Substitute tequila for the vodka in a Bloody Mary and you have the Bloody Maria! This simple change adds a touch of Mexican flair to the drink.
Replace the vodka in a Bloody Mary with tequila and you have a whole new drink: the Bloody Maria! This simple change gives big yields of flavor. Vodka can often get lost in a cocktail, but tequila comes out with a strong finish. The Maria is the better half of Mary, just like the tequila-based Mexican mule is our favorite version of the Moscow mule. Plus, you can supercharge it with Mexican flavors and a squeeze of lime. Here’s how to make a Bloody Maria!
Ingredients of a Bloody Maria
The Bloody Mary is a classic cocktail invented in the 1920s. It has become popular around the world as a brunch drink and cure for hangovers. It even makes it onto the International Bartender Association’s official IBA cocktail list, meaning it has an “official” definition. The Bloody Maria simply replaces the vodka with tequila, making it a Mexican drink. Here are the ingredients of a Bloody Maria:
- tequila
- tomato juice
- lemon juice
- Worcester sauce
- horseradish
- Mexican hot sauce
- celery salt
- Black pepper
How to Make a Bloody Maria (Basic Method)
This Bloody Maria recipe is a mix, which means it makes 4 glasses. Use for entertainment, or if you want a single serving, mix it up and refrigerate the rest for later. The taste will get better over time! Here are the keys to making the best Bloody Maria:
- If possible, chill the tomato juice and tequila first. This allows the drink to be chilled without having to use too much ice to dilute it.
- Shake the mixture in a shaker without ice cubes. The best way to make a Bloody Maria is not to shake it or stir it with ice like you would a regular drink. Why? It dilutes the mixture too much and gives a watery consistency. Simply stir the mixture without ice, then serve over ice. This results in a perfect thick consistency and taste.
- Filter and if time allows, cool. Straining removes the horseradish bits from the drink: a cocktail strainer is best (although you can use any strainer you have). If you have time, refrigerate the mixture for about 1 hour or overnight to blend the flavors.
- Glaze and decorate! Serve over ice with your choice of toppings.
Refrigeration blends flavors (optional)
This Bloody Maria is instantly delicious. But it even tastes good better after cooling for 1 hour or overnight. Why? Chilling will help all the ingredients blend into a cohesive flavor. Since this drink is usually made for entertainment, it shouldn’t be too difficult to make ahead of time and chill until ready to serve. But you can also drink it right away: it always tastes fantastic!
Finish off with a squeeze of lime!
To enhance those Mexican flavors even more, we like to squeeze a lime wedge onto our Bloody Maria. It brings just the right brightness without getting lost in the drink. It’s optional but adds a nice nuance.
Best Bloody Maria Toppings
Now it’s time for the toppings! The Bloody Mary is a drink with one of the most interesting and unique collections of toppings. For Bloody Maria toppings, you can use similar flavors but lean more toward Mexican flavors:
- celery sticks (mandatory!)
- lime wedges
- Pickled jalapeno peppers or potted peppers of any kind
- pepperoni
- Olives stuffed with chili
- Cocktail Onions
- Dill pickle tips
Garnishes are easiest to serve on cocktail sticks or skewers. (Of course, if you’re alone, you can throw them all away!) Thread all your accompaniments onto the skewers or skewers, which look lovely and help make the cocktail easy to drink. Here are the bamboo cocktail picks we use.
What to use to rim a Bloody Maria
What is the best for a Bloody Maria glass rim? Just like with crown molding, there are endless ways to complement the edge of the glass. Here’s what we used, and then some other variations:
- Old Bay & Salt: Use a 50/50 mix of Old Bay seasoning and kosher salt.
- Chili Powder and Salt: For a Mexican twist, use chili powder and kosher salt.
- Celery Salt and Kosher Salt: Mix celery salt with kosher salt for a classic twist.
Varieties of Bloody Mary
Do you like Bloody Maria? Great, we have many variations to choose from! Here are some favorites:
- Classic Bloody Mary Here is the traditional classic.
- Red Snapper The version with gin!
- Spicy Mary Do you like it spicy? Prepare this version with jalapeno pepper. It would be as great as Bloody Maria!
- Virgin Mary Who needs alcohol? This zero-proof version is just as good.
- Damn Caesar The yummy Canadian variant with Clamato juice.
- Michelada Although not a direct descendant, it is a Mexican-style beer-based variant.
This Bloody Maria recipe is…
Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan (with vegan Worcestershire sauce), plant-based and dairy-free.
The description
Substitute tequila for the vodka in a Bloody Mary and you have the Bloody Maria! This simple change adds a touch of Mexican flair to the drink.
- 2 cups Tomato juice, fresh
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce (vegan of choice)
- 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
- ½ teaspoon Mexican hot sauce (like cholula)
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup (8 ounces) Tequila, chilled
- Ice to serve (try clear ice!)
- For the rim: Old Bay seasoning (store-bought or homemade) or chili powder, kosher salt
- For garnish: celery stick, lime wedge, pickled peppers or jalapeno, cocktail onion (use cocktail skewers if necessary)
- If time permits, chill the tomato juice and tequila. Shake the tomato juice before pouring.
- In a large shaker, combine tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, hot sauce, celery salt, and black pepper. Shake well to combine (no ice). Strain into a mason jar or small pitcher.
- Optional: If time permits, refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight for best flavor. (Or make ahead and store for up to 1 week.) Serve right away, though!
- To serve, place a mixture of about half kosher salt and half Old Bay seasoning (or chili powder) on a plate. Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run it around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the brim in a plate of salt.
- In each glass, add 2 ounces (¼ cup) of tequila and ½ cup of Bloody Maria Mix, stirring gently to combine. Fill the glass with ice and add the garnishes. Squeeze the lime wedge before serving.
- Category: drink
- Method: shakes
- Kitchen: cocktails
- Diet: vegetarian
Keywords: Bloody Maria, Bloody Maria cocktail
More tequila drinks
Do you have a bottle of tequila to use? Here are some other tequila cocktails to browse:
- Best Margarita Recipes There are many variations on this classic tequila drink: try classic, mezcal, jalapeño, skinny, and more.
- Paloma tequila and grapefruit make up this classic Mexican cocktail.
- Tequila Sunrise This vibrant cocktail layers the colors of a summer sunrise with tequila, orange and grenadine.
- Ranch Water A Texas-style tequila highball cocktail made with lime juice and sparkling water! Like a bubbly and light version of the margarita.
