Concoct your own homemade Bloody Mary mix using fresh tomatoes, jalapeños, lemon juice, horseradish, and simple syrup in this recipe from Chef Wolfgang Puck.
Learn From the Best
When life calls for a little hair of the dog, nothing tops the boozy brunch charts quite like a well-constructed Bloody Mary. (Even a canned Bloody Mary mix at 30,000 feet will do the trick!) As the flavor-packed counterpart to a simple Bellini or Mimosa, the Bloody Mary is a kicky, customizable wake-up call—crowned with a statement celery stalk or a fantastical menagerie of skewered green olives, pepperoncinis, dill pickle spears, bacon, poached shrimp, or even fried chicken.
In this recipe, Chef Wolfgang Puck shows you how to make your own homemade bloody mary mix from fresh tomatoes, jalapeños, lemon juice, horseradish, and simple syrup.
What Is a Bloody Mary?
A Bloody Mary is a spicy, vegetal cocktail featuring a base of vodka and tomato juice and any number of flavorings like Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. It is served over ice in a tall glass, and garnished with celery, olives, and a lemon wedge.
Origins of the Bloody Mary Cocktail
Like most cocktail origin stories, the Bloody Mary is said to have been an improvised invention at a few different spots in the 1930s—including Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, and both the St. Regis Hotel and 21 Club in New York City. The origins of the name are unknown: depending on who you ask, “Bloody Mary” could refer to Queen Mary I, Hollywood actress Mary Pickford, or various waitresses and showgirls named Mary. In the 1940s, it appeared briefly under a new name, the “Red Hammer,” which, as you might guess, didn’t stick.
How to Make the Best Bloody Mary
For a single serving of a basic Bloody Mary cocktail, coat the bottom of a glass with salt, ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, two dashes of hot sauce, and ½ ounce fresh lemon and/or lime juice. Add 1 ½ oz vodka and 4 oz of tomato juice, and stir well to combine.
Sprinkle sea salt, celery salt, or chili salt (sea salt mixed with paprika) onto a small plate. Wet the rim of a highball glass with a lemon wedge, and press lightly into the salt for an even coating. Fill glass with ice, and pour in the Bloody Mary mixture. Taste, and adjust heat levels or seasoning as needed. Garnish with a celery stick, skewered olives, and a lemon or lime wedge.
Chef Wolfgang Puck’s Homemade Bloody Mary Recipe
makes
2 drinksprep time
5 mintotal time
5 minIngredients
“As a chef, I make cocktails which are chef-driven,” Chef says, “with ingredients right from the market.” Wolfgang Puck’s easy recipe for a perfect Bloody Mary is inspired by farmers’ market tomatoes, which he highlights by using his own freshly muddled tomato juice and a garnish of whole cherry tomatoes and lemon slices on a skewer.
- 1
Place the quartered tomatoes and jalapeño slices in a cocktail shaker. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- 2
Add simple syrup, lemon juice, and horseradish. Muddle the ingredients in a mixing glass, a pint glass, or a shaker tin.
- 3
Add the vodka and ice. Cover and shake well.
- 4
Place several ice cubes in a highball glass, and top with strained Bloody Mary contents. Garnish each glass with a stalk of celery and a skewer with a lemon wedge and cherry tomato.
Learn more about cocktails with Chef Puck here.
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