Who Makes Dayton Best Bloody Mary? Attend and Vote at The Bloody Mary Showdown

First held in 2014 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, then held annually except during COVID, the quest to find Dayton Best Bloody Mary is Back.   Produced by Planned2Give,the 2016 moves to a new location this year. On Sunday, Feb 1st bartenders from Dayton’s bars and restaurants will compete, bringing their own bloody mary mix and garnishes to the table.  Guests will have a chance to sample the different cocktails and then vote for their favorite, on Sunday, Feb 1st from noon – 2pm at the Dayton Masonic Center.

At the very first Showdown, held in  MacKenzie Manley took the title.   She described her winning cocktail as 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.

The next year MacKenzie tied with Scott Conrad, from The Vue Ultralounge. In year 3 Scott took the undisputed  top prize. Since then Conrad has gone on to launch a commercial business selling his award winning RADS Bloody Mary Mix.

In 2019 bartender Jenn Elsass from TJ Chumps in Miamisburg took home top prize thanks to an impressive garnish that included a large shrimp, a deviled egg and a shot of beer back.

In 2020 the winning cocktail was “Papi’s Sassy Bloody Mary” by Vicki Wedworth of Papi Joe’s Tennessee Pepper Sauce Company.

For the last three years the best bloody mary has been served up by Loose Ends Brewing Company, but this year they will not be competing, due to schedule conflicts.  This leaves the competition open for a brand new champion.

This years competition is made possible by our presenting sponsor, Rad’s Bloody Mary Mix. Their award-winning small-batch blend is fresh, bold, thick and spicy.You’ll find it poured at locations around the Miami Valley like: The Brunch Pub, Club Oceano, Coldwater Cafe, Crooked Handle Brewing Co, The Famous, O’Leary’s, Ray’s Wine & Spirits and Warped Wing Brewing Company.

Our competitors this year will be pouring vodka from Dayton’s own Belle of Dayton. They  distill Dayton Small Batch Vodka from 100% corn spirits using naturally filtered, mineral-rich water from Dayton’s great Miami buried valley aquifer. Accentuating old world wisdom with innovative techniques of small–batch copper distilling produces the highest quality artisan spirits.  Those vendors that would like to add a little kick to their cocktail may pour Belle’s Hells Vodka® is made with 7 peppers. Abandon all hope, ye who enter here. Deep inside the ninth ring of dante’s inferno, the final ring of treachery, is where hell’s vodka goes to chill. Made from seven of the hottest peppers on earth, including one 800 times hotter than the jalapeño, comes this fiery vodka that may burst your flesh aflame.

Slated to compete this year:

Mudlick Tap House
The Florentine*
Meridien Uptown
Whisperz Speakeasy*
Hank’s Local*
El Meson
Lily’s Dayton
Wheat Penny
Global Gourmet*
Three Birds*
Sparky’s Lounge
Hilton Garden Inn Dayton*
Little Fish Dayton Station
Trolley Stop
Miami Valley Sports Bar *
The Roosevelt Room – Liberty Center

The vendors with a star * next to them are new to the competition this year.

There are two options to purchase your judging credential:

VIP Tickets: Include a buffet breakfast prepared by Global Gourmet (the newly opened cooking school in Washingtont Township and an exclusive VIP hour from at 11am and 12 Bloody Mary sampling tickets and judging credentials for $75. As of this posting there are about 20 VIP tickets still available.

General Admission: Includes 8 Bloody Mary sampling tickets and judging credentials for $30. Doors open for GA at noon and event concludes at 2pm.

Guests will also vote for best garnish and best table decor. Best Bloody Mary walks with bragging rights and a $500 cash prize!

Purchase your tickets here.