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Home » How To Build a Bloody Mary Bar

How To Build a Bloody Mary Bar

December 30, 2020 4 Comments


Build Bloody Mary Bar

One of the most welcome beverages for brunch (or any time of the day or evening) is a Bloody Mary!  And if you’re in luck, there will be a ” build your own  Bloody Mary bar “! 

Everyone’s tastes are so different.  Some like them hot, others like them plain and simple, and then there are those of us who like a loaded Bloody Mary.  So providing a Bloody Mary bar with lots of options for mixing and matching . . . well it just makes everyone happy, no matter how diverse their preferences.

Creating a Bloody Mary bar is very simple really.  It just takes a little bit of creative ingenuity and some time to set things out in an enticing presentation.  Take ingredients OUT of their jars and cans and into nice bowls, trays, and carafes.  But if you don’t have many of these, that’s ok too.  The point is to have lots of delicious options!  

Let’s start with the fun stuff to build a Bloody Mary bar!  

The GARNISHES!!

The BASIC Must-Haves :

  • Celery stalks WITH the leaves ON
  • Carrot sticks
  • Limes
  • Lemons
  • Green olives

Then add the extra goodies on your Build a Bloody Mary Bar:

  • Pickle spears
  • Mini gherkin pickles
  • Pepperoncini
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Black olives
  • Pickled asparagus
  • Fresh green beans
  • Pickled beets
  • Pickled jalapeños
  • Baby corn
  • Artichoke hearts
  • Large caper berries
  • Marinated cocktail pearl onions
  • Okra
  • Cucumber slices
  • Garlic cloves

Offer protein options:

  • Cooked, THICK, smoked bacon
  • Cooked shrimp
  • Hard-boiled eggs
  • Sliced hot salami or soprassetta
  • Chunks of cheese (I use Pepper Jack)
  • Pepperoni sticks
  • Crumbled blue cheese or feta cheese
  • Cubes of cooked steak

Provide liquid flavor options on a Build a Bloody Mary Bar:

  • Tobasco Sauce
  • Frank’s Hot Sauce
  • Worcestershire Sauce
  • Horseradish Sauce
  • 57 Steak Sauce
  • Louisiana Hot Sauce
  • Siracha
  • Cholula
  • Pickle juice
  • Green Olive juice <—- Very difficult to find in stores!
  • Lime juice
  • Lemon juice

Don’t forget an array of dry seasonings:

  • Celery salt
  • Garlic salt
  • Lemon pepper
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Seasoned salt
  • Coarse sea salt
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Paprika
  • Red pepper flakes

Include a variety of juices:

  • Regular unflavored tomato juice
  • V-8 Juice, both hot and spicy and unflavored
  • Zing Zang
  • Charleston Bold & Spicy

Here are some great products that you’ll love when preparing your Bloody Marys!

Zing Zang is one of the BEST bottled Bloody Mary Mixes of all time — Award Winning!
 
Charleston “BOLD & SPICY” Bloody Mary Mix
 
Glass pitcher
Glass Carafes
Fancy 6″ Bamboo Sticks

Bloody Mary “Garnish Tree” (How cool is this?)

PIN FOR LATER!

How To Build a BLOODY MARY Bar

Roz's ULTIMATE Bloody Mary

Roz's ULTIMATE Bloody Mary

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. spicy Bloody Mary mix (Charleston Bold and Spicy or Zing Zang)
  • 2 medium tomatoes, diced
  • 1 cup crushed ice
  • ½ tsp. creamy hot horseradish
  • ½ Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ tsp. Tabasco sauce
  • several dashes Cholula chili lime hot sauce
  • several dashes Cholula chipotle hot sauce
  • several dashes Sriracha hot chili sauce
  • pinch of celery salt
  • pinch of garlic salt
  • pinch of onion salt
  • ¼ tsp. freshly-cracked black pepper

Spicy Rim Mixture

  • Several pinches of wasabi powder
  • 1 Tbsp. Mrs. Dash extra spicy seasoning blend
  • 1/2 tsp. ground red pepper
  • Skewer Garnish options:
  • Large stuffed green olives
  • Large black olives
  • Pickled okra
  • Chunks of cheese
  • Pickled beets
  • Cooked shrimp
  • Hot pepperoncini
  • Celery stalks with leaves
  • Lime and Lemon wedges
  • Dill pickles
  • Pickle asparagus
  • Garnish: Crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

Instructions

    1. Prepare garnishes first so that they are ready when the Bloody Mary is completely blended OR if using a Bloody Mary Bar, then allow guests to assemle their own garnish skewers.
    2. Pour desired amount of vodka in each glass.
    3. Add tomato juice of choice.
    4. Add any garnish, season, spice preferred.
    5. Taste and add more of your preferred ingredients.
    6. Dip the rim of a glass into about a quarter-inch of water or olive oil poured on a small plate.
    7. Then mix the rim mixture on a small plate.
    8. Dip thew wet rim of the glass into the hot and spicy rim mixture and twist.
    9. Pour the Bloody Mary mixutre into a glass and garnish with bacon slices, celery stalks with leaves, carrot sticks, and skewered olives, pickled okra, cherry tomatoes (whatever you like).
    10. Sprinkle gorgonzola crumbles on top.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Gmark Bamboo Knot Skewers 6" 200 ct, Bamboo Knot Picks, Twisted Ends Bamboo Picks Cocktail Picks GM1030
    Gmark Bamboo Knot Skewers 6" 200 ct, Bamboo Knot Picks, Twisted Ends Bamboo Picks Cocktail Picks GM1030
  • Charleston Mix, Cocktail Mix Bloody Mary Bold And Spicy, 32 Fl Oz
    Charleston Mix, Cocktail Mix Bloody Mary Bold And Spicy, 32 Fl Oz
  • Zing Zang Award Winning Bloody Mary Mix - (2 Pack of 32 Fl. Oz. Bottles)
    Zing Zang Award Winning Bloody Mary Mix - (2 Pack of 32 Fl. Oz. Bottles)
© Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina
Cuisine: American / Category: Beverages / Cocktails

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Reader Interactions

 

I read each and every comment and respond to questions asap, so ask away!  As I always say, “If you’ve made a recipe, please take a photo and I’ll be happy to share your experience and photo of the recipe with all of us in this blog community!”

The kindness of giving a thumbs up 5-star rating is greatly appreciated!

~ Roz

Comments

  1. angiesrecipes says

    December 30, 2020 at 10:36 PM

    Can I invite myself to your party? LOL Gorgeous drink and photos, Roz.
    Happy New Year!

    Reply
    • Roz says

      December 31, 2020 at 7:12 PM

      I’d love to have you over even without a party, Angie! You would be such an amazing guest!
      Happy New Year!
      Roz

      Reply
  2. mjskitchen says

    January 1, 2021 at 11:52 AM

    Talk about interesting timing. I’m sitting here reading this post and my husband who is across the room asks “So we are having bloody Mary’s today?” . 🙂 You bet cha!!!! It’s only 10 am here, but, after reading this, I’m ready to jump up and make one. Mine are so boring compared to yours. You’ve given me a couple of ideas to jazz mine up today. I love the addition of the greens olives and wasabi. I have both so it’s a great day to give something new a try. Here’s a toast to having a great first day of 2021 my friend! XOXO

    Reply
  3. Roz says

    February 15, 2021 at 8:32 AM

    Oh MJ, that is so serendipitous! It’s so cool when that happens! Bobby must have read our minds and 10:00 is the perfect time for a Bloody Mary (on the weekends) I think for what it’s worth.
    Cheers, my friend,
    Roz

    Reply

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Welcome!

Welcome!

Ciao, I'm Roz!
From my family's kitchens and restaurants in the U.S. and Italy, I share classic, delicious recipes . . . and always served with 'amore'! I'll help you master the art of cooking with easy to follow instructions and cooking tips. Get ready for the compliments! Buon Appetito!

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