Sometimes an event comes to our attention that seems absolutely perfect for us. Champagne and chocolates? Yes, please. Dining al fresco at an amazing farm in horse country? You betcha. Bourbon and barbecue? Sign us up!
Even so, there are times when the sheer scope of an event causes us to lose sight of it until it’s almost too late. This is another one of those times.
Throughout the month of October, St. Regis Hotels around the world have been celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Bloody Mary. The classic brunch cocktail was “perfected” by bartender Fernand Petiot at the King Cole Bar in New York’s St. Regis Hotel in October of 1934. It was soon renamed the “Red Snapper,” in an effort to class up the drink and to avoid offending any delicate sensibilities among their upscale guests.
And how do you celebrate the Bloody Mary? Get a few of your city’s top chefs and mixologists to contribute creative takes on the drink and serve them up alongside the classic on a special bar menu. Then shout the good news from the rooftops.
Here in Washington, the St. Regis has accomplished those first two steps admirably, gathering drinks from the likes of Art Smith, Spike Mendelsohn and Todd Gray, among others. Even so, we’ve been surprised by the relative lack of shouting we’ve been hearing about this…and as a result, we almost forgot about it altogether. Now we’ve only got this last weekend to take advantage of this bloody good time.
Details on the cocktails being offered - and a firsthand look at the original in its natural habitat – after the jump. (more…)
