Cocktail & Other Recipes By Spirit Tequila & Mezcal Cocktails

Bloody Maria

A tequila twist to a brunch favorite.

The Bloody Mary has been fighting hangovers and improving mornings since the mid-1930s. Despite the obvious qualities of this brunch favorite, the cocktail has spawned several variations, from the gin-spiked Red Snapper to Canada’s national drink, the Clamato-laced Bloody Caesar. But give tequila the nod over vodka and employ some hot sauce, and you get the Bloody Maria, an agave-kissed spin on the classic.

The Bloody Maria has no known origin date or location, and it’s likely that it has existed in some form for decades. The addition of tequila is a natural fit in a cocktail that welcomes interchangeable base spirits, so it’s easy to imagine a curious barkeep adding the agave spirit to the before-noon classic. Throw in some complementary spices and garnishes, and the savory, delicious Bloody Maria is born.

Some Bloody Maria recipes simply swap vodka for tequila, while others call for specific formulas of mixers, hot sauce, accouterments, and garnishes. This Bloody Maria recipe combines tomato juice, two brands of hot sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, and black pepper. It gains an additional kick from a hefty dose of horseradish. To top it off: a salad-like medley of garnishes, including a cucumber spear, jalapeño slices, and queso fresco. The flavorful, spicy combination will get you up and moving, and the garnishes provide a welcome snack.

The next time your brunch (or the prior night’s revelry) requires a restorative drink, mix up your weekend go-to and make it a tequila-spiked Bloody Maria.

Bloody Maria on a striped coaster, garnished with citrus and peppers

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces tequila

  • 4 ounces tomato juice

  • 1/2 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed

  • 1/2 tablespoon prepared horseradish, to taste

  • 4 dashes Worcestershire sauce

  • 2 dashes Tabasco sauce

  • 2 dashes Tapatio hot sauce

  • 1 pinch celery salt

  • 1 pinch ground black pepper

  • Garnish: lime wedge

  • Garnish: lemon wedge

  • Garnish: cucumber spear

  • Garnish: sweet pepper slices

  • Garnish: jalapeno pepper slices

  • Garnish: queso fresco

Steps

  1. Add the tequila, tomato juice, lemon juice, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, Tapatio, celery salt and black pepper to a shaker and fill with ice.

  2. Shake briefly and strain into a pint glass filled with fresh ice.

  3. Garnish with a lime wedge, a lemon wedge, a cucumber spear and a skewer of sweet pepper slices, jalapeno slices and queso fresco.

What Kind of Tequila Should You Use in a Bloody Maria?

The Bloody Mary is one of those cocktails where everyone seems to have a recipe, preferred technique and strong opinions. The Bloody Maria is no different, and that goes for variety of tequilas used.


Blanco tequila will work best with its bright, citrus-forward flavors. If you'd like to try your Bloody Maria with a reposado or añejo tequila, you may find that the drink is slightly sweeter but the aged expressions may also reveal some earthy, saline qualities. To help guide you, refer to our guide on The Differences Between Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo Tequila.