Average
Spicy, Herb & Fresh
4 minutes
Highball Glass
Ingredients
The Bloody Mary is a savory vodka cocktail with a tangy tomato base, zesty, spicy kick, and elaborately playful (read: over the top!) garnishes.
Whether you’re sipping it on a lazy Sunday afternoon or kicking off a weekend morning with a leisurely brunch, nothing sets the tone better than a Bloody Mary.
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 and use a citrus press to squeeze lemon juice into the smaller tin of a Boston shaker. Save a lemon wedge for garnishing.
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Add salt and ground 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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Add Absolut Vodka.
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Add tomato juice.
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Add Ground Black Pepper.
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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.
Watch Rico show you how to make the BEST Bloody Mary!
All about the Bloody Mary:
The Bloody Mary is a cocktail known for its distinctive spicy and savory flavors. The iconic cocktail has been a staple at brunch tables and party scenes for decades.
Bloody Mary ingredients consist of vodka, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and horseradish, and commonly garnished with a celery stalk, olives, or pickles. It’s really a cocktail like no other!
The Bloody Mary boasts a zesty and robust flavor, with a mouth-watering blend of savory tomato juice and spice from both the Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. The smoothness of the Absolut Vodka provides depth, the tomato juice adds a unique savory and slightly sweet flavor, while a staple garnish like a celery stalk provides a fresh, savory crunch.
The thing is though everybody, including every bartender, has their own twist on how they enjoy this cocktail.
When we asked bartender, Rico, how to make the perfect Bloody Mary he said:
“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. So, while we highly recommend that you experiment, you’re gonna need a jumping-off point, and that’s where our recipe (see above) comes in.”
One of the best things about this cocktail is that you can craft it to the way you like it—whether that means cranking up the heat for extra spice or dialing up the tanginess to suit your taste.
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 that Absolut has a vodka designed specifically for making the Bloody Mary? That’s right – it’s called Absolut Peppar.Absolut Peppar was Absolut’s first ever flavored vodka. The idea was to make a pepper flavored vodka, so busy bartenders wouldn’t have to waste time grinding pepper themselves. - Add Clam Juice
One popular variation is the addition of Clam Juice together with the Tomato Juice. Clam juice brings a savory depth and oceanic brininess to this cocktail. The hint of seafood from the clam juice contributes to the cocktail’s distinctive savory notes. - Virgin Mary
Want to make alcohol-free Bloody Mary? It’s easy! By leaving out the Vodka, you can create an incredibly tasty mocktail known as a Virgin Mary. It drinks a lot like a fresh Vegetable Juice, making it perfect to drink during brunch. Check out our recipe on how to make a Virgin Mary. - The Fastest Bloody Mary in the World!
When Absolut Peppar was launched in 1986, a shot known as ‘the fastest Bloody Mary on earth’ was made to promote it. “I think it still stands up as one of the best shots on earth,” says Rico today with confidence.All you need is a shot glass, Absolut Peppar, some flaky sea salt, and a cherry tomato. Start by sprinkling some flaky sea salt onto a small plate, then slice a cherry tomato in half and dip it in the sea salt. Next, pour a shot of Absolut Peppar, sip it then eat the sea-salt-dipped tomato. BOOM! The tastiest and fastest Bloody Mary in the world!
- While most people would serve this cocktail with the classic lemon wedge and celery stick, other people are more creative with their garnishes putting bacon, oysters, green olives, pickles, lime wedges, horseradish, even fried chicken or entire pancakes into their cocktails! Basically, everything but the kitchen sink.
- Tip! Since preferences are so personal, a fun way to serve this cocktail at home is to let guests make their own, just put out the ingredients and print out the recipe. This way your guests can use things like lime juice, hot sauce, black pepper, salt and lemon wedges to make the cocktail just right for themselves.
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.
