When we’re feeling a bit rough around the edges and the going gets tough, there’s one cocktail we can always depend on to pull us out of a state of destitution and renew our fervour for the day or night ahead — the beloved Bloody Mary. And while truly magical her powers might be, there are few places that adequately celebrate her reputation for salvation as they do at the eastern burbs’ premier wining and dining destination, Meadow. In fact, here they’re so dedicated to the ‘Mary’ that exalted tomato-based beverage has a menu of its own, conceived by their in-house cocktail guru Jarred Coleman.

Since opening their doors in late 2014, Bloody Marys have been the pride of Meadow’s offerings from behind-the-bar. Their flagship variation is the ‘Grand Meadow Mary’ featuring locally grown artisan chilli and honey-spiced vodka with Kaitaia Fire and ‘flamed bacon’. For those partial to an oriental twist, the ‘Tokyo Mazuma’ incorporates sake, wasabi, soy sauce, salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon for a beverage that harks of umami flavours.  Furthermore, there’s the ‘Bloody Jalisco’ comprising no less than tequila, Cholula hot sauce, fresh chilli, seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, corn chips, salsa and lime as well as the ‘Mary’s Moonshine’ with bourbon, A1 steak sauce, Worcestershire, bacon, beef jerky and orange.

Fair to say, each of these beverages is as enticing as the next, calling out to us with their uniquely spicy and savoury qualities. And with what we know to be one of the most extensive Bloody Mary lists in town, we know where we’ll be heading next time a soul-saving, life-giving beverage is in order.