Sometimes you have the best of intentions when you purchase a bottle of tomato juice or Bloody Mary mix, only to run out of steam. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to dress your juices and mixes up as well as leave them simple and crisp. So ditch your vitamin bottle for the day and whip up a tasty tomato cocktail.
Classic Bloody Mary
This classic recipe (or its tequila-based cousin, the bloody Maria) will quench your thirst whether you add a little pizzaz to tomato juice, liven up your existing Bloody Mary mix, or want something in the middle.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and salt for rim
- 2 ounces vodka
- 4 ounces tomato juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce pickle juice
- ½ ounce horseradish
- 2 dashes Worcestershire
- 2 dashes each salt and paper
- Ice
- Lemon wedge, lime wedge, pickle, and olive for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, pickle juice, horseradish, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lemon wedge, lime wedge, pickle, and olive.
Michelada
What do you get when you can't decide between a beer and a bloody Mary? A Michelada! Who knew a tomato beer drink could be this tasty? You can also try a bloody beer, which uses bloody Mary mix and lager.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and salt-cayenne pepper mix for rim
- 4 ounces tomato juice
- 2-4 dashes hot sauce
- 1-2 dashes Worcestershire
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Lager to top off
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tomato juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Top off with lager.
- Garnish with lime wheel.
Tomato Spritz
Don't scroll past this recipe. The idea may sound unusual, but consider this a lighter Bloody Mary without losing any of the flavors. This means more room for your eggs benedict.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin
- ¾ ounce tomato juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Cucumber slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail glass, add ice, gin, tomato juice, and lemon juice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with cucumber slice.
Oyster Shooter
Grab a shellful of New England with this unique and slurp-worthy oyster shooter.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce tomato juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- 1 oyster, raw or fried
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, tomato juice, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into shot glass.
- Enjoy shot then oyster in quick succession.
Tomato Margarita
Take the weight out of a Bloody Maria but without losing any of that earthy tomato flavor in this savory margarita.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce tomato juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ¼ ounce agave
- Ice
- Orange wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, lime juice, tomato juice, orange liqueur, and agave.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange wheel.
Tomato Juice Cocktail
The name may not be snappy or eyecatching, but when you get down to it, neither is a highball, and look how classic that is. Don't judge a book by its cover. If you don't want a citrus base, opt for a savory vodka such as basil or cucumber.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces citron vodka
- 2 ounces tomato juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Lemon wheel for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, citron vodka, tomato juice, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
BLT Cocktail
Who has the time to make bacon, clean up bacon, and deal with disposing bacon grease? What a drag. Thankfully the world has the BLT cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces bacon vodka
- ¾ ounce pepper vodka
- 3 ounces tomato juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Pinch celery salt
- Ice
- Lemon slice and celery stalk or romaine leaf for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, bacon vodka, pepper vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, and celery salt.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lemon slice and romaine leaf.
Bloody Maria
It's understandable if vodka doesn't do it for you, or maybe you want your Bloody Mary to have a little something ... extra. Enter the Bloody Maria.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and smoked salt rub
- 2 ounces tequila
- 4 ounces tomato juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce horseradish
- ½ ounce Worcestershire
- 2 dashes celery salt
- 2 dashes black pepper
- Pepperoncini, cherry tomato, olive, pickle, celery, and lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, tomato juice, lime juice, horseradish, Worcestershire, celery salt, and black pepper.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with pepperoncini, cherry tomato, olive, pickle, celery, and lime wedge.
Cubanita
Talk a walk on the island side by adding a little rum so you can enjoy this tomato cocktail beachside. Or at least pretend you are.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and Bloody Mary salt seasoning for rim
- 2 ounces silver or gold rum
- 4 ounces tomato juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce Worcestershire
- 2 dashes celery salt
- Lime slice and celery stalk for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, rum, tomato juice, lime juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire, and celery salt.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lime slice and celery stalk.
Red Snapper
Pair your Bloody Mary with those savory yet crisp notes of the juniper in your favorite gin.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and salt for rim
- 2 ounces gin
- 4 ounces tomato juice
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce pickle juice
- ½ ounce Worcestershire
- 2 dashes dried basil
- 2 dashes black pepper
- Ice
- Celery stalk for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, tomato juice, lemon juice, pickle juice, Worcestershire, and seasonings.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with celery stalk.
Bulldog
At first glance, the bulldog variation looks exactly like the red snapper. Don't be fooled by the secret ingredient: garlic!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- 4 ounces tomato juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce horseradish
- ¼-½ ounce minced garlic
- 2 dashes celery salt
- 2 dashes black pepper
- Ice
- Lemon slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, tomato juice, lemon juice, horseradish, garlic, and seasoning.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lemon slice.
Bloody Caesar
A Bloody Caeser: often misunderstood, frequently skipped over, but secretly outstanding Bloody Mary riff. It has all the same ingredients, except for one tiny detail. The use of clamato juice!
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and Italian seasoning for rim
- 2 ounces vodka
- 4½ ounces clamato juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce Worcestershire
- 2 dashes black pepper
- 2 dashes Italian seasoning
- Ice
- Lime slice for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, clamato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lime slice.
Tomato Cocktails to Change the Game
Don't let the savory flavors of tomato juice scare you away from incorporating it into your cocktails. Kick your plain tomato juice to the curb and punch it up with a little gin, freshly minced garlic, or an extra heaping of hot sauce. However you want to shake it, tomato juice and alcohol won't go wrong.
