Crowd-Pleasing Bloody Mary Recipe - The Anthony Kitchen (2024)

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This Bloody Mary recipe is always a hit with our guests... even the ones who think they don't like them. If you're looking to right the wrong of poorly executed, thick, lackluster renditions of this co*cktail, this is the recipe for you. Whether it's game day or ladies' brunch, this drink does the trick.

Here's the deal, vodka and tomato juice are not all you need to make a sip-worthy Bloody Mary. From the savory, acidic, and complex flavors, to the perfect little kick of spice, you will find this one to be brighter, lighter, and more exciting. Tomato juice and vodka are still present but we've figured out a way to bring out the best of both!

For now, let's cover the basics of making a bloody mary! Below, in our ingredients section, we'll address each ingredient and what it does to enhance this famous A.M. vodka co*cktail. And while we are on the subject of classic co*cktails, be sure to add our Mexican Martini andColorado Bull Dogs to your "To Make" list!

HOW TO MAKE A BLOODY MARY

Making good Bloody Marys at home is by no means difficult. In a nutshell, you're going to combine a bunch of ingredients in a glass with ice and stir. Not so hard after all, right?

Have ready an 8-12 ounce glass full of ice. If you would like to add a Kosher salt or cajun seasoning rim, be sure you do this before you fill the glass with ice!

To add a fun and tasty rim to your glass, add either a ⅓ cup of Kosher salt or a few tablespoons of Cajun seasoning to a small plate.

Run a lime wedge along the rim of your glass to moisten it, and place the rim of the glass in the salt or seasoning. Swirl it around and gently pat the bottom of the glass to remove any excess before turning right-side up.

To make a Bloody Mary, you'll add vodka, Worcestershire sauce, pickle juice, the juice of a lemon and lime wedge, bloody mary mix, pepper, and hot sauce to your glass. Stir until well mixed and then you can add your garnishes.

Bloody Mary garnishes can be as simple or over the top as you want them to be. For a simple, classic vibe, go with a pickle spear, green olives, or a celery stick. If you want to amp things up, bacon, shrimp, or a little pickled okra couldn't possibly hurt.

BLOODY MARY INGREDIENTS

As seen above, it's really not the technique, it's the combination of the right ingredients that makes all the difference in the world.

We'll kick off this section with the two most well-known ingredients: the tomato juice and the vodka.

The first thing we'll need to address here is that Bloody Mary mix and tomato juice are not the same things. Tomato juice is simply that: the juice from a tomato, likely seasoned only with salt and nothing else. Bloody Mary mixes, on the other hand, come equipped with their own special blend of spices and added ingredients and consistency.

The beauty of buying a pre-made bloody mary mix is that it allows you to save time and ingredients -- particularly on spices like celery salt, lemon pepper, and garlic powder. However, there are some truly lackluster mixes out there, and they can hijack the flavor of your co*cktail in a real bad way.

Our suggestion is to go with either Zing-Zang (my number one choice), or if you can't find that brand, Mr. & Mrs. T is another good option.

On to the vodka, smooth, high-quality vodka will make quite the difference when making a top-notch bloody mary at home. You can use regular vodka or even pepper-flavored vodka if you prefer your bloody marys on the spicier side.