Beet and Aquavit Bloody Mary Recipe

 

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 60 mins

Cooling Time for Beets: 30 mins

Total: 100 mins

Servings: 8 servings

Yield: 4 cups Bloody Mary mix

The Bloody Mary is a classic brunch cocktail that packs a savory meal-in-a-glass punch. Traditionally made with vodka, this Nordic-inspired version uses aquavit, adding a unique flavor profile to the drink.

What is Aquavit? Aquavit 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. It adds an extra punch of flavor to the traditional Bloody Mary.

About Those Beets Continuing in the Scandi vein, roasted beets are used in place of some tomato juice. They give this cocktail an earthy, slightly sweet flavor, a flashy magenta color, and a velvety texture that makes this drink anything but ordinary.

Get Creative With Garnishes A simple garnish of skewered dill pickle slices and cubed dill-flecked Havarti cheese completes the cocktail. Adding seafood such as pickled shrimp, herring rollmops, or smoked oysters can amp up the hygge.

What to Serve With Beet Bloody Marys Beet Bloody Marys pair well with smoked or cured fish on rye bread or toasted everything bagels. They also complement egg dishes like omelets or quiche that feature caramelized onions, ham, or strong cheeses.

Recipe Tips

• Buy beets of the same size (about 4 ounces each) so they cook evenly.
• Dark red beets will give you the most vibrant 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 and stored 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.

Ingredients

• 1 pound medium beets (without tops)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon fine salt
• 2 cups tomato juice
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill (loosely packed)
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish (not creamed horseradish)
• 3/4 teaspoon lemon pepper
• 1 medium garlic clove
• Hot sauce, to taste
• 24 ounces aquavit (see headnote)
• 6 ounces dill Havarti cheese, cut into cubes
• 2 dill pickles, cut crosswise into 1-inch thick slices
• 8 pickled cocktail onions

Steps to Make It

1. Roast the Beets:

   • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
   • Wrap each beet tightly in foil, adding a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt to each packet. Place beets on a baking sheet and bake until a paring knife can pierce easily through the beets, about 1 hour.
   • Unwrap beets and let them stand until cool enough to handle. Slip the skins off the beets under cool running water.

2. Prepare the Beet Bloody Mary Base:

   • Cut the beets into 1-inch chunks. Put 2 cups (about

12 ounces) of the beet chunks in a blender. Reserve remaining beets for garnish.

• Add the tomato juice, dill, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, lemon pepper, and garlic to the blender and blend until completely smooth. The mixture will be thick but pourable. Taste and add hot sauce until the mixture is as spicy as you like it.

3. Assemble the Cocktails:

   • Fill tall cocktail glasses with 1 cup of ice cubes each. Add 1/2 cup of the Bloody Mary mix to each glass.
   • Add 3 ounces of aquavit to each glass and stir to combine.

4. Garnish:

   • Using eight 5 to 6-inch cocktail picks, skewer leftover roasted beets, cheese cubes, pickle slices, and pickled onions. Balance a skewer on top of each glass.

Variations

• To substitute dried dill for fresh, use 1 tablespoon dried dill and then let the Bloody Mary base stand at room temperature for 1 hour to allow the dried dill flavor to bloom.

How to Store

• Leftover Bloody Mary base can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Do not add the aquavit until ready to serve.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

• Calories: 333
• Fat: 8g
• Carbs: 11g
• Protein: 7g

This Beet and Aquavit Bloody Mary is a vibrant and flavorful twist on the classic cocktail, perfect for your next brunch gathering. With its earthy beets and bold aquavit, it's sure to impress and delight your guests. Enjoy!