Bloody Mary
Vodka, tomato juice, lemon, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Savoury, spicy and good with brunch.
- Time
- 5 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Highball
- Strength
- 2 UK units
How to make a Bloody Mary
- Fill the glass with ice. Fill a tall glass with ice cubes, until they reach the rim.
- Add the vodka and seasoning. Pour in the vodka, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt and pepper.
- Top with tomato juice. Add the tomato juice and stir gently for about 10 seconds. Taste it, then add more hot sauce or lemon if you want it sharper.
- Garnish and serve. Add a celery stick and a lemon wedge. It should look deep red and a little thick.
- Glass
- HighballNo highball? Any tall glass.
- Ice
- Ice cubes
- Garnish
- A celery stick and a lemon wedgeOr: A couple of green olives on a stick.
What you need to make a Bloody Mary
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Citrus squeezerFresh juice makes the biggest difference of anything.
Bar spoonA long teaspoon does the job.
Bottles we'd use
- A tomato juice with bodyMr & Mrs T mix is ready seasoned; plain Big Tom tomato juice gives you more control.Find it on Amazon
- Worcestershire sauceLea & Perrins has the deepest, most savoury flavour.Find it on Amazon
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The Bloody Mary story
Fernand Petiot is the name most often attached to it. He worked at Harry's New York Bar in Paris in the 1920s and later at the King Cole Bar in New York, where it was sold as the Red Snapper. There are other claims, and the source of the name is not known for certain.
There is no single recipe, which is part of the fun. Start with tomato juice, lemon, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt and pepper, and adjust until you like it. Taste it before you add the vodka. If it is a good drink without alcohol, it will be a good drink with it.
Bloody Mary: your questions answered
What is in a Bloody Mary?
A Bloody Mary is made with 50 ml vodka, 120 ml tomato juice, 15 ml fresh lemon juice, 3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce, 3 dashes of hot sauce, celery salt and black pepper. Garnish: a celery stick and a lemon wedge.
How strong is a Bloody Mary?
Made to this recipe, a Bloody Mary contains about 2 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a Bloody Mary in?
Serve a Bloody Mary in a highball over ice. No highball? Any tall glass.
