Shaking Up an Old Favorite: The Bloody Mary

Downtown restaurants are trying new variations on the traditional Bloody Mary just in time for spring brunch season

For this Mother's Day, or even for that perfect spring Sunday afternoon, it's the perfect time to celebrate with brunch. One of the best parts of brunch is that delicious Bloody Mary. But not all spicy tomato cocktails are created equal. Take mom or your loved ones out for brunch, (even a liquid brunch), to one of these downtown places, where Bloody Marys take on an unusual twist.

At Burger and Barrel, the gastropub at Houston Street and Mercer Street, for instance, take your pick from four Bloody Mary choices including the traditional recipe. But for those looking for something more adventurous, try the Bloody Maria, made with infused tequila. The Queen Mary is made with spicy tomato juice, cucumber, gin and garnished with dill and lemon.

But the real draw, according to General Manager Carmelo Pecoraro, is the BBQ Bacon Bloody Mary, made with homemade BBQ sauce, tomato juice and candied bacon. It won first place in the Tito's Vodka best Bloody Mary competition.

"I feel like everyone likes a Bloody Mary made a certain way," said Pecoraro. "There's always a variation on it, and that was the whole idea, to create something new."

More recommendations:

*Cole's (Greenwich Ave and Main Street) - Get a drink and an appetizer all rolled into one with Cole's "Kitchen Sink" Bloody Mary. Chef Daniel Eardley pickles the green beans for the cocktail, which are thrown into the in-house made Bloody Mary mix, along with caper berries, olives, celery and lemon.

*Sauce (Rivington and Allen Street) - You and your loved ones have a choice of three fresh Bloody Mary concoctions at this farm-to-table mom's Italian kitchen-esque restaurant. Plus all moms eat for free on Mother's Day at Sauce! Try the Bloody Mario (made with Grappa Zardetto di Prosecco), The Bloody Maria (made with Sauza tequila), and a traditional Bloody Mary made with Tito's Vodka.

*Colicchio and Sons (10th Avenue Between West 15th and West 16th Streets) ­- The Bloody Verde - You heard that right. It's green, not red. That's because this Bloody Mary variation, at one of Tom Colicchio's famous restaurants, is made with green tomatoes, jalapenos, chilis, cilantro and green Tabasco sauce.