I got into Bloody Marys when a group of my old college buddies used to get together every year for a camping trip. One friend always brought two coolers: one with food and beer, and the other with Bloody Mary ingredients. She made the best Bloody Marys I've ever had. So it became a morning tradition on that trip: coffee until we're awake, and then one or two Bloody Marys with a late breakfast.
That group only gets together every few years now, so I started missing the crimson concoction. Last fall, I decided to make it my game-day drink, since I don't like drinking beer at noon. I could never get it quite as good as my friend's, but after some tweaking, I finally came up with the recipe I posted above. It goes great with a brunch burrito. And yes, it's a hearty beverage. That's good - I don't munch so much during a game, and it's a healthy alternative to beer.