Review written by Brooks Hamaker
Last week I received a package from The Garlic Lady. While not a big box, it was, in fact, pretty heavy. I knew that I was going to be receiving a bottle of Thai Style Bloody Mary Mix from them, but I didn’t realize that I was going to be getting examples of their whole line. I have to admit, I was pretty pleased. I love a good bloody mary and all of the things that traditionally, or even not so traditionally, are loaded into that spicy mix of tomatoes and vodka. Having been born and raised in the Deep
South, I have a great appreciation for condiments that traditionally find their way into the drinks. Discovering that this box contained not only the usual accompaniments that most people think about as going along with Bloody Mary’s, things like Pickled Green Beans, Pickled Asparagus, and, my favorite kind of pickle in the world, Pickled Okra. The box also contained a bottle of Sicilian Dirty Martini Mix and a couple of kinds of pickled cocktail onions. Generally, this well packed box (all of this glass and liquid arrived via UPS in perfect condition) looked like it would provide for a very interesting reviewing project.
First up, I immediately opened up the okra and forked out a couple. That was a good move and the start to a very satisfying tasting session. The cold packed okra had a nice snap and a really nice blend of pickling flavors, most pronounced to me was a nice combination of garlic and ginger, with a nice peppery finish.
Next, as I was in the pickle world, I decided to give the asparagus a try. I will admit that I was ready for some soft, canned type asparagus in vinegar and was very pleased to find out that I could not have been more wrong. The perfectly sized green spears had a nice crunch and fresh flavor that I don’t believe I have ever experienced before. The Garlic Lady has done herself proud with this effort.
On to the Crispy Pickled Green Beans, something that I am beyond familiar with. Not only have I been eating them all of my life, but I have been making them, every Summer, for most of my adult life. I know a good pickled green bean and trust me when I say that the ones from Garlic Lady are just about as good as they get. Not only are they delicious in Bloody Mary’s, they are also perfect for (as is everything mentioned above) for the ubiquitous holiday relish tray found on many tables around the country, particularly in the Southern U.S. They are also really nicely packed and some out of the jar perfectly, making them an attractive addition to any cocktail, salad, or relish tray.
At this point in my tasty, afternoon’s project, I was getting thirsty. A Bloody Mary seemed like a brilliant idea, as I had some interesting makings right there on the table in front of me.
The first thing I did, before I actually made the drink, was to go through and taste all three types (there are three different levels of heat available from Garlic Lady) of Thai Style Bloody Mary Mix. The first thing that I noticed as I poured the mild, was that it is extremely thick. That’s a good sign as it means that it’s chock full of tomatoes and not just some common, off of the shelf, vegetable juice cocktail. It had a really interesting aroma that was actually pretty complex. I detected vinegar and Worcestershire sauce, but also some vegetable aromas that really were unlike anything I had ever picked up in a Bloody Mary Mix. After a look at the really well done, easy to understand label, I discovered that there were purees of garlic, cocktail onion, and asparagus, to compliment the usual heavy dose of black pepper. Once I tasted Thai Style, I began looking forward to a delicious Bloody Mary. I had never tasted a mix like this and immediately began mixing up a properly mixed bloody mary-2 oz. Good quality vodka, poured into a tall cocktail glass containing hard, cubed ice and then added the Thai Spice Mild Bloody Mary Mix, leaving a bit of room at the top of the glass to allow for the addition of the pickles, in this case green beans. I then poured the entire glass into another and back into the original, just to mix the whole drink well. I added a couple of Crispy Pickled Green Beans to the glass and took my first sip. It was really, really perfect. I live in New Orleans, coincidentally around the corner from a place that I live, serves one of the best that I have ever had and they are deservedly famous for it. The one that I was holding in my hand was better than that-definitely better.
I continued on with the other two flavors, making identical drinks as the one above, but using Thai Spice Medium Bloody Mary Mix in the first one and Thai Spice Bloody Mary Mix in the second one. They were both as complex as the mild, but the added heat really brought out some of the other flavors, not to mention the addition of pureed habenero spiced onions for the added heat. This is a really delicious idea. Hot, pickled onions for spice? That’s right up my alley!
The next evening, well rested from the previous day’s Bloody Mary adventures, I delved into the remainder of the box, which consisted of Garlic Lady’s Sicilian Style Dirty Martini Olive Juice, a jar of Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives, and a bar of beautiful looking Special Olives.
I made a basic, shaken martini (using Vodka, as I was trying to taste the mixers and additions more than I was the traditionally added Gin), to which I added a bit of Garlic Lady’s Dirty Olive Juice. I poured it into a chilled, standard martini glass and added one of each of the olives. It was an absolutely delicious drink. The Dirty Olive Juice added just the right amount of saltiness, as well as complimenting both of Garlic Lady’s delicious olive selections. I was very impressed especially with the Blue Cheese olive. Not only did it add to the flavor of the drink, but it was a nice prize when I got to the bottom of the glass.
All in all I give all of the Garlic Lady products a very high ranking. The Bloody Mary Mix and the vegetables, in particular, are something that I will be keeping around the house on a regular basis. If you are a Martini drinker, I highly recommend that you search out the Garlic Lady line of Martini accoutrement. They will certainly heighten your cocktail enjoyment.
Reviewer Ryan Montague hailed the bloody mary mixes as, “THE best bloody mary mix on the market. Period.”
Order online at www.GarlicLady.com
