A Load of Bullshot

Years ago, my father and I took a trip to New York City. While enjoying a pre-dinner drink at the world famous Harry's Bar, my father ordered a drink he called a "Bullshot." It's essentially a Bloody Mary, but with one added ingredient - beef bouillon. Yeah, for real. Beef broth. In with the vodka and tomato juice. Well, I nearly lost it right there.

It's not only that my father would order such a bizarre and odious concoction that surprised me. It was that here, at this reputable Manhattan drinkery, they'd have beef broth just hanging out behind the bar. How many people are ordering this drink? Do they actually go out and buy fresh beef broth all the time just in case someone is going to wander in and order this obscure cocktail?

Because there's no other reason to have beef bouillon behind a bar except the off-chance that someone would order a Bullshot. Considering that the drink sounds totally disgusting, this can't be too often.

So I remained puzzled, but never really thought on this specific incident again. Until, that is, right now. Generally useless website AskMen.com is running a feature on the 10 Manliest Drinks. It's a pretty standard list, unsurprising for a website with aspirations of one day reaching the pinnacle of artistic blossoming that is Maxim Magazine.

Some of the drinks are pretty good; I've been known to enjoy an Old-Fashioned or a Sidecar on occasion myself, and I'm not even a guy who pays particular attention to which drinks are "manly." I once hung out at a benefit party at the Getty Center, standing right next to Harrison Ford, while drinking a chocolate martini, a drink that's about as manly as Andy Dick's freshman yearbook photo.

But anyone, #9 on the AskMen manly drink list? Something they call a Bloody Bull. It's a freaking Bullshot! Same exact ingredients. (Although, I have to say, Bullshot is the more clever name). I guess it's a manly drink, though I'd probably go a little further and declare it an essentially masochistic drink.

If you want your alcohol to include the maximum amount of hearty cow-like flavor, I'd highly recommend this drink. Otherwise, you might want to steer clear (Ha ha!)

The list also features a drink made by pouring vodka into beer and then adding Tabasco Sauce. Ah, yes, beer and hot sauce. Two great tastes that go great together, provided you consider several days of explosive, white-hot diarrhea to be "great."