drinkable reno tahoe
BLOODY MARY MECCA
Deconstructing the local bloody mary.
WRITTEN BY LAUREL WINTERBOURNE
PHOTOS BY CHRIS HOLLOMAN
There is something comforting in the seemingly odd combination of vodka, tomato juice, a multitude of secret ingredients, and enough seasonings to grill a steak. A hangover recovery drink? A meal? A vitamin-packed health benefit? This concoction is just the slap in the face you need after a rough night, which, let’s face it, can happen in an area with endless outdoor adventures, world-class skiing, casinos, and 24-hour nightlife. That makes the Reno-Tahoe area the ideal locale for a mandatory, first-class bloody mary.
The bloody mary has evolved through the years and risen to define a great bar, a talented bartender, and a brunch masterpiece when done correctly. With so many variations, some intriguing ingredients are required for a standout bloody mary, and local bars and restaurants are taking this cocktail to the next level. Top-of-the-line organic ingredients that are locally sourced are a common denominator for these Reno-Tahoe bloody mary masters.
A Bloody Competition
Northstar California ski resort in North Lake Tahoe has a bloody mary rivalry on the mountain. The friendly competition between bars has escalated the classic bloody mary into a true art form. With six locations vying for the top spot of best bloody mary at Northstar, the stakes are high. Locally sourced, in-season herbs and vegetables (fresh or pickled), organic tomato juice, and delicious seafood garnishes are just a few of the reasons that Northstar does it right.
Northstar’s Absolut Gourmet Bloody Mary is served at the Big Springs Day Lodge. This version, the original, started the competition. Bar manager and mixologist Max Grush begins building the drink with a double shot of Absolut Vodka over ice. Next, he adds the spice concoction, which consists of Worcestershire and four other flavor-packed secret spice ingredients. He tops it off with tomato juice, then garnishes with pickled veggies, a celery stalk, lemon, and lime. He finishes it with a jumbo shrimp.
“Big Springs is located at the hub of the mountain, so this is the bloody mary for the masses,” Grush says. “It’s not too spicy so you can really taste the tomato and garnish, and the spice can be increased to the desired level.”
The 6330′ Bloody Mary is Grush’s masterpiece and is served at the 6330′ Tavern. This bloody mary is designed for the serious connoisseur: a double shot of local Tahoe Blue Vodka over ice, a special dark mary mix with 23 different ingredients, a splash of organic tomato juice, house-made hot sauce, a salted rim consisting of nine different ingredients, and a snow crab leg garnish. The salted rim puts this variation over the edge; salt, pepper, and a hint of nutmeg are the final touches for this delicious meal in a glass.
“It all started in the kitchen, and it became more about the drink than the garnish,” Grush says. “We don’t pour drinks; we build them. The bloody mary has it all — protein, nutrients, and it can often substitute as a meal.”
A Noble Creation
Noble Pie Parlor in Reno owners Trevor Leppek and Ryan Goldhammer have created a bloody mary experience with their weekend brunch bloody mary bar. Garlic, jalapeño, or bacon vodka infused in house serve as the base, and prosciutto and pepperoni make up the garnish. The rest is in the hands of the customer.
“People grow up being told not to play with their food, and now they can have a fun and interactive experience,” Leppek says.
Organic tomato juice, house-made sweet and sour, Firestone Double Barrel Ale, smoked paprika, and soy sauce instead of salt are just a few of the unique flavors of Leppek’s homemade bloody mary mix. The bloody mary bar has the rest of the fixings to complete the drink, including Worcestershire, A-1, an assortment of nearly every hot sauce you could imagine, horseradish, and fresh garnishes such as pickled vegetables, limes, and olives.
“I truly love bloody marys, and want to pass it on to the weary lunch-goer and bring them back to life,” Leppek says.
Meal in a Glass
There are no rules when it comes to creating a great bloody mary, and bartenders at Chapel Tavern in Reno are pushing the limits to craft one of the most intriguing ones. A grilled cheese sandwich, a slice of bacon, and a pickled quail egg are just the beginnings of Chapel Tavern’s famous bloody mary, dubbed Wakey, Wakey, Mary, Eggs and Bacey.
It’s an over-the-top play on breakfast, combined with the hair of the dog, says Duncan Mitchell, owner of Chapel Tavern. Horseradish-infused vodka with MSG is the base for the masterpiece, topped with organic tomato juice, a little Guinness, and a lot of spice. Mitchell prefers to keep the bloody mary itself simple but the garnishes outrageous. Pickled fennel seed, carrots, green onions, and baby bell peppers also serve as garnish, and all are from the Great Basin Community Food Co-op in Reno.
Truckee-based freelance writer Laurel Winterbourne loves the outdoor activities the area has to offer. A self-proclaimed bloody mary connoisseur, she finds there’s nothing better than ending a hard day of playing outside with a meal in a glass.
Resources
Enjoy an extraordinary bloody mary at the following locations:
775 Gastropub
5162 Meadowood Mall Circle, Reno
775-828-0775, http://www.775gastropub.com
Note: Build-your-own bloody mary bar 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sundays
Bucket of Blood Saloon
1 S. C St., Virginia City
775-847-0322, http://www.Bucketofbloodsaloonvc.com
Chapel Tavern
1099 S. Virginia St., Reno
775-324-2244, http://www.Chapeltavern.com
Daughters Café
97 Bell St., Reno
775-324-3447, http://www.Daughterscafe.com
Noble Pie Parlor
239 W. Second St., Reno
775-622-9222, http://www.Noblepieparlor.com
Note: Build-your-own bloody mary bar 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Northstar California
5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee
530-562-1010, http://www.Northstarcalifornia.com
Squeeze In (4 locations)
10060 Donner Pass Road, Truckee
530-587-9814
5020 Las Brisas Blvd., Ste. A5, Reno
775-787-2700
25 Foothill Road, Ste. 3, Reno
775-853-6090
4670 Sparks Blvd., Ste. 110, Sparks
775-626-0100
The Z Bar
1074 S. Virginia St., Reno
775-348-1723, http://www.Thezephyrbar.com
