Local Taster :)

Co-workers were talking about it. Social media was talking about it. The television was talking about it. Business cards were on bar floors all over New York City. Murph’s seemed to be everywhere, but I had never had it and I couldn’t find it at my usual stops. And then finally– the time had come to kick back with some Murph’s!

The label on Murph’s Bloody Mary Mix is straight up comical! He must be some character to brand this bottle with his face blown up on it! But you certainly can’t miss it or forget it- and maybe that’s the point. Either way, you should never judge a bottle by its label. Or is it a book by its cover? For our purposes, we’ll stick with the bottle analogy.

Here at Local Taste, we wasted no time to pouring up the long awaited Murph’s. This time around, we had 4 Tasters. Immediately we were impressed by the noticeable amount of seasoning, how well it was distributed and that the mix was not separated, as mixes tend to do. We were equally impressed by how smoothly it mixed in with the awaiting Tito’s vodka. Sometimes with a pre-made mix, you immediately see the vodka and the mix separate, which requires shaking or stirring. All Murph’s really required for blending the vodka and mix was a stir of the straw.

You can really smell the tomato influence in Murph’s recipe, which is rare and much appreciated in a mix. It also has an impressively smooth & hearty consistency. The heat level was not overwhelming, but present.

Murph’s got 4 out of 4 thumbs ups at this Local Taste Session. However, one taster felt the seasoning was a little tangy and noted a taste that ‘couldn’t be placed.’ But you know how the saying goes here at Local Taste… “Everyone Likes ‘Em Different.” We believe there is no such thing as one, single ‘Best Bloody Mary.’ There is, however, A Best Bloody that is right for everyone- You just need to get matched to one. Murph’s matched well to our tastes, so that’s a win! Cheers!

Frankie V’s Bloody Mary mixes are really something special! Everything from the packaging to the laundry list of ingredients makes Frankie V’s a wholly different Bloody Mary experience, and we loved every minute of it… right down to the last drop. In addition to super cool packaging, Frankie V’s is organic, and both mixes are available in 32oz and 5 oz portions, which we really appreciate. The 5oz bottle makes one perfect Bloody Mary and it’s also great to travel with.

OK let’s get down to business.

First up: The Scary Mary:

Frankie V’s Scary Mary Cocktail Mix contained some of the most unique ingredients we have ever seen in a Bloody Mary. Some stand-outs include: apple cider vinegar, organic shiitake mushrooms, ginger puree, orange extract,and tamarin. The full list of ingredients can be viewed on their website.

The most surprising characteristic about this mix is that despite the long list of ingredients, you can taste each one individually. It’s incredible! Overall, there is a freshly acidic flavor and underlying sweetness that can be detected in the Scary Mary. Don’t be fooled however, the Scary Mary packs a punch of spice that leaves a kick on the lips and back of the throat.

This mix has an absolutely wonderful consistency… if you like bits and pieces, which some of us do! It allows you to experience the freshness of the vegetables and seasonings that make up this unique Bloody Mary. If you’re not a pulp person, you might not enjoy this one.

We have dubbed the Scary Mary the “trendy, hipster cousin of the Bloody Mary”.  If you are a traditionalist, this mix is not for you. If you are an adventurous Bloody Mary lover, well then, we highly recommend it!

Next up: The Green Mary:

WARNING: The Green Mary may be addictive!!!

This was our first time trying a green Bloody Mary mix, and we can honestly say that we have never had anything like this- and that’s a bloody good thing!

Before trying the Green Mary we noticed it’s unusually strong nose, which weirdly enough smelled ‘green!’ (Have you ever smelled wasabi pea snacks? It kind of smells like that.) While that didn’t stop us by any means, it was our least favorite part of the Green Mary.

The complete list of ingredients is as follows: green tomatoes, organic lime juice, 1888 olive juice, organic tomatillos, organic garlic, organic celery, organic onion, Worcestershire sauce, FVK wasabi green Thai chili hot sauce, organic wasabi powder, organic raw agave nectar, raw horseradish, organic pepper, sea salt. I mean really… have you ever?

We found this mix to be less acidic than her sister, The Scary Mary, and conversely the consistency was quite smooth. It had an interesting punch, which we can attribute to the wasabi.  We also agreed that there is a ‘crispness’ to this mix and the word ‘zing’ was also used among our tasting crew. You really can’t place the flavor, which keeps you going back for more trying to figure out… ‘just what is that flavor?’ 

Overall, we loved the Scary Mary and the Green Mary. We applaud you, Frankie V’s Kitchen, for the most unique, and enjoyable Bloody experience we have ever had.

Frankie V’s offers a bounty of intriguing products on their website including hot sauces, salsas, spreads and more. All look delicious. Be sure to check it out!

e·lix·ir
/əˈliksər/
noun
a magical or medicinal potion.
“an elixir guaranteed to induce love”
synonyms: potion, concoction, brew, philter, decoction, mixture;

• a preparation that was supposedly able to change metals into gold, sought by alchemists.
• a preparation supposedly able to prolong life indefinitely.

noun: elixir of life; plural noun: elixirs of life

So there you have it- Elixir. Probably the best word I have ever heard to describe what a Bloody Mary really is to those of us who swear by them.

Rachel’s Raquette Lake Elixir is damn good. I highly recommend you read the story on her website about what inspired her to bottle and distribute her mix. Mostly, I love a good grassroots success story, but I also recommend this read because once you read it and then taste this mix, you can’t help but picture yourself bundled up on a chilly New York State morning in the mountains, overlooking a lake, warming your bones by sipping on a spicy Bloody Mary (I have ever done this, but this is how I imagine it!)

This mix is loaded with fresh tomato flavor, which I love and it’s just spicy enough.  It claims to be ‘intensely spicy’ but actually don’t think it is. Too much more spice and I think it would overpower the tomato base. I think it’s just right. However, describing spicy levels is tough to do. It’s actually exactly why we created the Local Taste Bloody Mary app- your level 5 spicy and my level 5 spicy are probably very different things. It’s all very subjective which is why ratings simply don’t work. So we decided to ditch ratings and match people to their best Bloody Mary based on their individual flavor profile. Learn more!

You can buy Rachel’s Raquette Lake Elixir online by emailing Rachel directly: rachelpohl29@gmail.com or at one of the many New York stores that carries her mix. Now go get your Elixir on!

I’m in love with Jolene. It’s true. Granted, we haven’t actually met yet. We have spoken on the phone briefly and we have exchanged some emails, but it has no impact on my adoration for Jolene. It’s not Jolene, per say that I love- but I love Jolene’s Jars!

C’mon- where do I begin? The jars say it all.

• Pickled Za’atar Cauliflower
• Garlic Pickles with a Kick
• Spicy Bloody Mary Garnish
• Garam Masala Pickled Chickpeas
• Pickled Ginger Carrots
• Bloody Mary Boost

I’ll take one of each and I haven’t even tried them all…YET!

These jars, my friends, are all about amping up your Bloody Mary in all the right ways. I’ll take mine garnished with one of everything please. Oh and add a shrimp, because as you know, that’s how I roll.

As stated on Jolene’s Jars website: Jolene’s Jar are gluten free, vegan, all-natural, local produce is used whenever possible, do not contain sugar, chemicals, additives, preservatives, artificial colors or artificial ingredients, and all products have 50-80% less sodium than regular pickles.

Want me to keep going? Ok. I will.

Let’s talk about the Bloody Mary Boost. Originally created by Jolene as a rimmer, but accidentally discovered as a seasoning. Whoa! Brilliant stuff.

Per Jolene: Add 1 Tbsp Bloody Mary Boost & 1 Tbsp Bloody Mary Garnish brine to 2 cups tomato juice, 1 Tsp Worcestershire, 1 Tsp hot sauce, & 1/2 fresh squeezed lemon. Rub rim with lemon, dip glass in Bloody Mary Boost mix. Add vodka to taste. Bottoms up.

This Bloody Mary booster is a Bloody Mary traveler’s dream come true- it’s easy to carry, simple and delicious. Win- win. I’ll tell you that next time I travel, the Booster is coming with me!

Cheers!

Celery is one of the standard garnishes that always seems to disappoint me. Without question, celery is part of the classic combination of Bloody Mary garnishes, but it is often dried out or wilted and flavorless when served at most establishments. It certainly lets me down more than it doesn’t. If it were up to me- I’d replace every single piece of mediocre celery stuck in a Bloody Mary with a Spicy Dilly Bean. Yup- I said it and it’s a bold claim. But it’s the truth.

If you have never have a spicy dilly bean, then you have no idea what you are missing. I highly recommend that you stop reading this right now, get your ass in the car, and go get some.

Question: What do I love about spicy dilly beans?

Answer: Um… everything.

They have it all- crunch, spice, sour, seasoning and salt. This is the perfect compliment to a Bloody Mary and so much more interesting than celery! Go ahead- try to argue that with me. I dare you.

In addition to being delicious, dilly beans are really easy to make on your own in the summer when the beans grow faster than a household can keep up with. I know home jarring is not for everyone and truth be told, my homemade ones are good, but they don’t come close to Matt & Steve’s Extreme beans. These things are G-R-E-A-T.

Matt & Steve’s Extreme Beans have this incredible tang that hits you in the form of vinegar, then it’s immediately balanced out by the heat and followed by the layers of seasoning that make up their brine. They use long beans so they are nice and hearty and add a solid crunch. What can I say- I am in love.

You know what else makes a great Bloody Mary? Seasoning your rim. Rimmers and Spicy Beans (and maybe a shrimp) make for excellent Bloody Mary accouterments and, personally speaking, make me very happy.

If you are ready to take your homemade Bloody Mary hosting skills up a notch, grab yourself some Matt & Steve’s Extreme Beans and some Matt & Steve’s Bloody Mary Rimmer. Oh what the hell- go get some fresh shrimp while you’re at it and finish off our favorite Bloody Mary recipe the right way!

Cheers.