I’m not much of a mimosa girl, but I’m a sucker for Bloody Marys.

At Hoptinger Bier Garden and Sausage House in Jacksonville, Florida, you can create your own Bloody Mary using an outlined menu.

Similar to the way my son chooses his favorite sushi rolls, I sat at the bar, picked up my pen and paper, then pored over the options before me. Garnishes, the overall spice level and even what flavor should adorn the rim of my drink were all options for my consideration. I’d never felt so overwhelmed and so in control at the same time.

On the menu there’s an option to choose The Works. When I inquired about The Works, I was told it included 20 total garnishes ranging from corndog bites to a full-sized chicken wing and even a cheeseburger slider. It seemed like a bit of overkill to me; in fact, I watched a bachelor party of 12 men enter the bar, and none of them had the courage to order it.

So I opted for what I felt like was a “normal-ish” Bloody Mary with bacon, celery, pickles, olives and cucumber. Then I added a shrimp and onion ring for fun. I chose the light spice level with Old Bay seasoning around the rim and waited for my made-to-order beverage to arrive.

Although slightly intimidating at first (with so many options to choose from), it turns out my customized Bloody Mary was everything I wanted and more. Smooth and easy, not too spicy and just enough horseradish to keep my attention.

If only all of life’s adventures were so easily selected from a made-to-order menu!

— Carrie Cox, account executive