Skip the store-bought mix and make your own Bloody Mary from scratch with simple, everyday ingredients. Brunch just isn’t complete without this classic cocktail!
You probably already have most of the ingredients on-hand to make your own homemade version. Customize it to your personal taste by experimenting with different amounts of the ingredients (I won’t be offended!).
Your Basic Ingredients
- Vodka (your favorite kind)
- Tomato juice
- Hot pepper sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- Black pepper (freshly ground is best)
- Prepared horseradish
- Lemon juice
- Lime juice
Bloody Mary Topping Ideas
The sky’s the limit when it comes to the toppings (and it’s so much fun to dress this drink up with them). You can make this a full-on meal in a glass if you want!
Here are a few topping ideas I’ve used and seen:
- Celery sticks
- Lemon and/or lime wheels
- Olives
- Bacon
- Pickled okra
- Pickled asparagus
- Cheese cubes
- Cocktail shrimp
- Pickles
- Pepperoncini peppers
Rimming Ideas
There are also so many options for rimming your glass (isn’t this fun?!). I like to use Old Bay Seasoning, but you can also use one (or a mixture of) the following:
- Celery salt
- Smoked paprika
- Black pepper
- Kosher salt
- Lemon pepper
Enjoy and please drink responsibly. Cheers!
Bloody Mary
Ingredients
- Old Bay Seasoning or seasoning of your choice for rimming glass
- Lemon or lime wedge for rimming glass
- 2 ounces vodka your favorite
- 8 ounces tomato juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 2 to 3 drops hot pepper sauce
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon prepared horseradish
- Dash Freshly ground black pepper
- Garnishes of your choice
Instructions
- Sprinkle Old Bay Seasoning on a small plate. Rub lemon or lime wedge around rim of glass to moisten.
- Dip rim of glass into seasoning to coat evenly. Fill glass with ice.
- Fill a cocktail shaker about ½ full of ice. Add vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, lime juice, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish and pepper.
- Cover shaker and shake vigorously for about 10 to 15 seconds.
- Strain into rimmed glass with ice. Garnish with desired toppings.
Notes
- I enjoy this recipe as written, but feel free to customize to your personal taste by experimenting with different amounts of ingredients!
- Nutrition info does not include seasoning for rimming glass or toppings.
Nutrition
If provided, nutritional info is a courtesy, is not guaranteed and should only be considered as a guideline.
Originally published August 2012. Updated with new photographs, recipe revised and republished January 31, 2020.
Crystal {@phatbakes} says
I so want to try this. I just looked at the hubs and said “I want to make these!” He just looked back at the TV! He doesn’t share my passion for foot and drink, although he loves to eat it! Love this!
Mike says
Congratulations Amy ! you’ve just become a Canadian, we’ve been drinking these for over thiry years now, it’s called a “Ceasar”
Try leaving out the horseradish and add a couple good splashes of “Worcestershire Sauce”. The garnish is not optional it’s a must, a lime wedge and a celery stick is what you’ll get in most pubs but a pickled green bean or a pickled asparagus spear puts the drink over the top.
Clamato makes a rimmer to go along with their Clamato juice which is very good as well.
Cheers
Nicole says
In Canada, this drink is called a Caesar. We do it a little different: add 6-10 shakes of worcestershire (this is KEY!) and switch out the Old Bay rim with Celery Salt. I personally don’t like horseradish in my Caesars. I have also been known to add a dash of pickle juice. Good Caesars are usually garnished with spicy pickled green beans or pickled asparagus. Oh man, after talking about this, I really feel like having on now.
Kim says
This is actually a Canadian drink, called a caesar! You can substitute the horseradish for a few dashes of worchestershire sauce and tobasco too if you like. Sometimes I use gin instead of vodka… Yummy either way! It’s great you could get Clamato- tonsss of places outside of Canada have never even heard of it.
Cheers 🙂
Caesar Lover says
Hi Amy,
Sorry to disappoint you but this drink has been around for years. It’s called a Caesar – similar to a bloody mary but made with Clamato juice. Maybe its just a Canadian thing.
Glad you enjoy them. They are really good with the stick of beef jerky, crispy bacon or a pickled spicy green bean in it. Check out the website – there are a couple different recipes.
You are right about one thing Caesars (Canadian Bloody Mary) are always in season. 🙂
Fou De Food MTL says
Looks great! Happy to see that you discovered the goodness of Clamato. We do this all the time in Canada. We call it a Bloody Caesar instead of a Bloody Mary. I even have a recipe for one on my blog.