(Above, Bloody Mary creator Fernand Petiot)
The history behind the Bloody Mary is a beautiful cocktail fairytale which began in the center of an iconic bar in Manhattan.
The St. Regis Hotel was founded by John Jacob Astor IV one of the wealthiest men in Manhattan. While abroad, Astor's son in law, Serge Obolensky, met bartender Fernand Petiot in Paris. Obelensky brought Petiot to NYC to be the bartender of the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis.
Obolensky had a penchant for vodka (he had Russian aristocratic roots afterall) and asked the bartender to make the vodka cocktail he had in Paris. Petiot made the cocktail and spiced it up with salt, pepper, lemon, and Worcestershire sauce and presto! The Bloody Mary was born. The St. Regis deemed the "Bloody Mary" too vulgar of a name for the grand King Cole Bar, so it was renamed the "Red Snapper".
(Above The King Cole Bar)
The Red Snapper is now the signature cocktail of the King Cole Bar, one of NYC's most iconic spots to enjoy a libation in the world. This October, in celebration of the 80th anniversary, the King Cole Bar is featuring a special anniversary cocktail menu. There are numerous variations of the Bloody Mary to choose from with recipes from The Lion, Fat Radish, The Dutch, A.O.C, and more. And if you need ANOTHER reason to indulge in a few bloodies at the King Cole Bar this month, a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of all Bloody Mary cocktails during October will benefit Citymeals-on-Wheels.
The King Cole Bar (2 E 55th St, New York, NY) is open daily from 11:30 am Monday - Saturday and from 12:00 pm on Sundays where guests can enjoy the original Red Snapper seven days a week.
