Bloody Maria Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 10/26/21
Tested by
Sean Michael Johnson
Photo of Sean Michael Johnson
Tested by Sean Michael Johnson
Sean is an award-winning bartender with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the head bartender at the two-Michelin-star restaurant, Gabriel Kreuther, crafting cocktail menus that have caught international attention. To date, he has made over 1 million cocktails, and counting.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Bloody Maria Cocktail in glasses with lemon and lime slices in a bowl

The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
367 Calories
3g Fat
72g Carbs
9g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 367
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1056mg 46%
Total Carbohydrate 72g 26%
Dietary Fiber 20g 73%
Total Sugars 23g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 488mg 2,441%
Calcium 223mg 17%
Iron 5mg 29%
Potassium 1471mg 31%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The Bloody Maria is the drink where the popular Bloody Mary meets tequila. That single change in the recipe makes a noticeable difference in the flavor.

Unlike vodka, which gets lost in this heavily flavored, spicy drink, the tequila in the background stands out. It adds a vegetal earthiness that can only be found in tequila.

From personal experience, the first time I had a Bloody Maria I was astounded at the difference. Since that day, this has become my bloody drink of choice, and I encourage all tomato cocktail fans to give this one a try to see what you think.

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"The Bloody Mary is as subjective as an opinion. Everyone has their own recipe and technique. As far as variations go, this one is phenomenal. A Bloody Maria is a fairly standard Tequila Mary; however, the spice level and citrus balance makes for an impressive experience. It is complex, spicy, and rich. Keep this recipe." —Sean Johnson

Bloody Maria Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Bloody Maria Cocktail ingredients in glass bowls

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  2. Build the ingredients in a highball glass: tequila, horseradish, Dijon mustard (if using), Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, black pepper and lime juice, then stir well to combine.

    Tequila, horseradish, Dijon mustard, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, black pepper and lime juice in a glass stirred with a spoon

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  3. Add tomato juice.

    Tomato juice poured into a glass with tequila, horseradish, Dijon mustard, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, black pepper and lime juice

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  4. Mix well by rolling back and forth from one glass to another (or stir well). Fill the glass with ice, then stir again.

    Bloody Maria Cocktail in a glass with ice and a metal spoon

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  5. Garnish with a lemon and/or lime wedge and celery stalk. Serve and enjoy.

    Bloody Maria Cocktail in glasses, garnished with lemon and lime wedge and celery stalks

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

Recipe Variation

While you're switching up your bloody Mary routine, consider adding tequila to a crazy bloody Mary. With that switch, the pitcher-sized recipe will include all the flavors of the Bloody Maria but gets elaborate on the garnishes. It's a lot of fun for an intimate brunch.

How Strong Is the Bloody Maria?

Mixed drinks like the Bloody Maria are difficult to pin down when it comes to their alcohol content. That's because you may pour six ounces of tomato juice and I may pour only four. Let's take the middle ground and assume we pour five ounces and pair that with an 80-proof tequila.


In this case, the Bloody Maria would be around 5 percent ABV (10 proof). That is a perfectly light cocktail, around the same strength as a single beer and that's why it's a great drink for brunch, happy hour or any time you want a casual sipper packed with vitamins and spice.