Where to Recover on New Year's Day in San Angelo

“I woke up in a subway station, lying half-dead on the floor. I don’t remember anything that happened the night before…” – Def Leppard

If there is a chance that your New Year’s Day may start off similar to that, San Angelo LIVE! definitely has some advice for you.

The hangover. Most of us are familiar with this. We don’t mean the hilarious Zach Galifianakis movie; we're talking about the achy, shaky, pounding head, “what was I thinking?” type of hangover.

Everyone has their own way of dealing with this demon. There is always the hair of the dog, which Jason Boland sang about in “Drinkin’ Song.” ZZ Top mentioned some slightly less legal activities in “Cheap Sunglasses,” but Willie Nelson got it right when he sang about a “Bloody Mary Morning.”

Vodka, tomato juice, and some spices are the typical ingredients in the popular hangover cocktail, but everyone seems to add their own twist. Bartenders from various establishments around San Angelo were asked to make their best Bloody Mary, anyway they want, and each drink was judged on a five star scale according to presentation, price, and of course, flavor.

While none of these delicious drinks earned less than three stars on the scale, there can only be one number 1.  Here is where each ranked compared to the others:

#6: Shenanigan’s Sports Bar & Grill. With 3 out of 5 stars on the scale, this Bar & Grill's Bloody Mary is the classic, run of the mill cocktail and perfect for those who desire simply that. It is made with V8 juice, which gives it a slightly more unique flavor than the standard tomato juice. At the fair price of $4.75, this drink is great for budgets and for tradition.

#5: Penny Tap House. For those who need some spice in their life, this is the perfect Bloody Mary. The chili powder rim replaces the traditional margarita salt, and it also contains Tobasco Sauce, Louisiana Hot Sauce, and a dash of cayenne pepper. American Revolution vodka and Zing Zang pre-made mix finishes off this Cajun-inspired version of the $6.00 cocktail.

#4: Black Sheep Bar & Grill. Although $7.00 may seem like a slightly high price for just one drink, the West Texas Bloody Mary from Black Sheep is money well spent. The horseradish infused vodka gives the cocktail a unique flavor that would be hard to find elsewhere. This Bloody Mary is served in a mason jar to give it that true West Texas appearance, and is complete with Zing Zang and several large olives, making it simple yet flavorful.

#3: At Fiddlestring’s, owner Jay Calloway said there’s no comparison of his to other establishments’ Bloody Mary. His bar manager Deidre hand crafts the Fiddlestrings Bloody Mary. “It’s made from scratch with real ingredients, not a pre-mix,” he said.

#2: Blaine’s Pub. The Bloody Mary at this almost-famous bar is the perfect example of classic flavor. The mix is a Blaine’s recipe that is bottled and ready to go, so patrons do not have to wait 5+ minutes for one drink. While this is a traditional-flavored drink, it is not one that can be found in any other establishment, and at the low price of $3.75, it is no wonder that it is so popular with the Blaine’s crowd.

#1: The Deadhorse. Bartender Chris Riojas had already made 10 of these phenomenal cocktails early Saturday afternoon, and it was easy to see why it was so popular. Garnished with pickled green beans, jalapeno cheese, olives, and a celery stick, this Bloody Mary definitely took the cake on presentation. The flavor was only mildly spicy, making it perfect for almost anyone. At the price of $3.25, this definitely beat out the rest.

So whether you wake up feeling “Fuzzy” like Randy Rogers, or you’re “double-fisting longnecks and grapefruit and Stoli” like Cross Canadian Ragweed, chances are you can find a Bloody Mary to help cure that New Year’s hangover.