Our hunt for the best Bloody Mary recipe has taken us all over the globe. We’ve tried them in London, Hawaii, Costa Rica, California and countless other destinations. And there have been so many standouts along the way!
One thing is for sure. We really enjoy a spicy Bloody Mary recipe that’s packed with savory ingredients.
Some of our favorite toppings include fried bacon, pepperoni slices, giant green olives, celery, gherkin pickles, pepperoncinis, cubed pepper jack cheese, and jumbo shrimp. And of course a fresh squeezed lime on the side!
If you’re looking for a store-bought Bloody Mary mix, start with Zing Zang, V8 or Clamato and then add your favorite seasonings. You can also use plain tomato juice, and just go extra heavy-handed with the spices, horseradish and Worcestershire sauce.
As a rule, the Bloody Mary mix to vodka ratio should be about 2 cups of mix to 3 oz. of vodka.
If you’re making a batch for a crowd, try 46 ounces of mix to 12 ounces of vodka. Feel free to add more or less vodka according to your taste!
Every time we order a Bloody Mary, we always ask the bartender about their must-have ingredients. Prepared horseradish and Worcestershire sauce are a must, but have you ever tried adding a little olive brine or pickle juice to your mix?
Another amazing addition is to rim your glass with Tajin, a Mexican spice from Jalisco made with chili peppers, lime and salt.
At Mountain High Resort’s Foggy Goggle Bar in Wrightwood, Montreal seasoning is used liberally, along with a thick rim of Tajin around the lip of the cup.
And Tasty N Sons in Portland skips the Tabasco for their spicy Bloody Mary in favor of Sriracha hot sauce.
Nick’s Cove in Tomales Bay, California, swears by their secret spice mixture of red pepper flakes, bay leaves, cumin and coriander. And at Echo Lake Cafe in Bigfork, Montana, some fresh asparagus spears add an elegant touch for breakfast or brunch.
You can use any type of Bloody Mary mix for Micheladas, the Mexican beer drink. A good rule is about 12 oz. Modelo or Corona beer to 1/4 cup of Bloody Mary mix.
More Easy Drink Recipes:
- Moreno Mia Cocktail
- Disneyland Michelada
- Jalapeno Vodka Cocktail
- Spicy Margarita Recipe
- Blackberry Pineapple Sidecar
- Negroni Sbagliato
Ready for more Culinary Adventures?
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Following is our favorite way to make Spicy Bloody Marys, curated from our many travels. Hope you enjoy it!
Spicy Bloody Mary
Recipe by Jason Hill – CookingSessions.comIngredients
- 2 cups Zing Zang Bloody Mary mix (or V8, Clamato or Tomato Juice)
- 4 oz. pickle, olive or pepperonicini juice
- 3 oz. vodka (We like Sobieski or Titos)
- 20 dashes vinegar-based hot sauce (such as Tabasco or Louisiana)
- 2 teaspooons Worcestershire Sauce
- 3 tablespoons prepared horseradish
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
Glass Rim:
- 2 teaspoons Tajin Mexican seasoning (or Montreal or Old Bay seasoning)
- Fresh squeezed lime, pickle, olive or pepperonicini juice for rimming the glass
Garnish
- Fried Bacon cooked and chilled
- Queen Pimento-Stuffed Green Olives to taste
- Celery Stalks to taste
- Gherkin mini pickles to taste
- Pepperoncinis to taste
- Pepper Jack cheese cut into cubes
- Fresh lime wedges for the rim
Instructions
- Put olives, pepperonicinis, cheese and pepperoni on single long wooden skewers.
- Combine wet Bloody Mary ingredients in a bowl, whisking until combined.
- Dip serving glass rim in the pickle juice, then roll in Tajin (or other seasoning).
- Place fried bacon slice and a celery stalk in the glass. Add ice. Fill with Bloody Mary mix and top with the skewers of olives, pepperoni, pepperoncinis and pickles. Add a wedge of fresh lime. Enjoy!
Notes
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