What’s the trick to elevating your Bloody Mary from good to exceptional? Garlic, Basil, & Peppercorn infused vodka, of course!
I learned this trick while working at The Delta, in Portland, Oregon. Their Sunday Bloody Mary bar could win awards, and they always had a garlic infused vodka waiting to add a bit of garlic creamy umami goodness to your morning, afternoon, or evening Mary.
Over the years, I have modified this recipe to add the addition of basil (for some earthiness) and peppercorns (for some kick). The way I see it, the more you add the merrier, just be careful to watch it and taste as the flavors develop to make sure nothing overpowers the vodka. Feel free to vary the amount of ingredients. You really can’t go wrong!
This recipe has a lot of garlic, making it ready to drink after only 4-5 days of marination!
Ingredients:
1 handle of vodka (1.75 liters)
2 cups raw peeled garlic
2-3 tbsp peppercorns
4 sprigs of basil
Directions
In a large glass beverage dispenser, like these ones
here, add garlic and peppercorns, then cover it with vodka.
Let the mixture sit for 2-3 days, until the color begins to turn a bit milky and you can smell garlic when you open the lid. AFter a few days, add the baseil. After a day or two (day 4 or 5), the basil will turn the vodka green. The longer you keep the basil in the jar, the more green the vodka becomes. I recommend moving the basil after a few days to prevent this discoloration. Keep an eye on it! Similarly, if you keep the vodka in it for too long, the flavor does become overpowering. If you make it too strong, you can always dilute it with regular vodka! If you plan to let it marinate with the garlic for longer, you probably want to use less garlic.
If you plan on storing the vodka, strain the vodka off of the garlic and keep in a glass in freezer. I often will return the vodka back into its original bottle after sampling it in my bloody marys, allowing it to be easily stored in the freezer for future Bloody Marys!
Warning: Have some mints handy, you could definitely ward off vampires (and significant others) after drinking this!
