Bloody Marvellous: New Twists On A Classic Cocktail

A Bloody Mary is traditionally made from vodka, tomato juice, some salt and pepper, a slice of lemon and a dash of Tabasco. It’s a drink you can prepare at home. But what if you tried adding tomatoes roasted and spiced with ground dandelion root? Or creating a clear liquid by distilling the tomato juice? Some things are best left to the professionals. South Africa’s top barmen took the popular cocktail in bold new directions during the second regional workshops of Diageo Reserve’s World Class Bartender of the Year competition, held last month in Cape Town, Durban and Joburg. Using Ketel One Vodka, mixologists were challenged to create one-of-a-kind concoctions that pushed the boundaries of taste and presentation. Conventions were broken and tradition was overturned.