The Dirty Blonde with By The Way Presented by Dixie Vodka | Video

At By The Way in Charleston, brunch isn’t simply a meal—it’s an occasion. The restaurant approaches the weekend ritual with the same lively energy that defines its evenings, creating a place designed for lingering over cocktails, gathering around the table, and turning brunch into something worth celebrating. Naturally, the Bloody Mary gets the party treatment, too.

Rather than the traditional tall, tomato-heavy cocktail piled with garnishes, By The Way’s Dirty Blonde reimagines the Bloody Mary through the lens of another classic: the martini. Served up in a Nick and Nora glass, the savory, spicy cocktail brings together the best elements of both drinks in a polished format made for a celebratory brunch.

“The cocktail program here, I would say, is a lot of old school with a little bit of new school flair,” says Heather Reeves of By The Way. “We tend to take a lot of classic cocktails and really just put our own spin on them.”

That philosophy is on full display in the Dirty Blonde, a Bloody Mary-inspired martini built around two Charleston-born ingredients: Natural Blonde Bloody Mary Mix and Dixie Vodka. The latter brings a distinctly Southern spirit to the glass. Based in Charleston, Dixie is an independent American craft spirits brand that draws its identity from the flavors, hospitality, and craftsmanship of the South. The brand has built its vodka lineup around that sense of place, even partnering with regional producers, from Savannah beekeepers to Florida citrus growers, for its flavored expressions.

For a Bloody Mary, vodka’s role is deceptively important. It needs enough presence to anchor assertive flavors without overwhelming the tomato, citrus, spice, and savory components surrounding it. Dixie Vodka provides that clean foundation, allowing Reeves to layer in the ingredients that make the Dirty Blonde anything but traditional.

“What I think is really essential to a Bloody Mary is some umami as well as some citrus to brighten it up,” Reeves says.

For the Dirty Blonde, Reeves combines an ounce and a half of Natural Blonde Bloody Mary Mix with half an ounce of Averna Amaro, adding herbal depth to the cocktail, followed by two ounces of Dixie Vodka. Fresh lemon provides acidity, a few dashes of soy sauce amplify the umami, and chili oil adds a subtle kick. The mixture is shaken over ice, strained, and finished with a cucumber ribbon.

It’s a drink made for the kind of brunch By The Way does best: celebratory, social, and meant to bring people together. Pair the Dirty Blonde with the restaurant’s shakshuka and local pita or steak and eggs for the perfect brunch order. Whether gathering with family or meeting friends to recap the night before, the Dirty Blonde makes the Bloody Mary feel like an occasion in itself.

Try the Recipe

Recipe by By The Way, Image courtesy of Mary Hannah Burwell

recipe

ingredients

• 2oz Dixie Vodka
  

• 1.5oz Natural Blonde Bloody Mix
  

• .5 oz Averna
  

• Chili Oil
  

• Soy Sauce
  

• 1 Lemon Wedge
  

• Garnished with a cucumber ribbon

steps

1. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the Dixie Vodka, Natural Blonde Bloody Mary Mix, and Averna Amaro. Add a few dashes of soy sauce and a few drops of chili oil.Squeeze the lemon wedge into the shaker. Shake vigorously until well chilled. Strain into a chilled Nick and Nora or martini glass. Garnish with a fresh cucumber ribbon and serve immediately.

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Food Culture of the South