One fine day, with four of my best Bloody Mary drinkers, I set out to make the perfect mix for Bloody Marys by setting out a Bloody Mary Bar, or lab, with lots of ingredients for us to experiment. The results were a different story. We definitely didn’t create a best possible mix. Instead, it turns out, we each made a VERY different version of the classic drink, and almost all of us strongly preferred the version we created. So what I learned was that for serious Bloody Mary conoisseurs, a Bloody Mary Bar is the way to go, so guests can customize their Bloody Mary to suit their particular tastes. Aside from a Bloody Mary Bar yielding the best possible results, it also was incredibly fun. It turns out hosting a Bloody Mary Bar is a brunch in and of itself it you set out enough ingredients. I also recommend asking guests to bring any special fixings that are unique, or that they can’t live without in their desired concoction. I served my Bloody Mary Bar with killer chilaquiles, but really, what wouldn’t pair well with a customized drink? Also, this Bloody Mary Bar was decked out with homemade Celery Aquavit, but really, any vodka will do.
Bloody Mary Bar
Ingredients
Marc
- tastes like sushi
- 4 tablespoons vodka
- 10 tablespoons tomato juice
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon Kevin*
- 1 tablespoon horseradish
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper
- salt to taste
Rebekah
- 3 tablespoons tomato juice
- 2 shakes Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ + teaspoon lime juice
- ¼ + teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon horseradish
- ½ + teaspoon pickle brine
- dash hot sauce
- 2 shakes black pepper
- 1 pinch salt
- ¼ teaspoon caper brine
- ½ teaspoon olive brine
- ½ teaspoon sweet hot pepper brine
- dash ghost pepper salt
- 2 tablespoons vodka
Barrett
- salty
- ¾ cup tomato juice
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- ¾ teaspoon lemon juice
- ¾ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle brine
- ½ teaspoon soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon celery bitters
- ¼ teaspoon ghost pepper salt
- couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tablespoons vodka
Heidi
- 1 ounce = 30 mL can you tell she’s a biochemist?
- 15 mL tomato juice
- 15 mL vodka
- 2 drop Worcestershire sauce
- 2.5 mL lime juice
- 1 mL Dijon mustard
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch ghost pepper salt
- ½ teaspoon sweet pepper brine
- ¼ teaspoon soy sauce
- ¼ teaspoon dill pickle brine
- ¼ teaspoon hot sauce
- Then: to make one serving multiply by four
Michael
- most horseradish = most cocktail saucy
- 8 tablespoons tomato juice
- 1 teaspoon Kevin*
- ½ teaspoon ghost pepper salt
- ½ teaspoon hot sweet pepper brine
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon horseradish
- 2 teaspoons lime
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons vodka
Instructions
- Lay out an array of ingredients.
Provide everyone withe pens and paper. 
Taste each drink and share your results. 
Don’t forget the ice and garnishes when you serve!
What a great idea….love getting plenty of recipes for this great cocktail. Seems as if everyone has their favorite.
Yeah, it’s fun to realize how different they can be.
This is so clever and dare I say, cute! I love that you guys all got together and made your own versions. Here in Canada, we have a drink that is called a Caesar. It reminds me of a bloody Mary, but uses Clamato juice instead of tomato juice. I know, clam juice sounds weird, but it works!
My sister is a huge Caesar fan. She loves the Clamato. There’s also a Mexican version sort of like that that has clam juice and I believe tequila. I should look it up.
What a great idea! I must say that I’d have to go with the more horseradish one. Love some spicy bloody marys! I really love them with Absolute Peppar Vodka
It’s a fun party and it’s great to figure out what your friends like, and who has taste similar to your own.
What a clever idea! I’ve never heard of a bloody mary bar before but I sense a new trend 😉
I was thinking that, too. Any brilliant marketing ideas? I think this one could catch on.
So fun! I’m not a huge bloody mary fan but I’m always impressed at the different concoctions and toppings!
I hear you. Though you could become a fan if you make your own, perhaps. Then it would be how you like it. Unless you just hate tomato juice. 🙂