The World's Most Expensive Bloody Mary To Debut With Rare Bourbon
Those looking to kick off their brunch with the most decadent and expensive cocktail they can find should head to Watch Hill Proper Bourbon Bar & Kitchen in Prospect, Kentucky for a truly elite Bloody Mary. In partnership with the popular Bloody Mary mix brand Zing Zang, Watch Hill proper is offering The Zing Zang "Win" Mary, a spicy and tomato-rich cocktail with a limited edition cup, stirrer, snacks, and a record-breaking price tag: $1,149. If that number makes you wince, know that a portion of the proceeds is going directly to a good cause, the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance to jockeys who have been sidelined by racetrack injuries.
So what exactly goes into the Zing Zang "Win" Mary? According to the press release, the cocktail is crafted with Zing Zang's distinctly spicy Blazing Bloody Mary mix, Benton's bacon fat-washed Buffalo Trace bourbon, olive brine, lemon juice, and horseradish. Of course, when we talk about a Bloody Mary, half of the excitement lies in the tasty garnishes. For this signature drink, the award-winning mixologist Karla Green has dressed it up with a rim of bourbon barrel smoked salt, a Tajin citrus wheel, truffle fromage Cheese Whiz stuffed grilled olive, basil leaves, and pimento on rye. What sends this vibrantly-colored cocktail over the edge? A luxe trio of Pappy Van Winkle bourbons.
A wildly expensive toast to the Kentucky Derby
While the Bloody Mary itself is a finely crafted cocktail, it's the exquisite accouterments that send this tipple's price tag into the stratosphere. The cocktail comes with not one but three half-ounce helpings of elite Kentucky bourbon — Pappy Van Winkle's 23-year, 20-year, and 15-year — bottles that have an average price of $6758, $5091, and $3,177, respectively.
Plus, the silver stirrer, which is modeled after an antique 20th-century pin given to jockeys to wear as a good luck token, is crafted by Susanne Blackinton-Juaire, a silversmith for S.R. Blackinton, the company that's been crafting the Kentucky Derby Trophy for the past 47 years. The Zing Zang-etched crystal cup is also made by a renowned craftsman, Benjamin Giguere of Gather Glass Blowing Studio, and comes complete with 24-karat gold leaf filigree. Rounding out this luxurious line-up are three top-tier snacks, including a truffle-crowned wagyu nigiri, a caviar-topped king crab corn dog, and a duck confit and lion's mane mushroom croquette.
Like the Pappy van Winkle bourbon flight that accompanies it, the Zing Zang "Win" Mary will be a hard-to-get order, as only four will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those looking for less pricey options can purchase (to round out the derby theme) the Zing Zang "Place" Mary for $350 or Zing Zang "Show" Mary for $75, each featuring the same Bloody Mary recipe, just minus the glitz of gold, silver, and, of course, Pappy Van Winkle.