This Bloody Mary recipe is truly the BEST. It starts with a homemade Bloody Mary mix that’s perfectly spicy and savory (my secret? pickle-infused vodka!) and from there you can load up your glass with as many garnishes as you’d like to get your drink just right.
A Loaded Bloody Mary Is the Ultimate Brunch Cocktail
I don’t think brunch counts unless there are Bloody Marys involved. Savory and zesty with a kick, they’re my brunch beverage of choice.
When it comes to Bloody Marys, spare me the lone, flimsy stick of celery. I want my Bloody super savory and fully loaded, please. The more the mary-ier (couldn’t help myself).
You might say this cocktail looks like a salad in a glass. I definitely wouldn’t disagree. A loaded Bloody Mary is a bruncher’s dream. Snacking on all of the extra trimmings while waiting for your actual meal to arrive is kind of a necessity.
Since it’s totally acceptable to sip one or two before noon, Bloody Marys are a favorite part of weekend brunches — just think of the powerhouse of vitamins you’re getting in each vitamin-fortified sip!
Enjoy!
Heidi’s Tips for Recipe Success
I prefer regular tomato juice as the base for my mix. If you prefer a bit more bite, V-8 or Clamato have built-in flavor. Clamato is a bit thinner if you prefer the texture. I like to serve one mild option and one spicy. And then I spice it up even more once it hits my glass.
Pickle-infused vodka ups the savory factor. You can of course make your cocktail with plain vodka, but I prepare my homemade pickle-infused vodka specifically for making Bloody Marys. It adds a puckery zip to the cocktail that can’t be beat.
Pickle-infused or not, don’t use bottom shelf vodka! My favorite brand is Tito’s because it has a smooth, clean flavor.
What’s in a Bloody Mary?
The full recipe, with amounts, can be found in the recipe card below.
- Tomato juice — You’ll need a 48-ounce can, which is about 6 cups.
- Prepared hot horseradish — Regular strength is fine if you prefer.
- Worcestershire sauce — Adds a delectable umami flavor.
- Celery salt — The perfect pairing with tangy tomato juice
- Garlic salt — Adds even more flavor and seasoning
- Tabasco Sauce — Add as much or as little as you like for a kick of hat
- Freshly ground black pepper and kosher salt — Always season your cocktail to taste.
- Vodka — Don’t buy bottom-shelf vodka since it’s one of the star ingredients.
Heidi’s Tip: To make it a Bloody Maria, swap out the vodka for tequila, or leave out the alcohol to make a Virgin Mary.
How to Make a Bloody Mary Cocktail
- Prep the homemade Bloody Mary mix. Stir together the tomato juice, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, garlic salt, black pepper, and Tabasco in a large pitcher (doing it directly in the pitcher makes it so much easier to serve later).
- Rim the glasses with a mixture of celery salt and kosher salt. Dip the rim of the glass in a plate of shallow water, then roll the rim with a mix of celery salt and kosher salt.
- Fill the glass with ice and add 2 ounces of vodka, then top it off with the Bloody Mary mix you prepared.
Heidi’s Tip: Bloody Marys are best when refreshingly cold. Top the glasses to the rim with ice, and refrigerate the Mary mix before serving.
- Garnish with your favorite nibbles (I’ve shared an extensive list of garnishes down below), and enjoy!
How to Create a Bloody Mary Bar
Some like ‘em mild, some want them over-the-top spiced, and everyone has their druthers.
Therein lies the reason to create a Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar for a mix-and-match cocktail soirée that will leave them sipping for more.
Show off your garnishing ingenuity by putting your pickled veggies and extra bites center stage for your guests to pick and choose and create a loaded drink. Or a simple one if that’s the way they roll.
Veggie Garnish Ideas
- Lemon wedge
- Lime wedge
- Celery stalk
- Cucumber slices
- Kosher pickle spears
- Cherry tomatoes
- Pickled green beans
- Pickled okra
- Pimento or cheese-stuffed green olives
- Pickled beets, cauliflower, or carrots
- Pepperocinis, peppadews, or other peppers
- Pickled jalapeños
- Large caper berries
- Marinated artichoke hearts
- Marinated pearl onions
- Baby corn
- Spicy dill pickles
Heidi’s Tip: Have skewers on hand that are long enough to fit the size of your trimmings for maximum load-ability. You don’t want your guests to feel shortchanged on the garnishes.
Protein Garnish Ideas
- Bacon
- Oysters
- Poached shrimp
- Beef jerky or pepperoni sticks
- Steak bits
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Cheese squares
Additional Seasoning Ideas
- Old Bay seasoning
- Garlic salt
- Garlic powder
- Celery salt
- Smoked paprika
- Lemon pepper
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Seasoned salts
Heidi’s Tip: Create different flavored salts to rim your glass by combining kosher salt with different chile powders or herbs. Pour salts on small plates that just fit the rim of your glass. To coat, pour a small amount of water on a small plate. Roll the rim of the glass in the water and then in the salt.
Add-In Flavorings and Sauces
- Tabasco sauce
- Chohlula
- Frank’s Red Hot sauce
- Tapatio sauce
- Louisiana hot sauce
- Sriracha
- Worcestershire sauce
- Steak sauce
- BBQ sauce
- Pickle juice
- Olive brine
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below, leave a comment to tell us what you think, and tag me on Instagram @foodiecrush.
The BEST Bloody Mary Recipe
Ingredients
Bloody Mary Mix
- 48 ounces tomato juice (about 6 cups)
- 3 tablespoons prepared creamy hot horseradish
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 ¼ teaspoons celery salt
- 3 teaspoons garlic salt
- Tabasco sauce
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Pickle-infused vodka (or regular vodka if you prefer)
Assembling the Drinks
- 1 tablespoon celery salt
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Make the Bloody Mary mix. Mix the tomato juice, horseradish, worcestershire sauce, celery salt, garlic salt and black pepper in a large pitcher. Season with 10-15 shakes of Tabasco sauce, or to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Rim the glasses. Mix the celery salt and kosher salt on a small plate. Dip the rim of your glass in a shallow amount of water, then dip into the salt mix and twist.
- Assemble the drinks. Fill an 8-ounce glass to the top with ice. Add 2 ounces of vodka, then top with Bloody Mary mix.
- Garnish as desired. Garnish with limes, lemons, celery ribs, blue cheese stuffed olives, bacon strips, pepperocinis, cooked shrimp, hot sauce, pickles, pickled asparagus or green beans, pickled beets, chunks of cheese, and anything your heart desires. (See post above for TONS of garnish ideas.)
Notes
Nutrition
Brunch Dishes to Serve With a Bloody Mary
FAQs
Classic unflavored brands like Titos, Effen, Ketel One, Stoli, or Smirnoff #57 are the norm, but if you want to add some punch to the party, try my pickle-infused vodka, or cucumber or jalapeño infused vodkas.
Or, feel free to omit the alcohol entirely.
Bloody Marys are traditionally garnished with a stick or two of celery. The story goes that in 1970 a bartender from Chicago’s famous Pump Room couldn’t find a straw for the drink and added a celery stick instead.
Now the celery stick is basically a required garnish for this cocktail.
The astringent and crunchy properties of the celery help cut through the thickness of the tomato juice. Not to mention it complements the other savory elements of the drink.
Dirty bloody marys have horseradish, as well as green olive brine.
More Cocktail Recipes to Get the Party Started
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