The Story Behind The After-Hours Bloody Maria

There is no reason you shouldn’t drink Bloody Marys in the evening. This sophisticated Bloody Maria riff features reposado tequila and chocolate-chili bitters.

Ari Dyckovsky, who runs the account @KeepItCrafted, collaborated with Goza tequila and Toma Craft Cocktail Mixers to create this drink for a NYC charity event. It comes together quickly and can easily be batched.

Rimming the glass is optional but recommended, especially if you use sal de gusano, the umami-rich Oaxacan worm salt traditionally served with citrus and mezcal.

Ingredients

6 ounces Bloody Mary mix, such as Toma
2 ounces reposado tequila, such as Goza
½ ounce lime juice
6 dashes of chocolate-chili bitters
Agave nectar and flake sea salt or sal de gasano, for rimming glass (optional)

Directions

Rim half of a chilled Collins glass in agave nectar, followed by salt.
Put all other ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
Pour into your rimmed glass over four ice cubes, and stir with a bar spoon.