National Bloody Mary Day was New Year’s Day. Celebrate this weekend with an award-winning cocktail

National Bloody Mary Day is New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, which is the perfect excuse to enjoy the popular tomato juice- and vodka-based cocktail.

The following award-winning Bloody Marys are not your average brunch cocktail. From spicy to savory, there’s a perfect potion for every palate.

According to liquor.com, Bloody Marys traditionally are made with vodka, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, celery salt, Tabasco, and lemon juice. Add in an assortment of garnishes, which can range from the basic celery stick, olive, lime, or lemon to the outrageous options like shrimp skewers, bacon, and even mini-cheeseburgers.

Variations on the cocktail include the Bloody Maria, which is made with tequila, and the Red Snapper, which is made with gin. Of course, there are hundreds of variations to Bloody Mary recipes, making each cocktail unique to its own bartender (amateur or professional).

To find out where to get the best Bloody Mary in Kane, McHenry, and DeKalb counties, and in the Illinois Valley area, we asked our readers to weigh in for the Shaw Media Best of the Fox, Best of the Illinois Valley, and DeKalb County’s Finest contests. The results are in, and here are the top-rated spots to enjoy a Bloody Mary in 2024, as voted by audiences.