This Spicy Bloody Mary comes loaded with all the best accompaniments including a bacon twist! It's a family favorite for brunch and a great cocktail for watching the game.
This post was originally published in March 2022, sponsored by Miller's Gourmet Foods, and has been updated for content.
Bloody Marys are one of my favorite cocktails for brunch or holiday breakfasts. They are easy to customize with your favorite toppings and they're made with tomato juice, so they have to be good for you right?!
I personally love my bloody mary on the spicy side. I'll take you through the easy steps to make a foolproof spicy mix for a party or a lazy Sunday morning.
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🌶 Ingredients and Toppings for Bloody Marys
- Bloody Mary Mix - My easy homemade mix is made with plain tomato juice with basic seasonings and spices. I highly recommend using the Miller's Banana Pepper Sauce (affiliate link) in the mix. It's the perfect blend of sweet and spicy, it comes in three flavors AND adds a delicious banana pepper flavor. Use your favorite hot sauce as a substitute if necessary. You can also omit it for a non-spicy version.
- Bacon Twist - I saw these viral bacon twists on TikTok and when I tried them out myself, I immediately thought they would be good in a drink! They are super easy to make and add a great garnish to this cocktail.
- Garnishes - The toppings and accompaniments are really up to you and what you like. I like olives, banana peppers, cocktail shrimp, and a celery stick. If it was up to my husband, the bloody mary should be a whole meal! Some other garnish ideas include pickle spears, sliced jalapeños, fresh lime wedges, cocktail onions, or marinated artichokes.
🍹How to Make the Perfect Spicy Bloody Mary
First, start by making the twisted bacon for the garnishes. Take each strip of bacon and twist them as tightly as you can. (I have found that regular sliced bacon twists better than thick sliced!)
Place the bacon on a lined sheet pan and cook in the oven for about 20-25 minutes at 400˚ oven until crispy and browned. Move them to a stack of paper towels to let the extra grease drain.
While the bacon is cooling, you can put together the chili salt for the rim of the glasses. Mix the chili and salt so it's incorporated together and then place it on a small plate or shallow dish that is big enough to dip the top of the glass into.
Take a lime wedge and run it around the rim of the glass to wet it. Then dip the rim into the chili salt so it sticks well.
Next, put together the mix by combining the tomato juice with the vodka, banana pepper sauce, olive juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, and celery salt into a large pitcher. Stir to mix and then you are ready to build your drink!
Fill a pint glass about ยพ of the way with ice and pour the bloody mary mix over the top. Make sure to leave an inch or two at the top to make room for your add-ins.
Lastly, add your garnishes on, around, or in the glass. If they are smaller garnishes, like peppers or olives, use a toothpick rested on the glass, so it doesn't fall in the drink. Larger garnishes like bacon twists, shrimp, or celery can be put directly in the drink or hung on the side.
If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that is mentioned, be sure to look it up in our Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.
💭 Frequently Asked Questions?
The bloody mary mix is fine to make up to 24 hours ahead of time with the vodka or up to 3 days without it. Don't add ice to the mix ahead of time though or it will water down the drinks. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator to keep the mix as fresh as possible.
To make a virgin bloody mary, omit the vodka from the mix and add whatever garnishes you like!
🍸 More brunch cocktail recipes
If you loved this Spicy Bloody Mary Recipe, check out these other cocktail recipes that are great for brunch too!
๐ Recipe
Spicy Bloody Mary with a Bacon Twist
Ingredients
Twisted Bacon Garnish
- 4 slices bacon, regular slice, NOT thick-sliced
Chili Salt Rim
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1 Tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 whole lime, cut into wedges
Spicy Bloody Mary
- 12 ounces plain tomato juice
- 8 ounces vodka
- 3 ounces Millers Banana Pepper Sauce, hot flavor (affiliate link), or your favorite hot sauce
- 2 ounces olive juice
- 2 ounces fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 4 dashes liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon celery salt
- 2 cups ice
Garnishes
- 4 medium celery stalks
- 4 large cooked shrimp, tail on or off
- 4 whole green pimento stuffed olives
- 4 whole banana peppers, hot or mild
Instructions
Twisted Bacon Garnish
- Preheat the oven to 400˚ and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Twist each slice of bacon as tightly as possible and lay them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Cook the bacon in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until crispy and browned. Let the bacon drain and cool completely on paper towels.
Chili Salt
- Mix the chili powder and salt together and place on a small plate or shallow dish that is big enough to dip the top of the glass into.
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of each glass to wet it and then dip it into the chili salt mixture so it sticks.
Spicy Bloody Mary Mix
- In a pitcher, combine the tomato juice, vodka, banana pepper sauce, olive juice, fresh lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, and celery salt. Stir to combine.
- Fill the rimmed glasses about ยพ of the way to the top with ice and pour the mix over the top, leaving 1-2 inches from the top for garnishes.
- Add a bacon twist and celery stalk into the drink, hang a shrimp on the side, and then place an olive and banana pepper on a toothpick to rest on the top of the glass.
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