Average
Spicy & Bold
4 minutes
Highball Glass
Ingredients
The Bloody Mary is a savory cocktail – zesty, spicy and built on a bold tomato base, with garnishes that have taken on a life of their own.
Few cocktails have a reputation quite like the Bloody Mary. It’s a brunch staple, a spectacle and a serious drink all at once. While the standard garnish is a celery stalk and lemon wedge, many prefer to go all out – bacon, pancakes, pickles, olives and whatever else takes their fancy.
Made with vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt and pepper, the Bloody Mary is one of the most complex and customizable cocktails ever conceived. It’s been a brunch institution since the 1930s and, in the decades since, barely a thing about it has needed changing.
How to Make a Bloody Mary COCKTAIL
Bar tools you’ll need
Jigger
Knife
Boston Shaker
Citrus Press
How to Mix
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Cut a Lemon in half, then use a citrus press to juice your Lemon halves. Save a Lemon Wedge for garnishing.
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Measure and pour the Lemon Juice into the smaller tin of a Boston shaker
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Add Salt and Black Pepper.
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Use a jigger (or measuring instrument) to measure and add Worcestershire Sauce.
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Add Hot Sauce.
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Use the jigger to add Absolut Vodka.
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Measure and add Tomato Juice.
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Add ice cubes.
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Connect the shaker and “roll” the cocktail back and forth between two shaker tins.
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Fill a highball glass with ice cubes, then use a Hawthorne strainer and strain the cocktail into the glass.
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Garnish with a Lemon Wedge and a Celery Stick.
All about the Bloody Mary:
A Bloody Mary is a savory vodka cocktail made with tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, horseradish and a blend of spices, typically served in a highball glass over ice and garnished with a celery stalk and a lemon wedge.
It’s one of the few cocktails that operates on its own terms – as much a meal as a drink, as much about the garnish as what’s in the glass.
Bold, savory and complex. The tomato juice brings a rich, slightly sweet base, sharpened by the heat of hot sauce and the deep, fermented notes of Worcestershire sauce. Absolut Vodka runs underneath it all – clean and smooth, keeping the stronger flavors in check.
And then there’s the garnish. A celery stalk and lemon wedge aren’t just for show – that fresh, crisp crunch and citrus squeeze between sips is part of what makes the Bloody Mary an experience rather than just a drink.
The truth is, there’s no such thing as a perfect Bloody Mary, and Rico would be the first to tell you that.
“Even though we’d say that this is the best Bloody Mary recipe, there’s actually no such thing as a perfect Bloody Mary. This cocktail completely relies on your sense of taste, so make it how you like it. While we highly recommend that you experiment, you’re gonna need a jumping-off point and that’s where our recipe comes in.”
Every bartender has their own version. Every drinker has their own preference. More heat, more tang, less spice – the Bloody Mary is one of the few cocktails that actively invites you to make it your own. Our recipe is the starting point. Where you take it from there is up to you.
The history and origin of the Bloody Mary are the subject of debate, but its birthplace is commonly associated with Paris, France. Although others say it was invented in Palm Beach, Florida.
According to the most popular legend, this cocktail was invented in the 1920s by an American bartender who was working at Parisian bar that was popular among Americans during Prohibition. The establishment was renowned for its New York-style ambiance, adding an intriguing twist to the supposed birthplace of the iconic cocktail.
Over the years, it has become the cocktail to drink during brunch. The tomato juice base, fiery hot sauce, spicy pepper, and fresh garnishes gives it a savory quality that has led many to call it a “meal in a glass”.
- Bloody Mary with Absolut Peppar Did you know Absolut has a vodka made specifically with the Bloody Mary in mind? Absolut Peppar was Absolut’s first ever flavored vodka created so bartenders wouldn’t have to waste time grinding pepper themselves. Absolut Peppar has the distinct taste of fresh cracked black pepper and it works great as the base in a Bloody Mary.
- Spicy Bloody Mary with ABSOLUT® TABASCO™
For a spicier take, try a Spicy Bloody Mary made with ABSOLUT® TABASCO™, a chili pepper-flavored vodka born from a collaboration between two icons. It was only a matter of time before they united, and the result brings a distinct taste and fiery heat to the Bloody Mary. - Add clam juice
A popular variation swaps some of the tomato juice for clam juice, adding a savory, briny depth that takes the Bloody Mary in a more oceanic direction. Worth trying if you enjoy the drink on the more savory end of the spectrum. - Virgin Mary
Leave out the vodka and you have a Virgin Mary – a clean, vegetable-forward mocktail that holds its own without the spirit. Here’s our Virgin Mary recipe. - The fastest Bloody Mary in the world
When Absolut Peppar launched in 1986, a shot was created to promote it and, as Rico puts it, “I think it still stands up as one of the best shots on earth.”All you need is a shot glass, Absolut Peppar, flaky sea salt and a cherry tomato. Sprinkle the salt onto a small plate, slice the tomato in half and dip it in the salt, pour a shot of Absolut Peppar, sip the shot and follow with the tomato. Watch Rico in action.
The Bloody Mary is served in a highball glass over ice, and from there, the only limit is imagination.
- The classic garnish
A celery stalk and lemon wedge is the standard – clean, simple and recognizable. But the Bloody Mary has long been a canvas for creativity. Bacon, oysters, green olives, pickles, lime wedges, horseradish, fried chicken, entire pancakes – everything but the kitchen sink, and sometimes even that. - Let your guests build their own
The Bloody Mary is one of the most personal cocktails there is – so why not let your guests make it their own? Set out the ingredients and print out the recipe, and let everyone adjust to taste. Hot sauce, black pepper, salt, lemon wedges – the bar is open.
There’s actually no such thing as a perfect Bloody Mary. This cocktail completely relies on your sense of taste, so make it how you like it!
Bartender and Global Brand Ambassador
Bloody Mary FAQ:
Just as its place of origin is a topic of debate, so is the name “Bloody Mary”. Some believe it was inspired by a Hollywood star whose first name was Mary, while others trace it to a waitress named Mary at a bar in Chicago.
Another theory suggests that the name was derived from a patron from the early mentioned bar in Paris who said it looked like his cabaret acquaintance, leading to the cocktail being dubbed “Bloody Mary.”
Then, of course, others claim it was named after Queen Mary Tudor of England. The fact is no one knows for certain.
The combination of tomato juice base, zesty hot sauce, peppery spices, and fresh vegetable garnishes imparts a savory and satisfying flavor to the cocktail make it a popular brunch favorite, with many calling it a “meal in a glass”.
To highlight the appropriateness and appeal of enjoying a Bloody Mary during brunch, it’s not unusual to encounter a Bloody Mary adorned with pancakes and bacon!
Vodka
Absolutely! In fact, it’s a great cocktail to make the night before. Let’s say you have a group of friends coming around for brunch tomorrow, make a big batch following the recipe above, store it in the fridge, and then add some freshly chopped celery sticks or other preferred garnishes right before serving.
A Highball Glass is the ideal glass. Here’s why: A Highball Glass gives you plenty of room to load up on all those delicious toppings.
With the tall, slender shape, you can pile in the Celery Sticks, Olives, and maybe even a couple of Bacon Strips without feeling crowded. Plus, the Highball Glass keeps your cocktail cool, so you can savor the spicy, tangy flavors all the way to the last sip.
