Schooners Coastal Kitchen
400 Cannery Row, Monterey | (831) 272-2628, schoonersmonterey.com
Of all the classic cocktails that have survived the test of time, none are more conducive to experimentation and mixology magic than the Bloody Mary. At Schooners, that means a base that includes pureed, house-made smoked tomatoes made even more smoky with smoked sea salt, smoked chipotle pepper and smoked paprika, all mixed—along with more standard additions like horseradish and lime juice—with house-infused, five-pepper Icelandic small-batch vodka. Schooners takes their Bloody’s so seriously they even offer two distinct varieties: the “Red Sky Supreme” ($25), which is garnished with prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, charcuterie, cheeses and an ever-changing variety of meats (bar supervisor Jesse Scott calls it a “liquid appetizer”) and the more standard “Plaza” Bloody Mary ($14), which is a bit spicier and less smoky than its higher-priced cousin. And with a stunning location on the water in Cannery Row, both come accompanied with a world-class view.