The recipe for the Red Snapper cocktail is pretty close to a Bloody Mary. In simple terms, it's a Bloody Mary made with gin- A refreshing pick-me-up kind of drink commonly ordered for Sunday brunches.
By using gin instead of vodka, the Red Snapper drink brings botanical complexity to an already flavorful drink. Let's learn how to mix this savory gin cocktail which you can easily season to your liking.
Ingredients
- 1 oz London Dry Gin - (We recommend Beefeater Gin)
- 4 oz Tomato juice
- 0.5 oz Lemon juice
- 7 drops Tabasco hot sauce
- 4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 2 pinches of Celery salt
- 2 pinches of Black pepper
- 1 Celery stick - (for garnish)
Instructions
- Mix salt and pepper, then rim a Collins glass with it and add ice cubes into the glass.
- Add gin, tomato juice, lemon juice, tabasco sauce, and Worcestershire sauce into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake for 12-15 seconds and then strain it into your glass.
- Garnish with a celery stick.
Nutrition
Recommended ingredients
The beauty of this recipe is that - aside from the basic components like gin, tomato juice, and lemon juice - you can season the drink according to your preferences. Our selection of ingredients includes:
- Gin - A classic London Dry Gin that's not too overpowering on the juniper is best for this classic. Our recommendation is either Beefeater Gin or Bombay Sapphire.
- Tomato juice
- Lemon juice
- Tabasco sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- (Celery) salt
- Black pepper
- Celery stick
You can adjust the recipe by adding more ingredients or omitting some of the above-mentioned elements. Processed horseradish, other hot sauces, and creative garnishes are among the most common options.
For the garnish, you can get super creative. Here are just some possible ways to upgrade the visual of this drink:
- Pickled onions
- Olives
- Dill pickles
- Jalapeño peppers
- Bacon
A brief history
The history of the Red Snapper is tightly bound to the Bloody Mary. Fernand Petiot was the one who invented the classic vodka-based version when working at Harry's New York Bar in Paris. Petiot's concoction consisted of vodka, tomato juice, and spices to create a rich and savory drink.
When he moved to New York to work in the St. Regis Hotel, he took his creation with him and spread the word about it in the US. That led to the drink being rebranded by hotel management since they didn't want to offend their well-heeled and sophisticated guests.
The first time the drink was mentioned in writing was in 1941. Crosby Gaige listed the recipe in his book Cocktail Guide and Ladies Companion. At this time, the Red Snapper cocktail was still made with vodka.
In the early 1960s, the recipe changed and was now usually made with gin. The first written mention of the gin-based version was published in 1962 in The London Magazine (Volume 2, 1962 edition).
Today, King Cole Bar inside St. Regis Hotel reversed the name of their signature cocktail to Bloody Mary. In the meantime, Red Snapper has carved out its own name as a popular twist based on gin.