Moving right along with the vacation posts before getting back to Buffalo, Chicago in October 2013. This was the first vacation where I investigated bars to go to specifically for Bloody Marys. There were quite a few, so we ended up visiting the ones that were most convenient to where we were for other activities (mostly).

First up, The Rock Bottom Brewery. Not on the list of “Best Bloody Marys in Chicago” but we happened to go there, and they happened to have one on the menu so….

Next up, from the Best Of list, Schubas Tavern. The review read “Schubas has been my favorite Bloody in the city for almost 10 years. Nothing fancy about the mix—it’s salty and smokey thanks to Worcestershire, and spicy via horseradish, tabasco and cracked black pepper. It’s served with wedges of lemon and lime, which brighten the salt/spice and make the thing virtually refreshing. I also love the accompanying spear of olive, salami and a cube of jack cheese — it’s basically a brunch appetizer and it’s often on special for $5.” I received this:

Not quite a match, but again, since I wasn’t planning a blog, I don’t have a review. I don’t remember the taste. There is just a distinct lack of olive, salami and cheese there…

Next on the list, The Corner Bar. Again the best of list provides a review that doesn’t match because they list a specific bartender, but I do remember this one as being quite good. It was the best of the bunch at that point, and the cheapest (always good!) And The Corner Bar is definitely a corner bar. It is in a neighborhood, and is not a place a tourist would typically go. That is not saying it’s bad or dangerous at all, it’s just your neighborhood local joint.

I was admittedly getting a tad tired of Bloody Marys at this point but moving on…

We were in Chicago to see Cowboy Junkies at City Winery, and there it was, a Bloody Mary on the menu…ok..fine…

Stay tuned for Part 2…