Bloody Maria

A Bloody Maria is spirited twist on the classic Bloody Mary: In place of vodka, use tequila.

You can thank Texas for this Tex-Mex twist on the favorite brunch cocktail. Besides the different liquor, these two drinks are the same.

Tequila can hold up to the bold flavors of Bloody Mary really well—horseradish, Wrocestershire sauce, lemon juice, and hot sauce. That’s why we added a touch of garlic powder and cumin for enhanced flavor intensity in this drink.

But of course what makes a Bloody Maria or a Bloody Mary special is the customization: Serve it at brunch or, better yet, host a brunch party and create a Bloody Maria bar with dozens of garnishes like cured meats, cheeses, spices, veggies, and olives. You can also change up the type of hot sauce—a sriracha is really good in this—and incorporate more lime juice, which is perfect with tequila.

A Tajin (chili-lime seasoning) rim is perfect since it brings in a citrus element to help cut the spice and balance the tequila. No Bloody Mary or Bloody Maria is complete without hot sauce, and if you're truly sticking to the Texas vibe, reach for Texas Pete.

Spices are completely scalable. If someone doesn’t like a lot of heat, scale back on the hot sauce, horseradish, and black pepper. Or add other spices that will dilute the flavor, like more garlic powder or even onion powder.