Tried And True Bloody Mary Recipe

While mimosas may have a reputation for being the quintessential brunch cocktail, there's no denying that the Bloody Mary is a close rival. The cocktail is certainly a polarizing one, as the thought of combining vodka with tomato juice and garnishing with celery is ... perhaps a bit odd. But once you have that first sip, you'll understand why the Bloody Mary is such a popular drink. It's great for those who want to add a boozy factor to their brunch, but don't want to drown in a sugary sea of sweet. 

"I love the vibrant color and unique flavor blend of this cocktail," recipe developer Catherine Brookes explains. With that iconic red hue and even more iconic flavor, a Bloody Mary is surprisingly fresh and goes down easier than you might think. Plus: You can easily make it at home with little fuss and only a few ingredients, so what are you waiting for? Impress your friends with homemade brunch, and be sure to serve a classic Bloody Mary to take things up a notch. 

The two key ingredients here are vodka and tomato juice, but there are a few others that will help round out the cocktail. You'll also need lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, a few dashes of Tabasco sauce, some salt and pepper, and a little bit of celery salt, plus some celery sticks and lemon slices for garnish.

If you find yourself grabbing celery salt and don't know what else you'd do with it, don't worry: The seasoning has plenty of fantastic additional uses!

It couldn't be easier to whip up a couple of Bloody Mary cocktails. To start, simply add all of the ingredients (minus the garnishes) to a blender, then blitz until they're thoroughly combined. "I find it to be easier to blend everything really well," Brookes explains, but she assures us that "shaking or mixing totally is fine, too," especially for those who don't have a blender.

Once the ingredients are all mixed, pour the drink into two glasses. Go ahead and add some ice to the glasses, along with a celery stick and a lemon slice. "You could [also] add some olives or cucumber slices," Brookes suggests. There are really countless ways that you could customize a Bloody Mary, so feel free to get creative with the garnishes. That said, nothing beats the classic simplicity of a celery stick!

While a Bloody Mary is often served during breakfast or brunch, there's nothing stopping your from whipping up this cocktail whenever you want. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the surprisingly smooth and refreshing flavors that this tomato-y cocktail has to offer!