Berkshire Bacon Bloody at the Berkshire

The Berkshire is pretty direct about its love of pork products. The brunch menu includes the quote "I put bacon on my bacon," and a brilliant yet unintelligible line from Elvis written between the men's and women's bathrooms reads, "I like pork chops and country ham, creamed potatoes, stuff like that. Redeye gravy. It comes with ham, bacon too, stuff like that." I love bacon, too, though with more than a little guilt, because every time I take pleasure in pork products, I think of my grandfather the kosher butcher and imagine his disdain and disappointment in his treif-loving granddaughter. But that wasn't going to stop me from ordering the Berkshire Bacon Bloody ($8.50), made with bacon-infused Svedka vodka and Bloody Mary mix. Still, I tasted the drink with trepidation; I knew it would be something I'd either love or hate. And while I loved the concept, I hated the drink, which tasted like a regular Bloody Mary with a big dash of Liquid Smoke and about a quarter-cup of salt added. Next time I'll keep the bacon out of my cocktail, and instead order the Hangover Special ($4.95): a plate of bacon and a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon. To quote Homer Simpson, "Mmmmm...bacon."