Sparkling Bloody Maria, Ranch Water, Virgin Margarita

Backroad Bartender Newsletter #010

Trivia: What is the different between serving a drink “neat” vs. “up”?

Hello everyone! Did you miss me? Well working in an Irish Pub, March is a busy one for me. Sorry for ghosting, but I’m sure you’re all used to that. Anyways, I’m hungover. Shall we start with a cure for that? I think we call know the answer: the Bloody Mary.

LALO Sparkling Bloody Maria

The Bloody Mary’s origins are as muddled as the drink itself. One popular theory credits Fernand “Pete” Petiot, a bartender at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris in the 1920s, who mixed vodka with tomato juice for American expats. When he moved to the St. Regis Hotel in New York, he refined the recipe with Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, black pepper, and hot sauce.

Another legend ties the drink to comedian George Jessel, who supposedly improvised it as a hangover cure. The name’s origins are equally debated—some say it refers to Queen Mary I of England, infamous for her bloody reign, while others claim it was named after a Chicago waitress.

Regardless of its true roots, the Bloody Mary became a brunch staple and is often customized with extravagant garnishes, from celery stalks to bacon and even shrimp. Its reputation as a hangover remedy persists, thanks to its mix of vitamins, electrolytes, and a little “hair of the dog.” Today, the Bloody Mary remains a classic, with endless variations and a global following.

But what if you (like me) prefer tequila??

Enter the Bloody Maria. Same hangover cure, with that smooth tequila taste:

• 4.0 fl oz LALO Tequila

• 5.0 fl oz tomato juice

• 1.5 fl oz lime juice

• 0.25 fl oz Worcestershire Sauce

• 0.25 fl oz Tabasco

• 0.25 fl oz Soy sauce

• Celery salt to taste

• Sparkling water to taste

• Celery for garnish

Mix the tomato juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, soy sauce and celery salt. Add ice, LALO Tequila and Bloody Mary mix in a glass and top with sparkling water. Add celery as garnish. As simple as that.

Why am I using LALO tequila? Easy, because it’s the best. Founded by Don Julio's grandson, Lalo Gonzáles, LALO is made with just three simple ingredients (water, agave and champagne yeast) and sets the foundation for lighter, healthier cocktails that taste as fresh as spring itself. So drink up.

LALO Ranch Water

Okay, let’s make this one lighter and easier, just as drinking is supposed to be:

• 2.0 fl oz LALO Tequila

• 0.25 fl oz Fresh Lime Juice

• 4-5 fl oz Soda Water

• Lime Wheels for Garnish

Add LALO + lime juice to ice-filled pint glass. Top with soda water. Stir to combine. Garnish with lime wheel.

Virgin Margarita

Let’s keep the ball rolling with the tequila drinks. Though, being a mocktail this will obviously NOT actually include tequila or liquor of any kind. Doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a bebida deliciosa though, right? So let’s give you a refreshing, tangy, and zesty mocktail that delivers all the classic margarita flavors without the booze:

• 2.0 fl oz fresh lime juice

• 1.0 fl oz fresh orange juice (or 0.5 fl oz orange juice + 0.5 fl oz simple syrup for a sweeter touch)

• 1.0 fl oz agave syrup or honey syrup (equal parts agave/honey and warm water)

• 2.0 fl oz soda water

• Salt for the rim (optional)

• Lime wheel or wedge for garnish

Rim a pint glass with lime juice and dip it in salt if desired. In an ice filled shaker, combine lime juice, orange juice, and agave syrup. Shake well. Dump everything into the pint glass and top with club soda. Give it a gentle stir, garnish with a lime wheel or wedge, and salud!

Trivia Answer: "Neat" and "Up" are both ways to serve a drink, but they mean different things:

• Neat: A spirit poured straight from the bottle into a glass with no ice, mixers, or chilling. It's served at room temperature in a short glass, usually a rocks or whiskey glass. Example: "I'll take a bourbon neat."

• Up: A drink that is shaken or stirred with ice to chill it, then strained into a glass (usually a coupe or martini glass) without ice. The drink is cold but doesn’t stay that way as long since there's no ice in the glass. Example: "I'll have a Martini up."

So, if you want a drink straight, go neat. If you want it chilled but with no ice in the glass, go up!

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Did you make these drinks? How’d they come out? Got any questions or want something for next time? Let me know in the comments!

Backroad Bartender is a one man bartending show. I’m not asking for payment, so please like, comment, share and subscribe to support me. You can also browse the links below where I make a small commission if you make a purchase. Now pull up a bar stool and join me on this learning journey!

I’ve selected several products on Amazon which will help you make the drinks described above. These have all been purchased and tested by either myself, or friends. This includes a cocktail shaker set, a mixing glass, rocks glasses, and martini glasses.