My Aunt Nola is a woman of many talents. She quilts, she makes a mean potato salad, and she’ll kick your butt in Scrabble. She’ll share these gifts with the family when we’re around and I can honestly say the one I am most thankful to be on the receiving end of is her Bloody Mary. Salty and garlicky and made with Clamato (duh) it is truly one of her most magnificent creations. I adopted her recipe a few years back and added a few ingredients of my own and as many of my friends will attest, it’s damn good. We feel free to enjoy them wherever we are: playing board games in Chicago, with an ocean view in Malibu, and by the pool in Southampton (fancy!). I try to pick one up wherever I am and at this point I consider myself a bit of a connoisseur. So here we are. Hil and I will be the guinea pigs trying all the Bloody Mary’s we come into contact with to make sure you never have to have one of those watery-tomato-soup Bloodies ever again. You can thank us later.

Aunt Nola/Lindsay’s Classic Bloody Mary

Fill a pint glass about half full of ice.

Add 1.5 oz of vodka.

Fill the glass about ¾ full with Clamato.

Add 2-3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce.

Add Frank’s Red Hot sauce and horseradish to taste.

Add about a tablespoon of olive juice.

Throw in a few dashes of pepper and garlic salt.

I garnish with celery and olives- but feel free to add whatever- lemon, lime, cocktail weenies, cheddar cheese…more about the wonderful world of possible garnishes to come.

Enjoy!