I know I blog about sweet stuff, but sometimes, I need a baking break. I bartended in college, and I always enjoyed making drinks because a great deal of time is spent on the presentation of the drink, whether it’s the fruit slice garnish, the olive-studded sword, the perfectly poured wineglass, or the layered shot. I’m a food nerd, and I get into presentation. It makes the whole dining/drinking experience more fun.

Bartending introduced me to the bloody mary. Traditionally a brunch favorite, I’ll drink this in the afternoon or evening, I like it that much. After being around sugar all day, I decided to try this recipe for bloody marys and unwind. What caught my attention was the Guinness beer. The black-brown beer layered on top of the bright red tomato mixture in a glass makes a beautiful presentation.

No Bull Bloody Marys (from The Pastry Queen by Rebecca Rather)

• 4 cups tomato juice
• Juice of 2 limes
• 4 shots high-quality vodka
• 2 teaspoons fresh or prepared horseradish
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• Tabasco sauce
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Coarse salt for coating the rims of the glasses/mugs (optional)
• 1 (12 ounce) ice-cold can Draft Guinness
• Pimiento-filled green olives, for garnish (optional)

Combine tomato juice, lime juice, vodka, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, Tobasco sauce, and sald and pepper to taste in a large pitcher filled with ice. Dampen the rims of four beer mugs or glasses and dip them in a bowl of coarse salt, if desired. Divide the tomato juice mixture evenly among the mugs. Float 3 ounces of Guinness on top of each and serve immediately. Garnish with green olives speared on colorful toothpicks.

*Note: The term “float” applies to alcohol when it is layered on top of others. Depending on the density of the alcohol and the mixture it’s being added to, the alcohol will stay on top or sink to the bottom. By pouring the alcohol over the back of a spoon (make sure the spoon is touching the drink’s surface), the alcohol forms its own layer.