This, ladies and gentleman, is not just about making your own Bloody Mary mix and infusing some vodka. This right here, is how to set up an entire Bloody Mary Bar!
The Mix
In all honesty, you can go buy some Zing-Zang, Mr. and Mrs. T’s, Jimmy Luv’s, or Tabasco mixes…ORRRRR, you can put your own mix together! It is simple, you probably have most of the ingredients at home, and you will never look back! If you’re putting together an entire Bloody Mary Bar, you HAVE to make your own mix! IT IS A MUST!
There are so many different versions of Bloody Mary’s that can be had. Thick/Thin. Sweet/Salty. Spicy/Incorrect. Red/Green. Personally, I love me some THICCCC Bloody Mary’s, good amount salt, herbs, and definitely A LOT of kick.
The Booze
I am no Vodka aficionado. Vodka kinda all just tastes the same to me with different levels of burning and suck. You can only go up with Vodka. So, why not impart your own flavor?? As previously stated, I really enjoy a spicy Bloody. Adding some fresh and dried Peppers will take it to a whole new level! There is a richness that comes from it that you can definitely tell the difference from! Plus, it is incredibly simple! Literally, just throw all of those things in there for 1-3 days, strain, drink, drank, drunk.
- 1 L Vodka (I used Tito’s)
- 1 Ancho Chile
- 1 Guajillo Chile
- 1 Jalapeno (fresh, sliced)
- 1 tbsp. Whole Peppercorn
What’s that? You don’t like spicy? Let’s just start with, you’re wrong, grow up. Secondly, I have a mix just for you!
- 1 L Vodka
- 5 Basil Leaves
- 2 Roma Tomatoes (cut into 4th’s)
- 1/2 Green Pepper (cut into 4th’s)
- 1/2 tbsp. Peppercorn
The Garnishes and Tips
Don’t get me wrong, I love those insane Bloody Mary’s that have a full Fried Chicken, 7 Cheeseburger Sliders, and a Chicago Style Pizza on top. From what I have found though, they usually don’t have a very good Bloody Mary underneath. There are a couple that prove this wrong (Nitty Gritty’s “Brunchzilla” and Sobelman’s crazy one.) In all honesty, simple is sometimes better. To me, a well thought out garnish-ment that pairs well with the Bloody flavors are FAR more important! For my Bloody Mary Bar and mix, the classic garnishes are all that is necessary and also what pairs best!
- Meat Sticks
- Bacon
- Pickle Spears
- Cheese (Cheddar, Smoked Gouda, Dill Curds)
- Celery Stalks
- Lemon Wedges
- Green Olives
- Pickle Spears
- Pepperoncini
- Onion Pearls
Some tips for down the road!
- Vodka isn’t the only liquor that can be used! Use up some Gin, hell, use some Bourbon! But remember, the garnishes may need to change for different liquors.
- Always have some extra hot sauce! Sriracha, Tabasco, Valentina, Cholula, etc. You get the point. BRING THE HEAT!
- Make sure you have plenty of ice.
- Another tip for ice (WHAT?! Two tips for ice? This guy must be a pro.) If you make your own mix (or even if you don’t!), make ice cubes out of the mix! You’ll keep your drink nice and cold but not watered down.
The Sidecar/The Chaser/The Beer Back
Is beer a garnish? For Bloody Mary’s it sure is! But, with so many beers out on the market, it is hard to know which to pick! So, you need something that will pair well with the flavor profile of the Bloody but still be it’s own thing.
Personally, I would stick with lighter beers: Pilsners, Light Lagers, Pale Ale’s, and some IPA’s. The hoppiness of the Pale Ales and IPA’s pair perfectly with the spicy, where as, the light, crispness of Pilsners and Light Lagers help cut the abundance of flavors in the Bloody.
STAY THE F*** AWAY FROM DARK BEER! Especially, Chocolate Stouts and Porters. While delicious, they are just garbage for pairing with Bloodies.
HAPPY NEW YEAR and HAPPY BLOODY MARY BAR! ON WISCONSIN!
Bloody Mary
Ingredients
- 64 oz. Tomato Juice
- 5 tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
- 3 tbsp. Dijon Mustard
- 4 tbsp. Horseradish (prepared)
- 3 tbsp. Lemon Juice
- 2 tbsp. Lime Juice
- 2 tbsp. Pickle Juice
- 2 tbsp. Pepperoncini Juice
- 3 tbsp. Sriracha
- 2 tbsp. Tabasco
- 1 tbsp Chipotle Sauce
- 1 tbsp. Vodka
- 1 tbsp. Celery Salt
- 1 tbsp. Garlic Powder
- 1 tbsp. Onion Powder
- 1 tsp. Black Pepper
- 1 tsp. Salt
Instructions
- Pour Tomato Juice into large mixing bowl.
- Add all ingredients into Tomato Juice. Stir until evenly incorporated.
- Pour back into original container. (Have extra container ready because original container will not fit all mixture.)
- Chill until use.
Notes
Add Olive Juice for additional brine.
For BBQ style, leave Pickle Juice out and add 3 tbsp. BBQ Sauce to mixture.