Classic Bloody Mary Recipe

A classic Bloody Mary is pretty much synonymous with brunch, and a big ol' glass of tomato juice with a little bit of vodka is the perfect way to start the day. The great part about this drink is that it's unique; whereas a lot of cocktails are sweet, this is salty and sometimes spicy, thanks to the additions of sriracha and horseradish. But perhaps the best part about making a Bloody Mary is loading it up with toppings like olives, bacon, shrimp, and cheese. It's like a cocktail and an appetizer all rolled into one. 

Recipe developer Jaime Shelbert of Wholly Nourished came up with this wonderful recipe that is sure to hit the spot. "I'm a huge fan of Bloody Mary's. I enjoy the spicy/salty aspect of these. As a dietitian, I can't help but love the fact that I'm drinking a cocktail that contains health benefits from the tomato juice," Shelbert says. "This cocktail is perfect for brunch, but really you can enjoy it anytime." 

This recipe requires quite a few items. Pick up kosher salt, Old Bay seasoning, a lemon, tomato juice, vodka, dill pickles (you'll just need the juice), Worcestershire sauce, sriracha, horseradish, celery salt, ground black pepper, and ice. There are also a few optional garnishes you can add, including celery stalks, olives, lemon slices, bacon, shrimp, and cheese.

Once you have the items you need (and those extra ones you want), you can get started on making this classic Bloody Mary. 

Take out a small plate and a few of your seasonings — the salt and Old Bay seasoning. Measure them out and pour them on the plate. This will serve as the seasoning for the rim of your glass. "The special ingredient here is the Old Bay rim. I'm from Maryland where you basically put Old Bay on everything, "Shelbert shares. "The Old Bay really complements the flavors of the Bloody Mary." 

Run a lemon quarter around the rims of both glasses to get them wet and slightly sticky. The lemon will also add a little flavor to the glass. Then, press the rim of each glass into the Old Bay salt mixture to prepare your glasses.

It's time to add the bulk of the ingredients to each glass. Evenly divide the tomato juice, vodka, pickle juice, Worcestershire sauce, sriracha, and horseradish to each glass. Squeeze 2 lemon quarters into each glass and add ½ the celery salt to each glass. Stir well to combine. 

Next, add a few grinds of black pepper and a little pinch of salt to each glass. Stir again. To keep the drink cold, add a few ice cubes to each class to fill it to the top.

"This is a great drink to make ahead of time. You can multiply the recipe and make a large pitcher for serving," Shelbert notes.  

Now that you've finished making the drink itself, the only thing you need to do is garnish it with celery and any other toppings you wish. "To make it even more fun, make a Bloody Mary bar so guests can concoct their favorite toppings from bacon, shrimp, and cheese, to various stuffed olives and pickled vegetables," Shelbert suggests. 

This cocktail is great on its own, but Shelbert says you shouldn't shy away from pairing it with food. "If utilizing an Old Bay rim, then the perfect pairing would be a crab dish such as crab cakes, a crab frittata, or a crab eggs Benedict," Shelbert says. "Breakfast burritos, charcuterie, or a green salad topped with grilled shrimp all pair well with a Bloody Mary as well."