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The bloody Mary is a classic brunch cocktail that packs a savory meal-in-a-glass punch. A blend of tomato juice and salty/spicy condiments like horseradish, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce, it’s normally made with vodka. But let’s be honest, vodka doesn’t add much flavor on its own, it’s just there for the booze. In this Nordic-inspired version of the bloody Mary, I use aquavit instead, for the flavor and the buzz.
What is Aquavit?
Aquavit, if you’re not familiar, is a neutral potato or grain-based spirit infused with botanicals, including caraway and/or dill. “Aquavit is much more flavorful than vodka,” says Jacob Grier, bartender and author of Raising The Bar: A Bottle-By-Bottle Guide To Mixing Masterful Cocktails At Home. “Think of everything you like in a regular bloody Mary, but with an extra punch of caraway or dill.”
Just like other spirits, there are lots of styles of aquavit. The popular Norwegian Linie brand, for instance, is a mellow spirit aged in sherry casks, so it’s smooth, slightly woody, and perfect for sipping straight. For blending bloody Marys, Grier recommends a bolder style. “You need something to punch through the other savory flavors in the drink. If you’re into a caraway-forward flavor, Danish Aalborg Taffel or Icelandic Brennivin are great. For more dill flavor, the dill aquavit from Wisconsin craft distiller Gamle Ode makes a great bloody Mary.”
About Those Beets
Continuing in the Scandi vein, I add roasted beets in place of some of the tomato juice. They give this cocktail an earthy, slightly sweet flavor, a flashy magenta color, and a lovely velvety texture that all add up to a meal-in-a-glass that’s anything but ordinary.
Get Creative With Garnishes
A simple garnish of skewered dill pickle slices and cubed dill-flecked havarti cheese cubes completes the cocktail, though including seafood in the form of pickled shrimp, herring rollmops, or smoked oysters would add a little extra Scandi style, if you want to amp up the hygge.
What to Serve With Beet Bloody Marys
Beet bloody Marys are the ideal beverage to serve with smoked or cured fish on rye bread or toasted everything bagels; the caraway seeds will pair beautifully with the aquavit. It’s also a good choice if you’re serving egg dishes like omelets or quiche that feature caramelized onions, ham, or strong cheeses. Since this recipe requires a bit of time to make and keeps well, it makes a larger batch. All the better for a memorable brunch.
Recipe Tips
- Buy beets of the same size (about 4 ounces each) so they cook in the same amount of time.
- Dark red beets will give you the most vibrant drink color and flavor.
- Shake the bottle of tomato juice and Worcestershire sauce well before measuring.
Make Ahead
- The beets can be roasted and peeled up to 3 days in advance. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- The bloody mary base can be made up to 5 days ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
