Are you a Bloody Mary Fan? If your answer is yes, better mark your calendar for Sunday, Jan 15th, as that’s the day the Bloody Mary Showdown returns to the Coliseum at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.
Last held in October of 2014, defending champion MacKenzie Manley of Mack’s Tavern will be back to defend her title. Her winning cocktail was Mack’s BBQ Burger Mary- a smokey, hearty, beefed up BBQ bloody mary that has a spicy sriracha salted rim and garnished with a sweet lil smokey wrapped in yummy caramelized bacon slice.
Second place was claimed by Tim Gross, representing McGillicutty’s Pub in Kettering. Tim shared with us that he started out as a customer, then worked the door, helped at as a bar back and eventually learned to bartend at the neighborhood tavern. He only works on Sunday’s and that shift helped him perfect his drink, which he calls Tim’s Sunday Vacation, garnished with a small salad, including celery, olive and green beans.
The ladies of Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery, which serves up brunch every weekend on Fifth Street, and were picked by many as the favorites heading into the contest, took third place with a bloody Erin Welch called the Radical Tomato.
This year’s Showdown will be fueled by Svedka Vodka which will give the bartenders a choice from their traditional 
vodka or one of their flavored products, as well as Whole Foods, which will be providing some of the ingredients for the bartenders, like limes, celery, tomato juice and a few others. Think you’ve got what it takes to win the Best Bloody Mary bragging rights?
The 2nd Bloody Mary Showdown takes place on Saturday, October 11th from 11am to 2pm at The Coliseum at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. There are two ways you can participate in this event: you can compete for the title of “Best Bloody Mary in Dayton” or you can judge the entries!
Think your Bloody Mary has what it takes? PROVE IT!
To enter the competition, click here. There is a $25 entrance fee and we will provide you with vodka, sample cups, celery, sip sticks, ice and a covered table. You bring your own bloody mary mix and any special garnishes you’d like.
What can you win? First place gets $300, will be featured on MostMetro.com and wins a 3 month advertising contract as well as having bragging rights for a year!
Want to judge the entries? Your opinion counts, participants will vote for Dayton’s Best Bloody Mary! You’ll get to sample at least six 3oz cocktails and enjoy some brunch snacks . You can purchase a judging package online for $25, or if available at the door for $30 from 11: 30-2pm. VIP tickets will allow for early entry at 11am and include a VIP Swag Back for $40.
Proceeds from the Bloody Mary Showdown this year will benefit the Greater Dayton LGBT Center, who work to enhance the lives of sexual minorities in Dayton and the Miami Valley.
