Bloody Maria Drink (Tequila Bloody Mary)

Name: Bloody Maria Drink (Tequila Bloody Mary)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup tomato juice; ¼ cup tequila; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 4 teaspoons Worcestershire (, make sure it’s a vegan variety to keep this fully vegan); 1 tablespoon pickled jalapeno juice; 8 pickled jalapeno slices (, or 4 if your jalapenos are spicy); 3 ½ teaspoons horseradish; 1 ½ teaspoons celery seed; ½ teaspoon lime juice; ½ teaspoon tabasco; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ sea salt (, optional if needed); ¼ teaspoon black pepper; Salt or tajin rim; Pepperoncini; Green olives; Pickled jalapenos; Fresh jalapeno; Celery; Pickle spears; Vegan bacon

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

A bloody Maria drink is simply a bloody Mary that uses tequila instead of vodka. This recipe is made with fresh ingredients and tastes incredible!

I call this a meal in a glass because it's satisfying and filled with veggies. While alcohol may not be considered healthy, everything else in here is so feel free to drink this tequila free!

A single cocktail glass with a bloody Mary and ice filled with veggie garnishes.

This post was originally published on May 23, 2022.

I love a good tequila cocktail, my pineapple jalapeno margarita and passion fruit margarita are top on my list. But this bloody Maria drink (sometimes referred to as a Mexican bloody Mary or a Spanish bloody Mary) is slowly taking rank!

I created this delicious bloody Maria recipe with my friend Juli over at Pure Kitchen Blog. Cocktails are always more fun with friends!

Ingredients

Ditch the mix, because making your own tequila bloody Marys from scratch tastes so much better! Plus, by putting it together yourself you can adjust the flavor to fit your preferences.

There are ideas for garnishes below, but here is what you will need to make the base of this bloody Maria recipe:

Tomato juice
Tequila
Lemon juice
Worcestershire
Pickled jalapeño juice
Jalapeño slices
Horseradish
Celery seed
Lime juice
Tabasco
Garlic powder
Black pepper

Top view of a dark surface with ingredients for a bloody Mary in bowls and spoons.

How to Make a Bloody Maria Drink

It's so easy to make this cocktail recipe! Here's what to do:

Mix all of the ingredients with a spoon.
Muddle the jalapeño slices and let it rest.
Garnish and enjoy!

Hand mixing a red drink with a spoon in a glass measuring cup.

Hand using a wooden muddler to muddle a bloody Mary in a glass measuring cup.

The Best Garnishes for A Bloody Maria

Dress up your Bloody Maria cocktail with a number of garnishes! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Salt Rim
Tajin rim
Pepperoncini
Green olives
Pickled jalapeños
Fresh jalapeño
Celery
Cocktail onions
Pickle spears
Cucumber
Lemon wedges
Lime wedges
Vegan bacon
Or get super extra with a slice of a vegan quesadilla!

A lowball cocktail glass with ice and a bloody Mary in it filled with veggies in front of another one.

Types of Tequila to Use

You can't make a bloody Maria drink without tequila!

In addition to tequila, you can also try using mezcal. While tequila is made in one of five authorized states (much like champagne is only from the Champagne region of France), mezcal can be made in nine states in Mexico.

Blanco - you may also see this called silver, or plata tequila. The clear color is the result of skipping the aging process. This variety has the strongest agave flavor.
Reposado - this tequila is aged for 2-11 months and has a light amber color. The flavor of agave is still present, as well as flavors from the barrel it was aged in. This has a more smooth, or mild finish than blanco.
Añejo - the aging process is longer for this type at 1-3 years. The barrel flavors are much more prominent than the reposado. Being that añejo tequila has so much flavor, it is meant to be sipped neat instead of used in a cocktail.
Mezcal - instead of blue agave (what tequila is made from), mezcal uses any type of agave with a variety of processes. The flavor tends to be a bit more smoky than tequila, give it a try!

Preparation Tips

Adjust the spice level to your preference by adding more or less jalapeños, jalapeño juice, and tabasco.
Try other hot sauces like Cholula, Tapatio, or Valentina.
Depending on how salty your other ingredients are you may or may not need to add salt. Taste before mixing it in.
To keep this recipe vegan, make sure the Worcestershire you use is made with all plant based ingredients.
For the best flavor, allow the mixed drink to set in the fridge for about 30 minutes before pouring over ice.
If you don't like the thicker texture you can also strain it through a mesh strainer.
Double or triple the recipe to fill a pitcher for a fun at home brunch!

Common Questions

bloody mary with tequila

What is the best alcohol for a Bloody Mary?

The traditional booze found in Bloody Marys is vodka. However, like this bloody Mary with tequila, there are now variations with gin, rum, and bourbon.

Why do they call it a Bloody Mary?

This history of the Bloody Mary is a bit muddled (see what I did there?!), with a variety of version of how this popular cocktail came to be. Some say it was named after Queen Mary of England and her bloody reign, others believe it received its namesake from a cabaret dancer. Whatever the origin, I think we can all call them delicious!

Is Bloody Mary a healthy drink?

It can be! While alcohol itself isn't exactly healthy, the other ingredients in this Bloody Mary with tequila recipe are all pretty healthy! Skip the store bought mixes, as they could be filled with sodium, and make your own to ensure you're using the best ingredients.

More Cocktail Recipes

If you like this Bloody Maria drink, here are more libations to try next: