Bloody Maria Recipe

Prepare jalapeño

Wash the jalapeño. Slice off the stem and halve lengthwise. For medium heat leave some seeds; for milder infusion scrape seeds out. Slice into 2–3 pieces.

Combine tequila and jalapeño

Place 1.5 cups Espolòn Blanco and the sliced jalapeño into a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Seal and shake gently to combine.

Infuse

Let the jar sit at room temperature for 6–12 hours for a bright, moderate heat. Check at 6 hours; taste a drop on a spoon. If you prefer stronger heat, infuse up to 24 hours. Do not exceed 48 hours to avoid overly vegetal bitterness.

Strain and store

When desired heat is reached, strain tequila through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean bottle. Discard jalapeño solids. Label and refrigerate or store at room temp. Use within 1 month for best flavor.

Combine seasonings

In a mixing bowl or jar, add 2 tbsp fresh lime juice, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp prepared horseradish, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp hot sauce, 1 tsp ground black pepper, 1 tsp celery salt, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp ground cumin, and 1/2 tsp salt. Whisk or shake to form a smooth seasoning paste.

Add tomato juice

Pour 2 cups tomato juice into the bowl or jar with the seasoning paste. Whisk or shake until thoroughly combined and evenly seasoned. Taste and adjust: add more hot sauce for heat, more Worcestershire for umami, or more lime/lemon for brightness.

Chill

Cover and refrigerate the mix for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld. The mix will keep, refrigerated, for up to 5 days.

Prepare glass rim

Run a lime wedge around the rim of a highball or Collins glass. Dip the rim into coarse salt or celery salt (about 1 tbsp) to coat. Fill the glass with ice.

Measure and mix

Into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 2 oz jalapeño-infused Espolòn tequila and 4 oz house Bloody Mary mix. Gently roll or shake briefly (3–5 seconds) to chill and combine — avoid heavy shaking to preserve texture.

Strain and serve

Strain the mixture into the prepared glass over fresh ice if desired, or pour directly from shaker into glass with ice.

Garnish

Garnish with a celery stalk, a lime wheel, and an optional pickled jalapeño slice threaded onto the celery or placed on a skewer. Squeeze the reserved lime wedge over the drink if extra brightness is desired.

Serving suggestion

Serve immediately. One batch of the Bloody Mary mix and infused tequila will make multiple cocktails: use the servings below to scale as needed.