The BEST Bloody Mary Cocktail Recipe (Spicy!)
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Not your average Bloody Mary Recipe — it’s hot, it’s delicious, and it’s perfect for those who don’t like a super sweet cocktail. This spicy Bloody Mary recipe has everything! Spices, sauces, V8, vodka, and some cute and tasty garnishes. My V8 Bloody Mary looks great, tastes great, and has a spectacular fresh twist!
Everyone tends to love this savory drink. If you’re ready to make the ultimate Bloody Mary, now is the time!
This easy recipe can be the perfect hangover cure or a great Bloody Mary to share with family and friends.
While there are a lot of Bloody Mary mixes out there, the simple ingredients of this savory cocktail are my favorite.
Delicious recipes like this are meant to be shared so enjoy during your Sunday brunch, or to make your own Bloody Mary bar for game day.
If you want to add a little extra flavor to this classic Bloody Mary recipe, you can add some extra black pepper, pickle juice, a lime wedge, and kosher salt to the rim of the glass.
I’ll sometimes even add some hot pepper sauce to this classic cocktail because, at that moment, I just think it’s a good idea!
Make this traditional Bloody Mary and have fun putting your own spin on it! Put your own extra zing on it!
Table of Contents
Bloody Mary Recipe
Since we’re making a V8 Bloody Mary, can we technically say it’s healthy?
This spicy Bloody Mary recipe is just what I’m craving during brunch when I don’t want yet another sweet drink!
Plus, it’s an easy Bloody Mary recipe I can whip up on the fly!
Let me share some of my other favorite brunch drink recipes while we’re here!
My berry moscato sangria looks and tastes absolutely beautiful — it’s a pretty picture in a pitcher and great to make in large quantities.
And you can’t beat a tequila sunrise! It’s sweet but not too sweet.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- V8 – My go-to tomato juice for making the best Bloody Mary recipe! I like how viscous it is, as well as the acidity, without an overwhelming amount of saltiness.
- Vodka – I like using a vodka that doesn’t have too much flavor on its own, or one that has a bit of spice and bitterness to go with our tomato juice.
- Lemon Juice – You absolutely need that bit of freshness in this Bloody Mary recipe! It does wonders to complement the tomato juice and brighten the whole glass.
Lime juice is a great substitute if you’re looking for one. - Horseradish – I use prepared horseradish, not horseradish sauce!
The sauce has cream ingredients that I won’t want to mess with when I’m making a spicy Bloody Mary with V8. - Tabasco – Just a few dashes are all we need!
This is my favorite hot sauce to accompany my V8 Bloody Mary, but some other great options include Texas Pete and Frank’s Red Hot.
It should be thin and vinegary! - Worcestershire Sauce – Thick, savory, and just a little bit sweet. It actually has a bit of everything we want for the best Bloody Mary recipe!
As far as substitutes go, you can mix a bit of ketchup with some soy sauce.
Tips for Making My Easy Bloody Mary Recipe
- Use the freshest herbs
Thyme, cilantro, parsley, and oregano all complement our tomato-y Bloody Mary cocktail beautifully!
Give it a try if you like — finely chop them or process them in a food processor before adding to the mix.
- Dress up the glass
If you’re not a fan of the celery salt around the rim of your glass, any coarse salt works great for cutting through the vodka.
Sea salt is easy to use, and pink Himalayan salt is super cute and one of my favorites when I’m feeling fancy!
- Great garnishes for your drink
A lemon wedge is a given, and celery is a common garnish as well.
But what about some savory, mouthwatering bacon or some tangy olives? You could even throw a pickle spear in there!
How to Make a V8 Bloody Mary Ahead of Time
Whip up this Bloody Mary recipe whenever you want — a homemade spicy Bloody Mary drink will last for up to a week in the fridge.
Just give it a good stir before serving, especially if you’ll be pouring it over ice.
This recipe makes a single serving, so go ahead and quadruple the amounts in a pitcher if you plan on pouring several at a time.
Hold off on adding the garnishes until you’re ready to serve to keep things fresh, bright, and inviting!
How to Make a Virgin Bloody Mary
This version is known simply as a Virgin Mary and is a really popular drink in its own right. Making one is easy — just don’t add the vodka!
Use extra tomato juice to make up for the loss of liquor. Otherwise, the two recipes are exactly the same!
There are also Bloody Mary mixers out there that you can purchase to use in place of the vodka. Find them in the grocery store alongside the other cocktail mixes.
Spicy Bloody Mary Recipe FAQ
You have a couple of options! The easiest is to use spicy V8 juice — yes, they have that!
Alternatively, you can simply increase the amounts of horseradish and Tabasco until the heat is just to your liking.
If you don’t like hot cocktails, then I’d bring the horseradish down to just one tablespoon.
You may want to start without the horseradish altogether and then just add to taste at the end. Same goes for Tabasco! It’s really easy to mix in, so simply save it and add enough to get the flavor but not the heat.
No substitutes needed — just make it stirred, not shaken! Add everything to a glass and stir thoroughly.
Top your spicy Bloody Mary off with ice at the very end to finish, or pour over ice in a separate glass.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Cocktail Recipes
The BEST Bloody Mary Cocktail Recipe (Spicy!)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces v8, or spicy v8, or tomato juice
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
- 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 dashes tabasco sauce
- 1 lemon wedge
- 2 teaspoon celery salt
Optional Garnishes
- green olives, celery, bacon, lemons
Instructions
- Add several ice cubes to a cocktail shaker, then add in the tomato juice, vodka, lemon juice, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, and tabasco sauce. Shake the drink to combine.
- Press the lemon wedge around the rim of a 12-ounce (or larger) glass. Pour the celery salt onto a plate and dip the rim of your glass into the celery salt.
- Pour the bloody mary into the glass and add your desired garnishes.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published December 2022, updated and republished December 2024
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We’re Donna and Chad, the dream team behind The Slow Roasted Italian. Our focus is on taking complicated OUT of the kitchen. Life is busy enough, making meals should be fast and easy, to help make your life as simple as possible. Read More >>
I love love LOVE spicy drinks, and this one is perfect. I like that you can make it as spicy as you want it.
Would love to make a pitcher of these for mothers day brunch..would this recipe work?