How to Make a Bloody Mary

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: September 16, 2022 Tested

The Bloody Mary is a delicious and refreshing alcoholic beverage. Heartier than most alcoholic beverages, it can give you a nice buzz, as well as a healthy serving of tomatoes. There are a variety of Bloody Marys that you can make for almost any occasion. Whether you prefer a classic version, a fun Southwestern take, or a deliciously spicy wasabi-infused recipe, you'll have the perfect cocktail for your next brunch get-together

Ingredients

Classic Bloody Mary

1 lemon wedge
1 lime wedge
2 ounces (59 ml) vodka
4 ounces (118 ml) tomato juice
2 dashes tabasco sauce
2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 pinch celery salt
1 pinch ground black pepper
1 pinch smoked paprika
Ice
1 celery stalk, for garnish
1 lime wedge, for garnish

Makes 1 serving

Southwestern Bloody Mary

3 cups (710 ml) tomato juice
2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon (3 g) minced fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon (17 g) worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon (3 g) finely minced, seeded, canned chipotle chilies
1 teaspoon (3 g) ground cumin
1 teaspoon (4 g) sugar
⅔ cup (158 ml) chilled vodka
Ice
6 celery stalks with leafy tops, for garnish
6 fresh red chilies, slit, for garnish

Makes 6 servings

Wasabi Bloody Mary

½ teaspoon (1 ½ g) wasabi powder
4 teaspoons (20 ml) lemon juice, plus wedges for garnish
Dash worcestershire sauce
Dash soy sauce
2 ounces (59 ml) vodka
4 ounces (118 ml) spicy tomato juice
Ice

Makes 2 servings

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Preparing a Classic Bloody Mary

1
Pour some celery salt onto a small plate. Set a small plate or shallow dish out on the counter, and sprinkle enough celery salt over it to cover it. Use clean fingers to spread the salt out in an even layer.^{[1]
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- If you don’t have celery salt, you can substitute regular coarse salt.
2
Rub the rim of the glass with a lemon wedge. For the Bloody Mary, you’ll need a highball or pint glass. Run the juicy end of the lemon along the rim of the glass to wet it slightly.^{[2]
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3
Dip the glass into the celery salt and fill it with ice. Turn the glass upside down, and press the rim down onto the celery salt. Twist the glass slightly to ensure that the rim is well coated, and then add enough ice to the glass to fill it. Set it aside for the moment.^{[3]
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4
Squeeze the lemon and lime wedges into a cocktail shaker. To mix up the Bloody Mary, you’ll need a cocktail shaker. Squeeze the lemon wedge that you used to wet the rim of the glass and a lime wedge into the shaker. Drop the wedges into the shaker when you’re done.^{[4]
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5
Add the remaining ingredients to the shaker and shake gently to mix. Pour 2 ounces (59 ml) of vodka, 4 ounces (118 ml) of tomato juice, 2 dashes of tabasco sauce, 2 teaspoons of prepared horseradish, 2 dashes of worcestershire sauce, 1 pinch of celery salt, 1 pinch of ground black pepper, and 1 pinch of smoked paprika into the shaker. Cover it, and shake well to combine all of the ingredients.^{[5]
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6
Strain the cocktail into the rimmed glass. Once the cocktail is mixed, use a cocktail strainer to pour it into the prepared glass over the ice. If you don’t have a cocktail strainer, you can use a fine mesh sieve to strain the Bloody Mary.^{[6]
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7
Garnish the cocktail with the celery and lime and serve. Stick a stalk of celery into the glass and a lime wedge on the rim. Serve the Bloody Mary while it’s fresh and cold.^{[7]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Whipping Up Southwestern Bloody Marys

1
Mix the first 7 ingredients in a pitcher. Add 3 cups (710 ml) of tomato juice, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon (3 g) of minced fresh cilantro, 1 tablespoon (17 g) of worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon (3 g) of finely minced, seeded, canned chipotle chilies, 1 teaspoon (3 g) of ground cumin, and 1 teaspoon (4 g) of sugar to a large pitcher. Use a wooden spoon to mix the ingredients together well.^{[8]
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2
Chill the mixture for several hours. When the ingredients are mixed, place the pitcher in the refrigerator. Allow the mixture to chill for at least 2 hours, but refrigerating it overnight is even better.^{[9]
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3
Stir in the vodka. When the mixture is completely chilled, add ⅔ cup (158 ml) of chilled vodka to the pitcher. Mix well to ensure that the vodka is fully incorporated.^{[10]
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4
Fill 6 glasses with ice and pour the mixture into them. Use tall glasses like a highball style for the Bloody Marys. Add enough of the mixture to the glasses to fill them completely.^{[11]
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5
Garnish the glasses with celery and chilies and serve. Stick a celery stalk with a leafy top to each glass. Place a fresh red chile with a slit cut into it on the rim of each glass as well, and enjoy the Bloody Marys while they’re still cold.^{[12]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Mixing Up Wasabi Bloody Marys

1
Combine the first 4 ingredients. Add ½ teaspoon (1 ½ g) of wasabi powder to a cocktail shaker with 4 teaspoons (20 ml) of lemon juice, a dash of worcestershire sauce, and a dash of soy sauce. Use a long cocktail spoon to mix the ingredients together until the wasabi powder dissolves.
2
Pour in the tomato juice and vodka and shake the mixture with ice. When the wasabi powder is dissolved, add 4 ounces (118 ml) of spicy tomato juice and 2 ounces (59 ml) of vodka to the shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, cover it, and shake the mixture until it’s thoroughly combined.
3
Pour the mixture into 2 glasses and garnish with lemon wedges. Hook a wedge on the rim of each glass. Serve the Bloody Marys while they’re still cold.

Community Q&A

Question

Can gin be substituted for vodka in a Bloody Mary?

Community Answer

While vodka is the classic spirit for a Bloody Mary, feel free to substitute your favorite alcohol to see which flavor combination you like best.
Question

Can I use whiskey instead of vodka for Bloody mary? Would it be nice?

Community Answer

You could. Smokier Scotches actually add a nice flavor element to the cocktail.
Question

Can I use a shot of beer in this drink?

Community Answer

Yes, you could use a shot of beer if you wanted to, but it wouldn't be a traditional Bloody Mary.

Warnings

Never get behind the wheel of a car if you’ve been drinking alcohol.

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Always drink responsibly.

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