Collins Bloody Mary Olives

Collins Bloody Mary Olives are a bar garnish made for the Bloody Mary. They're sold in the mixers category, so they belong in the glass, not in a separate course. The product details don't give a brine recipe, olive variety, stuffing or size, so what follows describes how olives in this style usually behave. Expect a firm, briny bite with some savory depth. Olives sold for Bloody Marys are typically seasoned with the spices that suit a tomato drink, such as pepper, garlic or a little heat. Check the label for the exact flavoring. The best use is as a skewered garnish on a Bloody Mary. The salt and spice in the olive play off the tomato juice, and the olive stays firm enough to hold its shape as the drink sits. Build the drink over ice in a tall highball or pint glass. A rim of celery salt or seasoned salt makes a good partner for the olive. Then thread two or three olives on a pick and rest it across the glass or stand it upright in the ice. Eat the olives as you drink. They take up a little of the drink's seasoning, and the brine they carry along tastes good in the tomato. The olives also work in a few other places. A spoonful of the jar's brine can go into a Bloody Mary as a savory seasoning in place of some of the salt. Do this gradually, because brine strength varies and the drink can become too salty fast. The same olives also go in a Caesar, a Bloody Maria made with tequila, or a Red Snapper made with gin. They suit a dirty martini too, though a milder, cleaner olive is the more common choice there, and a seasoned olive will add its own spice to the drink. For serving, keep the jar refrigerated so the olives go into the glass cold. Dry the pick-loaded olives lightly on a paper towel if you don't want extra brine diluting a carefully balanced mix. Outside the glass, they go well with a brunch board of sharp cheddar, cured meats, pickles and crackers, which echoes the savory side of the drink. Once the jar is opened, keep the olives submerged in their brine and refrigerated. Use a clean fork or pick each time.