Bloody Mary's, Brunch Drinks & Brunch Speciality Cocktails Recipe

Prepare Glass

Choose a tall highball or pint glass. If rimming, rub a lemon wedge around the glass lip, then dip the rim into a shallow plate with coarse salt or celery salt mixed with a pinch of black pepper. Set glass aside.

Mix Cocktail

Fill a cocktail shaker or mixing glass with ice (about 1 cup). Add 2 oz vodka, 4 oz tomato juice, 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice, 0.5 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 0.5 tsp prepared horseradish (if using), 3 drops hot sauce, a pinch of celery salt, a pinch of smoked paprika, and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper.

Stir or Shake

Gently stir the mixture for 10–15 seconds if you prefer a silky, less aerated drink. If you like a frothier texture, do a quick shake (5–8 seconds). Shaking will chill and slightly dilute the drink more quickly.

Assemble

Fill the prepared glass with fresh ice. Strain the cocktail into the glass over the ice. Taste and adjust seasoning: add an extra drop of hot sauce, a squeeze of lemon, or a sprinkle more celery salt or black pepper to suit preference.

Garnish

Skewer two pitted green olives on a cocktail pick and rest across the glass. Add a celery stalk and a lemon wedge on the rim. Serve immediately with a straw.

For a clean rim, ensure the lemon wedge juice is evenly rubbed around the glass lip. Use coarse salt or celery salt for texture and flavor. For extra visual contrast and flavor, mix a small pinch of black pepper into the rim salt before dipping.

If using more elaborate garnishes (bacon strip, pickled beans, shrimp), prepare those separately and spear them with the cocktail pick alongside olives. Ensure any hot garnish is cooled to avoid wilting the celery.

Combine 32 oz tomato juice, 4 oz fresh lemon juice, 4 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 24 drops hot sauce, 2 tsp prepared horseradish (optional), 0.5 tbs celery salt, 0.5 tbs freshly ground black pepper, and 0.5 tbs smoked paprika in a large pitcher or jar. Stir thoroughly until blended.

Taste and adjust seasoning. Chill the mix for at least 1 hour. When ready to serve, add 2 oz vodka to each 6 oz serving of mix (or 2 oz vodka + 4 oz mix for the proportions above), pour over ice in rimmed glasses, and garnish as described.

Store leftover batch mix covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir before using if ingredients have separated.