.png)
The Bloody Mary is one of the most popular cocktails you can order. Its potent flavor and red hue are one of a kind, and exist on lists of drink specials worldwide. It's especially sought after on National Cocktail Day.
Happy hour and brunch menus often include Bloody Marys, as they are festive and pair well with various foods (learn more: what is brunch food). They are also among the most popular vodka cocktails in the world.
Bloody Marys are one of the many refreshing summer cocktails but can be found on menus year-round. The tomato juice creates a fresh taste and its ingredients maintain a crisp mouthfeel.
The best cocktail recipe books contain Bloody Mary recipes. Let’s dive into the traditional concoction.
Classic Bloody Mary Drink Recipe
Bloody Marys contain numerous ingredients. Mixologists might not have these items on hand unless they’re also excellent cooks. You might want to do some recipe costing to ensure you're getting the most value from your inventory.
A Bloody Mary is certainly one of the drinks every bartender should know. If you’re wondering how to make a Bloody Mary from scratch, see the ingredients below.
- 4 ounces tomato juice
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 teaspoons horseradish
- 2 dashes Tabasco sauce
- 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 1 pinch ground black pepper
- 1 pinch paprika
- 1 lemon wedge
- Celery salt for the glass rim
- 1 celery stalk
Bloody Mary Recipe Instructions
- Begin by coating the rim of your glass with juice from the lemon wedge. Then, evenly coat the rim with celery salt. Remember that the glassware you use for a Bloody Mary is lenient and is most likely a highball or rocks glass.
- Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker and blend vigorously.
- Pour the cocktail into your glass.
- Garnish the cocktail with a celery stalk cut to an appropriate size.
- Serve and enjoy.
Once you measure all of your ingredients, you’ll see how simple it is to make a Bloody Mary. Sometimes, it can feel scary when recipes contain several unique ingredients. However, just move along in the process one step at a time.
Use our free and editable standardized recipe template to help keep track of and take inventory of your cocktail ingredients.
Calories In A Bloody Mary
On average, a Bloody Mary contains roughly 200 calories. They’re a great drink to consume if you watch your diet or drink it with a meal.
Due to the usage of tomato juice, Bloody Marys don’t contain as much sugar as other popular cocktail recipes. Tomato juice is naturally low in sugar, and the sauce ingredients don’t add too many macronutrients to the recipe.
Sweet mixers often react poorly with alcohol with a high ABV (learn more about how to calculate ABV before consuming vodka). For instance, drinks with certain types of rum or various types of tequila can contribute to feelings of intoxication much quicker when you add fruit juices to the mix.
Fortunately, vegetable juice serves as the base in all Bloody Mary recipes and is sure to be light on your stomach despite its strength on your taste buds.
Best Vodka For Bloody Mary Recipes
Vodka is one of the most universal types of alcohol and gives Bloody Marys its alcoholic twist. Bloody Marys burst with flavor and deliver a strong aroma. All of the spices combine with the tomato juice to create a robust profile.
Vodka plays a more significant role in the taste of drinks with a milder flavor profile, such as fruity spring cocktails. However, well liquor brands can work fine in Bloody Marys since the other cocktail ingredients will effectively mask the vodka.
Fortunately, if you choose which vodka goes into your Bloody Mary, ordering it won’t hurt your wallet. Here are some of our top picks for vodka brands:
- Tito’s Handmade
- Svedka
- Smirnoff
Most bar staff or local liquor stores will likely carry at least one of these brands since all three are well-known high demand products. All three are inexpensive but deliver high-quality products.
Bloody Mary Drink Origin
Fernand ‘Pete’ Petiot founded the Bloody Mary cocktail. During the 1920s, Petiot was working as a bartender in Paris. One night, he adjusted the standard mixed drink of tomato juice and vodka. Spices were a part of the recipe for the first time, and it’s been a hit ever since.
Some experts believe that the cocktail was from New York City during the 1940s; however, there is little proof since there’s evidence of an earlier invention.
Regardless of when the Bloody Mary originated, it’s likely that the concept of combining vodka and tomato juice came about in the 1920s, too. Hollywood actor George Jessel made the cocktail famous during the early twentieth century.
The name holds various origin stories, as the topic is often up for debate. However, it’s safe to assume that the Bloody Mary rose to fame quicker than most cocktails.
Foods That Go With a Bloody Mary
Savory food items will be some of the most delicious options alongside your next Bloody Mary. Many types of chefs will encourage you to consume something with spices, as it’s essential to keep all of the flavor profiles somewhat consistent.
When consuming simpler flavors with subtle aromas, creating unique combinations is okay. But considering how much Bloody Marys burst with flavor, you don’t want o eat foods that will conflict with its spicy elements.
With this in mind, here are some menu items that will deliciously complement your Bloody Mary:
- Poached shrimp
- Meatballs
- Mozzarella sticks
- Bacon-wrapped scallops
Since the Bloody Mary is a lighter cocktail and only contains two ounces of vodka, it’s a safer option if you’re likely to order multiple refills throughout your meal.
Bloody Mary Without Alcohol
If you’re looking for an enjoyable non-alcoholic beverage, eliminating the vodka from a Bloody Mary will be perfect.
The classic Bloody Mary recipe already contains enough ingredients to be a mocktail without the vodka. There’s no need to adjust the recipe. Creating unique combinations is okay to cater to those not consuming liquor, as its flavor already packs a punch.
Once you open a bar, consider adding a drink menu consisting of mocktails only. Many consumers don’t drink alcohol but would like a unique and delicious beverage. Inclusive menus are a successful way to increase bar profits, decrease restaurant expenses, and boost customer loyalty.
Learn more from our extensive bartender's guide book for creative mocktail ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bloody Mary Drink Origin
What Is the Best Alcohol For A Bloody Mary?
Vodka is the only type of alcohol you’ll need to make a Bloody Mary. Unflavored vodka is the primary ingredient in the classic recipe to give it a twist.
What Is the Difference Between A Bloody Mary and Maria?
The alcohol in a Bloody Mary is vodka, whereas Bloody Marias contain tequila. All of the other ingredients remain the same. In a Bloody Maria, the tequila provides a hint of lime, rather than the tomato juice being the focal point.
Other liquors such as whiskey or cognac aren’t recommended with Bloody Marys because the flavor is too strong and would be overpowering.
How Do You Make A Good Bloody Mary?
To make the perfect Bloody Mary, make sure that you correctly measure all of your ingredients. Similar to cooking food, it’s easy to go overboard with spices. If this happens to your Bloody Mary, the flavor may be intense.
To fix a Bloody Mary with too much spice, add more tomato juice to balance the flavors.