This week’s crawl has no unifying locale. That’s because I’m unpredictable. I’m a wild man. You can’t pin me down, baby. 

  HOLMAN’S 

On Sundays, as I’m sure you already know, Holman’s is heaven for mad Mary scientists like myself, with their build-your-own Mary bar and its myriad of mixers, hot sauces and spices. But what of their standard house Mary? Today we’re trying one with Absolut Pepper, and one with Wasabi-infused vodka. We’re a little nervous because of the negative experience we had at Dragonfish, but today we might be able to decide once and for all if Wasabi is a universally bad thing in my favorite beverage.  The Pepper Mary is super fucking zesty. A bright fresh tomato tang is bolstered by low notes of Worcester, and a final pepper sting lingers on the tip of the tongue. A mighty, solid, robust mix of the Mary’s best elements. This is everything you want a Mary to be… except taller. The mix of spices – and lack of olive juice – keeps the Wasabi Mary from becoming overpowering. It’s a nice, dark, smoky experience. Unusual in precisely the way I’m looking for in this project. These guys know a lot about balance, and my hat is off to them.

  GRAVY 

Impressive garnishing here, with a giant green olive, a celery stalk and a pickle spear. The liquid consistency is a bit thin, but it’s riddled with fruity, vegetable-y chunks that thicken up the overall package. I’m detecting some muddled cucumber. Very interesting.  Spice level is mild, and tastes like Tabasco. The flavor is bright and refreshing; it feels more like a breakfast drink than your average Mary, which is saying something. In fact, you’d barely need anything else to accompany it in order to feel that you’d consumed a hearty breakfast. If the Bloody Martini at Gilt drinks like a steak, this one is perfect for vegetarians.

 MISSISSIPPI STATION 

This one starts off with a nice horseradish headrush, chased with lemon and cayenne. The consistency thins pretty quickly, though, and even if you drink it quickly on a cool spring night, as I did, you soon find yourself drinking pink, peppery vodka water.  

 ROSE AND THISTLE 

Totally inoffensive. It kind of skates right over the tongue, and by the time you register the flavor (dominated by sea salt and pepper), it’s already warming up your insides quite nicely. A pleasant way to get fucked up in a hurry. Garnished with lemon and lime slices, and olive skewers.