We’ve all heard of the Monster Mash during spooky season, but this month, Philadelphians will be seeing that phrase in a whole new spirited light— and the results are truly tasty.
Northern Liberties Business Improvement District has brought back Monster Mash: Northern Liberties Bloody Mary Challenge this weekend and next, and everyone is invited out to try some of the area’s best eatery’s creations. The second annual activation challenged a select 13 spots to put their own spin on the classic and popular spirited beverage, and the results span bacon, hot sauce, pickles, and even pesto being thrown into the mix.
Monster Mash is set for the weekends of Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15 and 16, and Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 22 and 23. That gives Philadelphians multiple options to check out as many drinks being offered as they like, while also being able to vote for whichever one stands out to them the most.
As a release states, participating contenders include Figo Ristorante, North 3rd, North Bowl, Jerry’s Bar, Anejo, SET NoLibs, Urban Village, El Camino, Cantina Dos Segundos, Standard Tap, The Abbaye, Heritage, Bourbon and Branch, Urban Village Brewing, and Silk City. Each competing restaurant will feature a Halloween-themed Bloody Mary with different themed fixings. After trying them, patrons can rank their drinks in four categories (right spice, taste, “bling,” and halloween-i-ness) with an overall winner taking top honors. Brunch and lunch reservations are encouraged.
Highlights include Anjeo’s Eztli (Axtec for “bloody”) Mary made with fresh tomato juice, lime juice, orange juice, pomegranate juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and horseradish with a pinch of salt. Then there’s also Figo’s Pesto Bloody Mary made with Faber vodka, tomato water, basil pesto, cherry pepper brine, a caprese skewer, pizza garnish and balsamic drizzle.
North Bowl has also decided to think out of the box with a deconstructed option comprised of a dirty vodka martini with bloody mary skull shaped ice cubes and a tajin rim. The Abbaye is doing a similar deconstructed route, but with New Liberty Distillery vodka, a bloody skull cube and a black obsidian salt rim. Silk City Diner on the other hand is taking things down south with their Nashville Hot Chicken and Waffles Bloody Mary, boasting house Bloody Mary mix with black pepper infused vodka, Old Bay, mustard seed, ancho peppers, chipotle, and hot sauce, garnished with a Nashville Hot Chicken and Waffle.
Standard Tap is offering a beverage with a little extra love for your furry friend. The Murderous Mary & The Hellhound boasts New Liberty Powderhorn Rye Vodka with spicy tomatillo Bloody Mary mix, a Sriracha rim, shaved celery and black salt—plus a Butcher fresh treat for your pooch. Urban Village Brewing Co however will be serving up the Bloody Caesar, made with New Liberty Agave, house seasoned Clamato juice and a house rim, plus a Montreal spiced rim garnished with a bat winged jalapeño stuffed with cream cheese.
Jerry’s Bar is throwing their own spin for the Monster Mash NoLibs challenge with the Vitamin Sea Demon. The drink is freshly made with Bloody Mary mix made from roasted tomatillos, cucumber juice, Aloe Vera juice, jalapeños, El Yucateco hot sauce and lime juice laced with Faber Tequila and garnished with a chamoy and tajin rim, banderilla, chicharrón, grilled sausage “Octopus”, sausage “fingers,” Aloe “tentacles,”a tajin-spiced lime wedge, cucumber slice and a piece of celery. But then, down at Heritage, things are made a bit more salty with Mary Jane’s Last Dance, made with pickle infused Faber vodka, house made bloody mix, olives, tomatoes and a pickle garnish.
El Camino Real will be offering a Birra Bloody Mary laced with Birria consomme and topped with a birria taco, picked jalapeños and carrots and a spicy tajin rim. Cantina Dos Segundos on the other hand will offer the Sangre de Nagual. According to a release, the drink was inspired by the Aztec story of the Nahuales, a group of powerful sorcerers that drank human blood, stole and destroyed property, killed livestock, and spread disease. This smoky chipotle Bloody Mary is made with New Liberty Distilling Powderhorn vodka and is vegan friendly.
North 3rd will throw its hat in the ring with the El Chupacabra, made with jalapeño infused tequila, cholula flavored Bloody Mary mix, a salt and jalapeño rim and garnished with a stuffed pepper, celery, and green tomato garnish.
And finally, at Bourbon and Branch, Philadelphians have two options to go with—”Trick” or “Treat” aka sweet or sour. Trick features a “Ghost” Tequila (a ghost pepper infused blanco tequila) with house bloody mix, ginger, lime juice a spicy rim, and an assortment of spicy garnishes. Treat on the other hand boasts Faber tequila, house bloody mix, sweet thai chili, lemon juice, a chili-sugar rim and an assortment of garnishes.
Any Philadelphian interested in participating can visit explorenorthernliberties.
