Classic Bloody Mary

If your brunch menu isn't complete without a Bloody Mary, then you're in luck because you've just found the best Bloody Mary recipe on the internet! Get ready to pile this spicy, savory cocktail high with your favorite toppings — but first, save this recipe to your collection because it's about to become your go-to.

Bloody Mary Ingredients

The tomato-based cocktail is actually very easy to make with a few simple ingredients:

Spicy Tomato Juice Cocktail
Use your favorite tomato-vegetable juice cocktail, like V8.

Vodka
Vodka is the traditional alcohol in a Bloody Mary.

Worcestershire Sauce
Worcestershire sauce gives the cocktail a savory, umami-rich flavor.

Hot Pepper Sauce
Kick up the spice with hot pepper sauce.

Salt and Pepper
Simple salt and pepper add extra flavor.

Garnishes
This recipe calls for celery and garlic-stuffed green olives for a garnish — but you can add more if you like.

Why Is It Called a Bloody Mary?

No one is quite sure how the cocktail got its gory name, but there are various theories. One legend says the cocktail was named after Queen Mary Tudor and her bloody reign over England. The red tomato juice is meant to signify the blood shed of the Protestants in the 16th century.

However, yet another story claims that the Bloody Mary was named after entertainer George Jessel's friend Mary Geraghty.

What Alcohol Is in a Bloody Mary?

A traditional Bloody Mary always contains vodka. In fact, if you use any other kind of alcohol, it's not called a Bloody Mary anymore.

Tequila and tomato juice? That's a Bloody Maria. What about gin and tomato juice? That's a Red Snapper.

How to Make a Bloody Mary

Since there are no carbonated ingredients, you can make the entire Bloody Mary in one go in a cocktail shaker. To make this easy cocktail, simply shake all ingredients together in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a glass with ice and garnish. Cheers!

Bloody Mary Garnishes

When it comes to garnishing a Bloody Mary, the sky is truly the limit. You can put nearly an entire meal on the drink (like a grilled cheese or hamburger slider) or keep it simple with a few pickles, olives, bacon, or shrimp.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"These were great. After sampling these, I made a pitcher, and we doubled the vodka. I also served it with a slice of crisp bacon. I got rave reviews and they looked so great," says judynobark.

"This was my first time mixing a Bloody Mary, and it tastes just like the one I ordered at a restaurant a few weeks ago...very tasty," raves msmitchielike2cook.

"Very nice, simple bloody mary recipe. Had to use what I had on hand, which meant regular V8 juice instead of spicy. I just added a couple extra dashes of hot sauce. Perfect cure for a hangover," according to Sarah Talbot.

Editorial contributions by Bailey Fink