This is the Helen of Troy of Bloody Marys.
The holy grail of bloodies. The Bloody Mary that I compare all other bloodies to. This Bloody Mary is from the La Crosse bar Del’s. I have searched in vain for a comparable bloody in the Twin Cities. And there is no substitute. Made with classic tomato juice, a heavy pour of vodka, and spiked with couple shakes from a pepper shaker mixture of 23 spices, it’s smooth and gritty at the same time. And Del’s does not skimp on the toppings. Dressed with a large dill pickle, an olive, a pickled brussel sprout, and huge chunk of pepper jack cheese along with any beer on tap (go for the Pearl Street Downtown Brown-another La Crosse classic), this Bloody Mary really is a meal in a glass.
Del’s easily wins as my favorite bar in La Crosse, and whenever I am in town, the visit isn’t complete without a trip for a Del’s bloody. Still, I miss my Tuesday afternoons spent sipping bloodies and pbrs with Leslie. Gah. Growing up is tough!
And if it is not obvious enough already–Del’s wins 5 out of 5 stars. Maybe 6.
