The Bloody Mary has been called the world's most complex cocktail due to its mixture of ingredients. The drink may have been invented in 1921 by Fernand Petiot but also may have been invented in 1939 by George Jessel, depending on whom you believe. Often used as a hangover cure, the Bloody Mary is a love it or hate it kind of drink.

Bloody Mary Recipe

• 1 oz. to 1 ½ oz. vodka over ice in a highball glass
• Fill glass with tomato juice
• 1 dash celery salt
• 1 dash ground black pepper
• 1 dash Tabasco sauce
• 2-4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 1/8 tsp pure horseradish
• 1 dash of lemon or limejuice

The drink can be shaken or stirred and garnished with a celery stalk.

Many people choose to use the more convenient drink mixes instead of putting together all of the ingredients required of a proper Bloody Mary. There are several, but here are some of the best drink mixes:

• Dave's Original Bloody Mary Mix: a bold, spicy drink mix, Dave's Original is made with tomatoes, peppers, horseradish and a spice blend they hold close to the vest.
• Habanero Bloody Mary from Hell Mix: not for the weak, this mix delivers a strong kick! Rated 7 out of 10 on the heat meter, the From Hell Mix will definitely knock your senses into gear the morning after tying one on.
• Scorned Woman Cocktail Magic: bring this mix along to your next girl's night and you're sure to be the hit of the party. What woman hasn't been scorned? You'll feel her anger when you add Scorned Woman to your favorite drink.
• Iguana Spicy Hot Bloody Mary Mix: with more than a dozen ingredients, your party guests are going to think you make the best Bloody Mary's in town. We won't tell them you used the Iguana!

If you get tired of Bloody Marys, there are popular variations you can try that are sure to be a hit with you and your friends. Ditch the vodka and try some of these substitutes:

• Absinthe: Bloody Fairy
• Sake: Bloody Geisha
• Gin: Bloody Margaret
• Sherry: Bloody Bishop
• Tequila: Bloody Maria
• Scotch: Bloody Scotchman

What if Vodka is your liquor of choice but you're still finding yourself bored with the straight Bloody Mary? Try these substituting your tomato juice with:

• Barbecue Sauce
• Clamato
• V8
• Beef bouillon

There are more variations on the Bloody Mary than you can shake a stick at. Use your imagination! You can replace your vodka with a different alcohol, tomato juice with a different liquid, your sauces with different sauces and even your spices with other spices. You can play around with the basic recipe as boldly as you want. If you're a bit wary of your drink mixing skills and don't quite think of yourself as a master bartender, stick with the Bloody Mary mixes and simply change the alcohol. Who knows? Experiment enough and you might just create the next 'it' drink!