The Cocktail Chronicles: Bloody Mary
Add some spice to your weekend with the brunch cocktail of choice, the Bloody Mary. Requiring just a few ingredients, this classic brunch cocktail can be made in minutes and customized for each individual! Makes 1 drink.
Let’s start 2014 off strong with a favorite brunch cocktail: the Bloody Mary! (In fact, this was the first drink I served my mother and myself on New Year’s Day before our annual Gumbo Get Together.)
I wasn’t always a Bloody Mary fan. In fact, I avoided this brunch favorite like the plague because I’d heard horror stories from friends about imbibing one too many and the aftermath.
Since I didn’t want to experience that, I didn’t try a Bloody Mary until I knew what I was doing, which meant I waited until I was 28.
Yes, I know, it’s a little ridiculous, but I figured that safe was better than sorry.
That said, I’m glad I waited because that first Bloody Mary was divine, and I’ve been making and ordering them ever since.
Why I love this recipe:
There’s something about simple recipes that you serve alongside brunch, and classic Bloody Mary is one of those.
If you strike the perfect balance between spicy and smooth, it’s the perfect kind of drink to start your day. After all, it’s a Sunday Funday staple for a reason.
This recipe highlights one of my favorite pre-made Bloody Mary mixes, too, which makes it a super simple drink to mix up when the mood strikes. (No mixing your own blend of delectable vegetable juices with horseradish and other ingredients here, so if you’re looking for that… you’ll need to find another recipe.)
The end result is a Bloody Mary that’s got a bit of a kick, but that goes down easily.
There are various versions, including a Bloody Maria with tequila and a BBQ Bloody Mary, which has barbecue sauce.
Let’s talk about this classic, mmkay?
Other tasty brunch and gameday drinks: Blended Mimosas / Strawberry Champagne / Spicy Bloody Beer Cocktail / Strawberry French Monaco / How to Make a Mimosa Bar (Video Tutorial!)
What do I need to make this recipe:
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Honestly, you don’t need a lot to make a Bloody Mary at home. I’ve used regular 16 oz. glasses instead of “fancy” highball glasses and stirred them with a regular spoon, too. Just be sure you’ve got your measuring cup (or a jigger) to ensure you have the right proportions of ingredients!
That said, here are some awesome products to use for your Bloody Mary:
Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need, too:
- Lemon — you’ll need a whole lemon, as well as a slice! We need freshly squeezed juice and a slice for garnish. This adds a lovely citrus acidity to the overall drink.
- Worcestershire sauce — this is an umami bomb! If you want your Bloody Marys to be plant-based, I would seek out a vegan Worcestershire sauce.
- Celery salt — this adds lovely celery flavor and a little saltiness to the overall drink. If you’re concerned about the salt content of this drink, you could use celery seed in place of it for additional celery flavor, though the texture will be different.
- Hot sauce — use your favorite brand here. We love Tabasco, but any hot sauce with a vinegary kick should work.
- Black pepper — freshly ground, please and thank you! This adds a nice peppery punch to the final drink.
- Bloody Mary Mix — we use Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix in ours because the flavor is our favorite. That said, you can use your favorite mix with this recipe if you don’t have Zing Zang mix on hand.
- Vodka — plain vodka is the way to go for this classic cocktail. Use a kind you like drinking since you’ll definitely taste it!
Bloody Mary garnishes
This is obviously up to you and your tastebuds! Here are a few garnishes we like for ours…
- Celery sticks
- Spicy green beans
- Pickled okra
- Pickled jalapeños
- Crispy bacon
- Green olives
- Cheese cubes
- A salted or tajin rim
You could even add these vegetables on skewers, if desired.
How to customize this recipe:
Lessen the heat. You can make this Bloody Mary as spicy (or not spicy!) as you’d like! If you’re sensitive to the spicy Bloody Mary mix, feel free to use plain tomato juice and add your spices to taste. 🙂
Kick up the heat. Add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes to give this drink some more kick. Red pepper flakes will float in the drink, so be aware of the texture.
Add more flavor with the garnishes. My friend, Susannah, has written about all the Best Bloody Mary Garnishes to inspire us all!
Add a fun rim! Rimming salts or kosher salt give some additional texture and flavor the rim of the drink.
How to make a Bloody Mary
Add the ice cubes and the slice of lemon in a tall glass. I like to use a highball glass, but you do you!
Measure in the Worcestershire sauce, freshly squeezed lemon juice, celery salt, hot sauce and the black pepper.
Using a cocktail spoon, stir until the ice is coated in the ingredients.
Pour in the Bloody Mary Mix, then the vodka.
Stir until combined.
Garnish before enjoying immediately.
Can I use this recipe to make a Bloody Mary Bar?
Absolutely! A Bloody Mary bar would be so much fun to provide for an at-home brunch.
Here’s what you can do:
- Set out 1-2 bottles of your favorite Bloody Mary mix on your bar.
- Choose several different add-ons people can add to their drinks. (So, think along the lines of those pickled green beans, peppers, etc. mentioned above. Some crispy slices of bacon would be super fun, too.)
- Set out drinks, spoons and straws for your friends so they can mix their own!
What dishes can I serve with this brunch mixed drink?
Pair it with something sweet, like Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins or Blueberry Lemon Crumble Muffins.
Add some savoriness to the table with dishes like Turkey Biscuits and Gravy, California-Style Eggs Benedict or Make Ahead Breakfast Frittata Muffins. It would also pair nicely with classic Cream Biscuits and White Sausage Gravy.
Interested in making this goodness at home? It’s easy!
See how I do it below…
Bloody Mary
Ingredients
Bloody Mary
- 4-6 ice cubes
- 1 lemon slice
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice freshly squeezed
- ¼ teaspoon celery salt
- 3-6 drops hot sauce
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 oz. Bloody Mary Mix
- 2 oz. vodka
Garnishes
- Celery sticks
- Spicy green beans
- Pickled okra
- Pickled jalapeño peppers
- Crispy bacon
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
- Place the ice cubes and the slice of lemon in a tall glass.
- Measure in the Worcestershire sauce, freshly squeezed lemon juice, celery salt, hot sauce and the black pepper.
- Using a long spoon, stir until the ice is coated in the ingredients.
- Pour in the Bloody Mary Mix and the vodka.
- Stir until combined.
- Garnish with a celery stick (or spicy green beans, jalapeno pepper, etc.) and enjoy.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Other Cocktail Chronicles drink recipes: Southern Champagne / Mustique / Kingston / Rum Sidecar / Tom Collins / Cosmopolitan / Cutty Sark on the Rocks / Blizzard Bourbon Cranberry Cocktail
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
I’ve never had a Bloody Mary, but always wanted to try one. I have a childhood story involving Bloody Mary that made me avoid all things surrounding the name until… well not too long ago lol. And since I’m 28, it may be high time that I try one. Thanks for sharing your recipe 🙂
I’ve never had a Bloody Mary, but always wanted to try one. I have a childhood story involving Bloody Mary that made me avoid all things surrounding the name until… well not too long ago lol. And since I’m 28, it may be high time that I try one. Thanks for sharing your recipe 🙂
OH my goodness! My mouth is now watering and I want a cocktail…while working…at 1:22pm 😉 Great recipe- I’m going to have to give it a try!
Thanks, Jenn! This is a GREAT one, and I seriously hope you like it. Also, I felt kind of bad posting a cocktail recipe on a Monday just after the first of the year, but you know what? It’s all good. And this is a great way to kick things off right…
I am the biggest wuss when it comes to anything spicy. I have gotten much better with spicy sushi, curry, and other things but haven’t tried a bloody mary yet. I wonder if it is still good without all of that hot sauce or should I just go all the way. 😉
As someone who isn’t really into crazy spicy things, I’ll say that the heat added by the hot sauce isn’t unbearable. 🙂 You could also mix it up without the hot sauce, taste, then add accordingly!
It has been far, far too long since I’ve had a good bloody mary! They are definitely the best part of brunch. So delicious.
They really ARE the best part of brunch, though I enjoy balancing them out every so often with a mimosa because those are also divine. You should fix the whole not having had a good Bloody Mary in a long time thing. 😉
You know what, I’ve never had a bloody mary. NEVER. And I just turned 30!! Is that a travesty? Your pictures look gorgeous but I guess I’ve just never been enticed by the idea of a tomato juice cocktail. I do like gazpacho though so I guess it’s a natural progression… 🙂
Gorgeous post Erin! I might just venture into bloody mary territory this year… maybe 😉 x
Don’t feel too bad about that, Laura. I didn’t have a Bloody Mary until I was in my late 20’s… and it was totally worth the wait. And I think liking gaspacho totally works in the Bloody Mary’s favor because it’s similar… Let me know if you venture into the territory this year. Interested to hear what you think!
I’ve never had a bloody mary! I told myself on my last vacation I’d have one with breakfast one day, but mimosas won out every time. One day I will try these!
Well, mimosas ARE pretty good, so I can’t say I blame you… However, I want to know what you think of a Bloody Mary when you try one!
I’ve never had a Bloody Mary, but always wanted to try one. I have a childhood story involving Bloody Mary that made me avoid all things surrounding the name until… well not too long ago lol. And since I’m 28, it may be high time that I try one. Thanks for sharing your recipe 🙂
Ha. I understand about the name being kind of cringe-worthy. Here’s to trying to not being so bad and being over the childhood story that previously made you avoid Bloody Marys!
Hi Erin! Recipe looks delicious! I’ve never tried a Bloody Mary before- but I’m sure it’s so tasty! Love the photos! 🙂
Jess, thanks so much for the compliment! The recipe IS delicious, and I definitely recommend a Bloody Mary if you’re into spicy things and stuff like this.
Yum! I love a Bloody Mary. I also love when people set up a make your own Bloody Mary bar probably because I’m obsessed with any food that has a do-it-yourself element to it.
Happy New Year!
Wait, wait, wait.
PEOPLE SET UP MAKE YOUR OWN BLOODY MARY BARS?
Where can I find this and enjoy it? Because that sounds ah-mazing!
LOVE LOVE a Bloody Mary, here is a great addition to one, rim the glass with old bay seasoning! It is wonderful!! Your Bloody Mary sounds divine!
You and me both, Kelly! I love your addition to adding the Old Bay Seasoning to the rim of the glass. Definitely gonna try that next time! Thanks!
I questioned the amount of Worcestershire as one tsp sounded like too much. But I used your amounts as described with Zing Zang. Absolutely perfect! although I did add a top of more vodka. This is a keeper.
So happy you went with the Worcestershire, Daryl. Isn’t it just amazing with the Zing Zang? I’m so happy this worked perfectly for you and hope this Bloody Mary makes you happy every time you sip it. Cheers!
This was incredible! What a great base recipe. Followed the instructions to the point and loved it. Personally I love garlic and spicier bloody Marys so I added 1/4 tsp fresh garlic and more hot sauce. Personally I use Tabasco. I also threw some horseradish but this was all after having the base bloody mary! Great detailed review!!! Thank you!!!!
Great ratios, perfect ZZ bloody. Thanks!