Fernand Petiot

Fernand Petiot is supposedly the inventor of the Bloody Mary.

Fernand Petiot's Confession

The New Yorker, 18 July 1964, Petoit explains

“I initiated the Bloody Mary of today,” he told us. “George Jessel said he created it, but it was really nothing but vodka and tomato juice when I took it over. I cover the bottom of the shaker with four large dashes of salt, two dashes of black pepper, two dashes of cayenne pepper, and a layer of Worcestershire sauce; I then add a dash of lemon juice and some cracked ice, put in two ounces of vodka and two ounces of thick tomato juice, shake, strain, and pour. We serve a hundred to a hundred and fifty Bloody Marys a day here in the King Cole Room and in the other restaurants and the banquet rooms.”

Fernand Petiot's Obituary

Below is Petiot's Obituary, which contradicts the common story that Petiot was lured to the St. Regis Hotel, in New York, directly from Harry's New York Bar, Paris, upon the repeal of Prohibition.

January 8th 1975.

Fernand Petiot, bartender, dies.

(UPI) - Fernand Petiot, who invented the Bloody Mary coctail, will be buried here today. Petiot suffered a stroke and died Monday. He was 74.

Petiot was born Feb. 18, 1900, in Paris, and began his bartending career at Harry's Bar in Paris -- a tavern frequented by American celebrities and journalists -- and came to Ohio in 1928 as assistant manager of the Canton Club, a businessman's luncheon club.

In 1933 he went to New York City to become head bartender and beverage and wine cellar manager at the St. Regis Hotel -- where he invented the popular drink made with Vodka and tomato juice."