The ultimate bloody Mary recipe, this cocktail is a cocktail and brunch in one! This spicy drink is garnished with sliders and potato wedges for an indulgence you’ll love!

I love a good bloody Mary to go with lazy weekend brunches.

While sweet brunch cocktails like strawberry mimosas are nice, sometimes I just want something with more bite and substance.

And this ultimate bloody Mary recipe gives you just that.

With tomato juice and a healthy dose of flavor from ingredients like everyone’s favorite hard to pronounce sauce, Worcestershire sauce, it’s a winner.

(Note: If you’re from England, you know it’s actually pronounced ‘wooster-sheer’ and not ‘wor-sti-sh-i-re’ or ‘wor-shest-er-shire.’)

What is a bloody Mary?

A bloody Mary is a popular cocktail for weekend brunches.

It normally has vodka, tomato juice, and other spices and flavorings like Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, horseradish, celery and olives.

Because it’s got vegetable juice and celery and a lot of electrolytes, it has a reputation as being a hair of the dog hangover cure.

Not sure how much truth there is, or is not, to this old wives tale- but I do know it’s a staple on brunch menus everywhere.

My take on this classic cocktail has all these classic flavors and ingredients but ups the garnishes.

Why stop at olives and celery when you can garnish your drink with full on appetizers?

How to Make

To make, add the vodka, tomato juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, paprika and horseradish to a mason jar.

Secure the lid on the jar and give it a good shake.

Then, dip the rim of a second, empty mason jar in water and seasoned salt.

Fill the jar halfway with ice and then pour in the bloody Mary. Garnish with celery stalks and appetizers that you have run skewers through.

Serve and enjoy!

What appetizers should I use with this?

You can use any appetizer you can put a skewer through.

I’m a fan of sliders, boneless wings, mozzarella sticks, potato wedges and bacon.

Other options could include:

mini quesadillas
onion rings
potato skins
chicken fingers
pickled things- dill pickles, pickled okra, pickled jalapenos, pickled eggs, etc
shrimp

Whatever you like.

Alternatives To Vodka For Use In Making A Bloody Mary Cocktail

Hands down, a good quality vodka tends to be the go-to choice for whipping up this classic cocktail. However, not everyone likes vodka.

Sometimes too, you’ve got to work with what you have, and you may be out of that particular thing.

Good thing is- there are several other popular choices that can stand in for the tried and true spirit, and taste just as good.

I highly recommend experimenting with whipping up a batch using one or more of these different liquors.

You’ll be pleasantly surprised and may just discover a new favorite.

Other variety’s that pair well include:

Gin
Sherry
Dry Vermouth
Bourbon
Tequila (we call this a Bloody Maria!)
Mezcal
Cognac

Tips and Tricks

Adjust the hot sauce to your taste. I use a whole tablespoon because I like my drink spicy. For a less spicy drink, use less hot sauce.
Sub smoked paprika for an added smoky flavor.
You could easily double the recipe and whisk the drink together in a bowl or shake it together in a large shaker.

Other Loaded Cocktail Recipes You Might Enjoy

This ultimate bloody Mary recipe is one of my favorite brunch indulgences. Make it this weekend and treat yourself!

Looking for another over the top, loaded cocktail? Try one of these:

If you’ve tried this ULTIMATE BLOODY MARY recipe, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on.