Twists on the Bloody Mary

Mix up brunch with one of these Bloody Mary variations. From vodka to bourbon, this savory cocktail stands up. Try it with one of these popular twists.

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Brunch wouldn’t be the same without the Bloody Mary. Many love this savory vodka cocktail as a newfangled “hangover cure,” but the origins of the Bloody Mary actually date back to the pre-prohibition era. It was invented in Paris at Harry’s New York Bar in the 1920s.

These days, this tomato drink — which is known for having a base spirit of vodka — is often mixed up with other spirits, new flavors and crazy garnishes.

So the next time you mix up a batch of your own Bloody Mary mix or set up a Bloody Mary bar, you can shake up all the popular twists on this classic cocktail and enjoy the ultimate Bloody Mary.

1

Classic Bloody Mary

First up, we’ve got the classic Bloody Mary recipe. The classic brunch cocktail stars vodka and a mix of tomato juice, horseradish, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper.

Garnish with: a celery stalk and a rim of flavorful Bloody Mary salt (which you can make yourself with sea salt or kosher salt and spices)

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2

Bloody Maria

The Maria is similar to the Mary, but she’s made with tequila or mezcal instead. Feel free to make this one spicy with jalapeño tequila or keep it mild.

Garnish with: lime wedges, pickled jalapeños and cilantro

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3

Red Snapper

Next up is the Red Snapper, which is the name for a Bloody Mary with gin. The botanical notes of gin work with the savory mix-ins of Bloody Mary mix.

Garnish with: blue cheese olives and herbs like basil, parsley or rosemary

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4

Bloody Derby

Bourbon in a Bloody Mary? You bet. It's a great way to upgrade the classic cocktail. Its smoky, oaky, caramel notes of bourbon add sweetness to combat the savory flavors in the Bloody Mary.

Garnish with: bacon and pickled okra for a Southern touch

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5

Cubanita

Not to be outdone, rum can go in a Bloody Mary too! The Cubanita has a more subtle sweet-and-savory combo.

Garnish with: popcorn shrimp, lemon wedges and pickled asparagus

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6

New Orleans Bloody Mary

This variation has a Louisiana twist. It adds Cajun hot sauce and Creole seasoning, plus some crawfish bitters for extra flavor.

Garnish with: a rim of spicy potato chips, shrimp or crawfish, pickled green beans

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7

Spicy Bloody Mary

Love spice? This one’s for you. Mix things up with more black pepper, more hot sauce and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Make it with spicy chili-infused vodka if you dare.

Garnish with: pepper jack cheese, jalapeño peppers, cucumbers

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8

Virgin Bloody Mary

No booze, no problem! A non-alcoholic Bloody Mary can be just as good as the original. It's perfect for January 1st if you happen to be doing Dry January on National Bloody Mary Day! You’ve got some options:

• Simply drink Bloody Mary mix on its own.
• Substitute a zero-proof spirit for the vodka to make a Bloody Mary mocktail.
• Add pickle brine or olive brine instead of booze.

Garnish with: pickles, cherry tomatoes, cocktail onions

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9

Michelada

Beer also works as a stand-in for a spirit. This one isn’t usually made with all the same ingredients as a traditional Bloody Mary, but it’s a tomato cocktail so it still counts. Use your favorite Mexican lager beer and fresh lime juice to make this sister cocktail from Mexico.

Garnish with: lime wedges, Bloody Mary salt rim

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10

www.cakenknife.com

Green Bloody Mary

Tomatillos make a beautiful substitute for red tomatoes and turn this cocktail green. Made with tomatillo, yellow tomato and cucumber, this recipe is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, too.

Garnish with: tomatillos, cherry tomatos, shrimp, cucumber

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11

anothercocktailblog.com

Caesar Cocktail

If you make a Bloody Mary with clamato juice, it’s called a Bloody Caesar or even just “the Caesar.” Clamato juice is made from tomato juice and clam juice and is a little thinner than the Mary. Also, it’s usually stirred, not shaken.

Garnish with: a celery stick, a pickle spear, olives, lemon wedges

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12

www.taketwotapas.com

Bloody Mary Shots

These miniature Bloody Marys are perfect for parties. Made with Bloody Mary mix and hot pepper vodka, these puppies are sure to bring a kick.

Garnish with: smoked salt on the rim, lime wedge

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Even More Bloody Mary Variations

Bloody Pirate: Mix it up with spiced rum.

Bloody Bull: Add beef broth into the mix.

Bloody Scotsman: Scotch instead of vodka.

Bloody Molly: Replace the vodka with Irish Whiskey.

Old Bay Bloody Mary: Add Old Bay Seasoning to the original recipe.

Bloody Mary foods

And if that’s not enough Bloody Marys for you, try it in your food! The savory flavors of a Bloody Mary lend themselves well to appetizers and main dishes especially.

Here are a few ideas:

• Bloody Mary Salsa
• Bloody Mary Chili
• Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs
• Bloody Mary Popsicles
• Bloody Mary Bruschetta

Homemade Bloody Mary Mix

Yield: 16 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

The best easy, homemade Bloody Mary mix is made with a few simple ingredients and packs a powerful punch in Bloody Marys and Bloody Marias.

4.90 from 129 votes

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ingredients

• 46 ounces tomato juice
• ¼ cup horseradish
• ¾ cup lemon juice
• ½ cup Worcestershire sauce
• 3 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
• 1 ½ teaspoons celery salt
• 2 to 3 teaspoons hot sauce to taste

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instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients and whisk until thoroughly combined.
• Decant into a pitcher or bottle. Store in the fridge until ready to use. Stir or shake well before using.
• If rimming glasses with salt, rub a lemon wedge around the outer edge of the glass. Place the rim salt on a small plate and roll the glass in the salt.
• Fill tall glasses with ice.
• If adding vodka or tequila, add 2 ounces of alcohol to the glass.
• Top with Bloody Mary mix.
• Garnish with a leafy celery rib, a wooden skewer of olives, bacon and/or a lemon wedge.

notes

This Bloody Mary mix will keep in the fridge for about 1 week. Makes about 2 quarts. 

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recommended products

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celery salt

bloody mary salt

cholula hot sauce variety pack

nutrition information

Yield: 16 servings

amount per serving:

Serving: 0.5cup Calories: 26kcal Carbohydrates: 7g Protein: 1g Fat: 0.1g Saturated Fat: 0.02g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g Sodium: 585mg Potassium: 282mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 4g Vitamin A: 377IU Vitamin C: 22mg Calcium: 22mg Iron: 1mg

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