Even the Easter Bunny craves a brunch cocktail every so often.
Happy Friday folks! This week has felt groggy and senseless. Anyone else? I’ve woken up each morning feeling like someone attached dumbbells to my eyelids. I don’t think the sensation is due to lack of sleep – I’ve slept fine and plenty – but perhaps the obscene amount of pollen lining out streets.
Seriously, that shit is out of control. You can’t even see the damn gutters beneath the fuzzy orange tendrils.
Unfortunately, pollen season and Easter go hand in hand, but lucky for us there’s fun drinks to pull us through sniffly mornings and sneezy afternoons. In fact, today’s came right from the Easter Bunny himself, who told me he needed a pick-me-up to inspire him before making his rounds dropping Easter eggs and filling candy baskets.
Hence, the namesake. Bunny’s Hot Honey Bloody Mary is an enticing, spicy drink that’s equally refreshing and eye-popping. Flavored with carrot and orange juices and boosted with vodka. I keep my garnishes simple, because threading a cheeseburger on a skewer seems completely excessive to me, but you can formulate your own Bloody Mary bar if you wish for friends and family to enjoy. I’ll list some ideas below for you!
Bunny Mary Bunny Mary Bunny Mary
Perhaps if you say that in front of a mirror, a flop-eared rabbit will appear.
Awwww.
First, the hot honey. I make my own, and it’s very easy. Simply combine honey, hot sauce (Frank’s or Chilula are my go-to brands), cayenne pepper, garlic and onion powders, and red pepper flakes in a microwave-safe jar or glass. Heat 1 minute, stir, then another 20-30 seconds to dissolve the powders.
You will not need all of the hot honey for one cocktail, unless you have issues. Leftover hot honey stores great in the fridge for up to 2 weeks!
Now, the drink. I love an Old Bay rim on my glass. And now I want bay fries…Anyway. To achieve, brush the outside of a highball or pint glass, or similar, with honey, then plop some Old Bay onto a shallow plate and roll the honeyed rim into the granules. Shake off excess. I found that using some of the hot honey instead of regular as the “glue” didn’t work as well due to the thinner texture and the pepper flakes.
The technique I prefer when mixing Bloody Mary drinks is the “roll.” Shaking fills the liquid with too much air and creates a bubbly finish that’s not quite as pleasing to drink. Stirring doesn’t combine shit properly.
Grab a cocktail shaker and combine the following: carrot juice, orange juice, vodka, pickle brine, lemon juice, hot honey, hot sauce, and Old Bay. Add some ice, then rhythmically transfer the liquid from the shaker to another glass or shaker a few times to mix the ingredients. Five or six rounds should do the trick.
Pour the freshly mixed cocktail into your prepared glass and add more ice if needed.
I like a minimalist skewer for my Bloody Mary’s. A baby carrot, pickle, and olive do the trick for me, along with a little lemon wedge. Other ideas: celery sticks, a blackened shrimp, cherry tomatoes, a pepper jack cheese cube, cucumber, or a strip or two of bacon. Go crazy if you’d like! It’s just not my thing.
Enjoy, friends, and have a good weekend!
Tried this recipe out? Leave a rating and comment below with your thoughts, and don’t forget to come say hi on Instagram and show me what you made!
Bunny’s picks for Easter:
Easter Bunny Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Extra Fluffy Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls
Chewy Mini Egg Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Classic Carrot Cake with Bourbon Maple Buttercream
bunny’s hot honey bloody mary
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup carrot juice
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 2 oz vodka
- 2 tbsp hot honey (recipe below)
- 2 tbsp dill pickle brine
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1-2 tsp hot sauce, to taste (I like Frank's or Chilula)
- 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- mini carrot, pickle, olive, and a lemon wedge, for garnish
hot honey
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup hot sauce
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
Instructions
- To make the hot honey: combine all ingredients in a microwave-safe jar or glass. Heat 1 minute on high. Stir, then zap an additional 20-30 seconds until the granules dissolve. Leftover hot honey will keep up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
- For an Old Bay rim: brush the rim of a tall glass with regular honey. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning onto a shallow plate, then roll the honeyed rim into the seasoning. Shake off excess.
- In a shaker, combine the carrot juice, orange juice, vodka, pickle brine, lemon juice, hot sauce, and Old Bay. "Roll" the drink between the shaker and another shaker or large glass. Pour into your prepared glass.
- Garnish the cocktail with a carrot, pickle, and olive skewer, and a lemon wedge. Or go as batshit as you want with the decorations. Enjoy!
