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A Life in Food by real-life Chef Cheryl Bennett

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December 22, 2019

How to make a restaurant-style Bloody Mary recipe

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The Bloody Mary. It is THE quintessential brunch beverage, yet I only have them at a restaurant. Brunch and Bloody Mary’s go hand in hand. We are going to make a restaurant-style bloody mary recipe at home. I made a killer batch of bloody mary’s last weekend and they were hands-down one of the best I’ve ever had.

Restaurant Style Bloody Mary with blue background

First things first, we are making it from scratch. The difference is remarkable when you don’t use a store-bought mix. The drink tastes MUCH fresher and brighter, which if I’m being perfectly honest, can be dangerous.

I’m usually a two drink max kind of girl and I had two drinks in no time flat. Consider yourself warned, because they go down very easily. This is the best bloody mary recipe and one you’ll want to make over and over.

The Perfect Bloody Mary Recipe

Now that we own a house, my dreams of hosting dinner parties and brunches will finally come to fruition. I think a meal accompanied by a pitcher of bloody mary’s is the perfect inaugural brunch in our new home.

bloody mary agaginst white background

If you’ve ever been out to brunch and been served a watery, sad excuse for a bloody mary, those days are over. We’re going to make a 5 star bloody mary recipe that packs a punch. 

It is full of flavor and so very delicious. You can adjust everything to suit your personal preferences, to make it the best bloody mary for you.

The best part about making your own mix is letting it sit and infuse in the fridge. I like to let it sit overnight so when I make the drinks the following morning, it is so full of flavor. 

Ingredients

Before we get to the recipe, here is a quick list of what you’ll need to make this bloody mary recipe. You’ll find the ingredients for the bloody mary rimmers recipe in the recipe card below!

  • Tomato, or Clamato juice for a Bloody Caesar
  • Vodka
  • Fresh lemon juice (not the bottle)
  • Grated horseradish
  • Celery salt
  • Your favorite hot sauce
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Olive juice – from the jar of olives

All about the garnish

For me, a good bloody mary is all about the garnish. Celery sticks are clearly mandatory, but a full slice of super crispy bacon, skewered olives, a pickle and a wedge of lemon are perfection.

If I had pickled beans or pickled okra, that would’ve also made an appearance. Most importantly, use what you personally enjoy.

This is also a perfect opportunity to clean out the fridge. If you have half empty jars of pickles or olives, they make a great garnish. Think of it as “tidying up”, it’s a valid excuse for making a pitcher of bloody marys.

Rather than making everyone the same drink,  you can customize them any way you like by setting up as many or as few garnishes as you please. Make your mix in a big pitcher and guests can pour their own vodka (or tequila if you want a bloody maria) and choose their own garnish.

Make a flavored salt rim for the glasses and you have a delicious bloody mary that is better than anything you will get in a restaurant because you can make it exactly how you’d like it.

close up of bloody mary

Used to make a restaurant-style Bloody Mary

Highball glasses – I love these tall, beautiful Italian glasses. The perfect vessel for your cocktails.

• Tall, Glass Pitcher – Every well-stocked bar needs a classic pitcher to serve drinks, especially with the holidays only days away.

• Bar glass rimmer – I love this thing. You can do several different rim coatings with this, it has 3 compartments.

• Gherkin-stuffed olives – Yes, you read that right. Olives stuffed with pickles!!! So good.

Make a proper brunch

We’ve made the most amazing bloody mary drinks, now we need some food to go with them. Here are a few suggestions for what to serve with bloody marys:

Banana Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel

• Sour Cream Cherry Scones

• Sausage and Potato Breakfast Casserole

• Baked Eggs in Mini Bell Pepper Cups – low carb/keto option!

Please share

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Your shares help this site to grow and I appreciate it so much. Do you know someone who would like this? I’d love it if you would share it on Facebook or pin it to your favorite recipe board.

bloody mary against white tile background

Did you make this bloody mary recipe? Tag me @pookspantry on social media! I’d love to see your version!

Continue to Content
Yield: 2 people

Restaurant-Style Bloody Mary

Restaurant-Style Bloody Mary

A delicious, restaurant-style Bloody Mary at home!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces tomato, or Clamato juice
  • 4 ounces vodka
  • 1 1/2 ounces fresh lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons horseradish
  • 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
  • 4 dashes hot sauce, or more to taste
  • 3 dashes worcestershire sauce
  • 1 ounce olive juice
  • Garnishes: celery stick, crispy bacon, lemon wedge, green olives, pepperoncini, pickled beans, pickled okra, cherry tomato

Flavored Salt Rim

  • 1 tablespoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon celery seed, ground
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Mix tomato juice with horseradish, lemon juice, celery salt, hot sauce, worcestershire & olive juice. If time allows, let it sit in the refrigerator for an hour or two before drinking. This is your "Bloody Mary Mix".
  2. Wet rim of glass with lemon wedge and dip into salt mixture. Add ice to the glass, pour in vodka and top with bloody mary mix. Stir well, add garnish and enjoy!

Notes

Other than the tomato/clamato juice and vodka, horseradish is perhaps the most important ingredient. Please don't skimp on it. The lemon juice also gives the drink a nice "zing", I like a bit more lemon juice so I add a little extra to mine.


The hot sauce is to taste. Sometimes, I don't add much & other times, I may want it spicier. Make it according to your personal taste.


The mix can be refrigerated for a few days, so if you are having a gathering it is perfect to make ahead! It also helps to develop a bit more flavor.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 184Sodium: 4345mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 1gSugar: 5gProtein: 1g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Cheryl Bennett
Cuisine: American / Category: Drinks

Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂

Questions? Send me an email, I’m happy to help. I’d love to have you on my newsletter, so you can get updates about what’s happening in the kitchen!

Hello! Please do not use my photos or recipe without prior written permission. Thank you!

Filed Under: Drinks Tagged With: Bloody Mary, breakfast, brunch, cocktail, cocktails, drinks, easy recipe, Food, gluten free, holidays, how to, recipes

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Reader Interactions

 

Comments

  1. Jackie Garvin says

    December 27, 2016 at 4:51 pm

    You’ve certainly covered all the bases with this Bloody Mary. The recipe is awesome and the garnishes are second to none.

    Reply
    • pook says

      December 27, 2016 at 6:09 pm

      Thank you so much, Jackie!

      Reply
    • Jill says

      December 24, 2020 at 7:42 am

      Where am I missing the recipe?? I see ingredients, but no recipe! I don’t know the first thing about making bloody Mary’s, but want to make them for my family for Christmas, because it was a tradition my father-in-law had Dash and he is gone now.

      Reply
      • pook says

        December 24, 2020 at 12:49 pm

        Hi Jill! The recipe is at the bottom of the post, in a recipe card. Scroll all the way down and you’ll see it 🙂

        Reply
  2. Liz says

    December 27, 2016 at 8:19 pm

    LOVE that salty rim! What a marvelous Bloody Mary, Cheryl!!!

    Reply
    • pook says

      December 29, 2016 at 3:46 pm

      Thanks, Liz!

      Reply
  3. Jenni says

    December 29, 2016 at 7:42 am

    Love that bacon is a garnish here!

    Reply
    • pook says

      December 29, 2016 at 3:46 pm

      It’s totally necessary 😉

      Reply
  4. Elena Reinisch says

    December 30, 2016 at 5:31 pm

    The garnishes are the best part!

    Reply
    • pook says

      January 3, 2017 at 7:27 am

      Bloody Marys are all about the garnish!

      Reply
  5. Megan says

    December 30, 2016 at 6:30 pm

    Looks amazing! Love the garnish choices too!

    Reply
    • pook says

      January 3, 2017 at 7:26 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  6. Kellie Bennett says

    February 17, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    BEST Bloody Mary I have had in years! Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe!

    Reply
    • pook says

      February 17, 2019 at 7:43 pm

      Thank you!!!! So glad you liked it!

      Reply

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