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WhatDrink

Cocktails

Bloody Mary

Bloody Mary is a savoury, brunch-friendly cocktail with a bold tomato-led profile and a spiced edge. It works best when the drink needs to feel substantial, distinctive and built for slow sipping.

Reviewed by How we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction
Cocktailalcoholic6.5% ABV8 ingredients

At a Glance

373 kcalCalories
6.5%ABV
53.8gSugar
61.7gCarbs
1.42Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Moderate

Why: 8 ingredients, requires shaker

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients & Tools

  • 2.0 ozVodkaBase Spirit
  • 3.0 ozTomato JuiceJuice
  • 4.0 ozFresh Lime JuiceJuice
  • 4.0 ozWorcestershire SauceModifier
  • 2 - 3 dropshot red pepper sauceModifier
  • to tasteFreshly ground black pepper to tasteOther
  • 1 garnishlime wedgeGarnish
  • to tastecelery stalkOther
Tools:Cocktail Shaker

How to Make It

  1. Roll with ice between both halves of Boston shaker.Shaken
  2. Strain into ice-filled old-fashioned glass.Strain
  3. Garnish with lime and celery.Garnish

Why it works

Why the Bloody Mary works

The drink works because tomato gives body, citrus adds brightness, and seasoning creates depth. Vodka keeps the structure strong without taking over the savory flavor profile.

How to Serve

Glass
Old-Fashioned Glass
Temperature
Chilled
Ice
Ice
Method
Shaken
Served Chilled

Serving tips

Serving tips

Serve it cold over ice and season gradually. Because tomato and spice can dominate quickly, small adjustments to citrus, salt and heat make a noticeable difference.

Taste

What does a Bloody Mary taste like?

A Bloody Mary is savory, tomato-led and usually lightly spicy, with citrus and seasoning giving it lift. It feels closer to a brunch-style mixed drink than a sweet or delicate cocktail.

Primary flavours

SpiceSpicySavory

Supporting notes

CitrusTart

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong
BodyLight – Full
SweetnessDry – Sweet
AcidityFlat – Crisp
FruitinessEarthy – Fruity
BoldnessDelicate – Bold
  • Noticeably sweet
  • Bright and citrusy

What do these dimensions mean?

About this drink

The Bloody Mary has layered origin claims. Fernand Petiot is closely associated with the modern spiced version at the St. Regis in New York, while earlier vodka-and-tomato versions and other claimants also appear in the record. Treat the modern recipe as evolved, not invented in one clean step.

When to serve

  • BrunchSuggested from pairing with brunch pairing.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

Food pairings

BrunchTacosSalty Snacks

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Gluten-FreeVeganVegetarian

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Vodka2.0 oz

GinWorks, but changes the drink
How much to use
Use the same volume; expect more juniper and herbal aroma.
What changes
Gin can replace vodka when a more botanical result is acceptable.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Tomato Juice3.0 oz

V8 Cocktail JuiceWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Use the same amount and check salt/spice balance.
What changes
V8 cocktail juice can replace tomato juice in savory drinks, but it adds a broader vegetable flavor.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Fresh Lime Juice4.0 oz

Lemon JuiceWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Start with the same amount, then adjust sweetness if needed.
What changes
Lemon juice can usually replace lime juice, but the drink becomes less tropical and more lemon-forward.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Lime Wedge1 garnish

Lime WheelGood swap
How much to use
Use one wheel for one wedge; use extra juice only if the wedge was meant to be squeezed.
What changes
A lime wheel can replace a lime wedge when the garnish is mostly visual or aromatic.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a Bloody Mary at home?
Yes. The Bloody Mary uses 8 ingredients, making it more involved to prepare at home. You will need a Old-Fashioned Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.