Lobster Claw Bloody Mary

When we read that Red Lobster was offering this unique, seasonal appetizer/cocktail for a limited time, we knew we had to try it. It’s my habit to check Brand Eating once a month or so to see what’s new, look for limited-time specials and so on. It’s also a good way to keep up with the alt-meat market. That’s where we learned about this seasonal offering.

The appetizer-cocktail is made from Tito’s Handmade Vodka and the “house bloody Mary mix, rimmed with spicy chipotle BBQ seasoning, topped with a chilled Maine lobster claw, jumbo shrimp and” their Cheddar Bay Biscuit.

We like the idea of a corn vodka and Tito’s is smooth, but we don’t drink it on its own for precisely that reason — Tito’s is too smooth. That makes it great for mixing cocktails, but we prefer a bit of taste, and bite. This puts us firmly in the minority on Tito’s, but there it is.

This being January, we haven’t eaten seafood much since our trip to New Orleans. The lobster and shrimp are as expected for this place: fresh, generously proportioned. After digging in and sampling everything as served, we sprinkled some Old Bay everywhere. Good idea. The Lobster Claw Bloody Mary has been available at Red Lobsters nationwide since New Year’s Day, but only through February 2.

Don’t judge us too harshly for freely admitting that we liked this fish-in-a-drink (or for also ordering the jumbo coconut shrimp and fish-and-chips while we’re at it). What other cocktail-appetizer combinations are possible, we wonder? Something to think about.

More:
♦ Nutrition info
♦ A more representative opinion of Tito’s