perfect. Thus, a star was born!

I drink lots of bloody Mary’s. My Instagram and Facebook feeds are full of images of homemade bloody Mary’s and bottled mixes. As a judge in Bloody Mary contests around the country I get to try tons of mixes. Perhaps that’s why I didn’t realize that I had already tried Kickled Mary before deciding to do a review. It was at the Milwaukee Bloody Mary Festival where they earned the People’s Choice Award for Best Bloody Mary Mix! (Both am and pm sessions)

As I took my first review sip, I knew the mix was familiar. I also knew that it was very good.

What’s on the Outside?

I always start with a visual review of the bottle. This has a farmer’s market looking jar instead of a bottle. Makes one think of fresher ingredients. Smart. Looking through the glass, the mix has a dark red color and tiny bits of solids can be seen.

Onto the ingredients:

“Ground tomatoes!” I like it. That explains the little bits of solids floating around. Nothing too funky in this list. Let’s take a drink.

The Taste

I always start by tasting a mix on its own- no vodka. This first taste revealed a tangy but savory balance of flavors that I’d almost describe as tart. I definitely can pick out the pickle brine flavor. Nice. The mix is fairly thin but with tiny chewable shards of ground tomatoes and peppers. Not everyone likes that. I do.

Adding Vodka

The addition of vodka, (I used a Polish Rye), mellows the flavor out a bit. It took a bit of the tart out and seemed to balance out the flavors better than without. My assistant disagreed, as she often does. She prefers the full on flavor without vodka. She likened it to a nice Italian dressing. I can see that. Might be really good drizzled onto a sandwich!

Summary

Overall I give this mix very high marks. I like the packaging, I like the texture, and I really appreciate the balance- something many mixes fall short on. They get all hopped up on something- horseradish for example, and beat you over the head with it. This mix has all the flavors you’d want in a bloody, with a fresh disposition and very drinkable consistency. It’s not a one and done kind of Bloody Mary. I poured a second.

Sunny War Live and Topside Bloody Mary Blend Review

When we heard that Wisconsin’s own Jack Link’s was entering the Bloody Mary world we were stoked, as were our followers. As the 5th most popular snack food in the US, Jack Link’s has a loyal following and a unique brand identity. Beef jerky, Like bacon, celery, and pickles, has a natural kinship with our favorite brunch cocktail. But would they do it right, and make a good mix? We had to find out. Here’s what we determined!

Listen to this week’s podcast to hear our full review of all four Jack Link’s Bloody Mary Mixes; Mild, Sweet and Spicy, Dill Pickle, and the Jack Link’s Signature. Spoiler alert: We liked the. A Lot!

Jack Links Bloody Mary Mix Review

From the company’s website:

* Mild- Don’t let the name fool you. This recipe is loaded with an abundance of robust flavors. Smooth, briny, lightly tangy, with hints of garlic and horseradish. It might be called Mild, but it’s far from boring.* Sweet & Hot-The perfect combo. Experience the sweet, but subtle flavor of pure honey combined with tongue-tingling peppers and spices and a hint of horseradish. Sure to satisfy both sides of your personality* Dill Pickle-Pickle lovers rejoice. What once was just a garnish is now so much more. Enjoy the perfect amount of pickle brine blended with our signature spices and infused with horseradish for a subtle kick* Signature Recipe- An instant classic. Our Signature Recipe is peppery and lightly briny, with a subtle hint of steak seasoning – delivering just the right amount of heat to put some hair on your chest. Like Sasquatch.