Kick off your festivities with this fun take on the classic brunch beverage. Molly likes to boost her version with harissa, a traditional Tunisian chile paste with a spicy, pleasantly bitter edge. "I just love those flavors," she explains, "and they're not common around Grand Forks, North Dakota. I really like being able to introduce a new ingredient like harissa to my community through a more familiar thing like a Bloody Mary." Look for harissa in cans, jars, or tubes on the international foods aisle or with the specialty sauces. If you can't find it, substitute a few dashes of hot sauce. Garnish as desired with celery stalks, lime wedges, and pickles. You can combine everything except the club soda a day ahead; give it a good stir before serving, and top off with club soda at the last minute.
How to Make It
Combine tomato juice, vodka, lime juice, harissa, 1/2 teaspoon celery salt, Worcestershire, sugar, horseradish, caraway, pepper, and garlic in a pitcher.
Run a lime wedge along half the rim of 8 glasses; coat moistened rims with remaining 1 tablespoon celery salt. Add ice to glasses. Pour 2/3 cup tomato juice mixture into each glass; top each serving with 1/4 cup club soda. Garnish with pickles and celery, if desired.