The 12 Best Bloody Mary Twists of All Time (2024)

Updated 06/8/21

• Bloody Caesar

  

  Looks delicious, eh? This unique concoction is actually Canada’s national co*cktail. While it calls for the standard vodka, hot sauce and celery stalk, what sets it apart is its four ounces of Clamato, a mix of clam juice and tomato. The unusual ingredient creates a savory drink that is surprisingly quaffable.

  Get the recipe.

• Bloody Roman

  

  There aren’t many people in this world who could convince us to add a raw oyster to a co*cktail. But we trust celebrity chef Chris Cosentino. His Bloody Roman, which features Anchor Steam beer, olives and briny bivalves, is a concoction you need to try at least once. And probably twice.

  Get the recipe.

• Bloody Bulldog

  

  This drink proves that vodka isn’t the only clear spirit that works in a Bloody Mary: This one’s made with gin. The recipe calls for British London dry brand Bulldog, plus a clove of garlic, balsamic vinegar and all the other quintessential Mary mixers.

  Get the recipe.

• Bloody Elixir

  

  The secret to this co*cktail from San Francisco bartender H. Joseph Ehrmann (he says it’s the world’s best Bloody Mary) is Old Bay Seasoning. But that’s not the only trick up Ehrmann’s sleeve; the recipe also boasts a delicious combination of olive and pickle brines. And to top it off, there’s a garnish of a bacon strip and a dill pickle spear. You can even watch Ehrmann make his beloved Bloody Mary.

  Get the recipe.

  Continue to 5 of 12 below

• Bloody Bull

  

  Beef broth in a co*cktail? Yes, that is indeed what is happening here. The classic Bloody Mary gets the beef bouillon treatment, which results in a meaty, savory note that courses through the drink. Traditional accompaniments like lemon, Worcestershire and hot sauce complement the vodka and tomato juice and tie the room together. Mix one of these whenever you want a richer, beefier Bloody Mary.

  Get the recipe.

• Red Snapper

  

  It’s easy to call the Red Snapper “just a Bloody Mary with gin," and you wouldn't be wrong. But while the vodka-spiked version defers to the tomato juice and flavorful accessories, the gin stands tall in a Red Snapper, providing a sturdy backbone that shines through the co*cktail’s other components. So if you like gin and really want to taste the booze in your brunch co*cktail, this one’s for you.

  Get the recipe.

• Vladimiry

  

  In this vodka-fueled recipe from bar pro Casey Elsass, the clear spirit gets thrown into the blender with lemon and carrot juices, a chopped shallot, horseradish, black pepper, caraway seeds and celery salt, rendering a vegetal and gently spicy version of the classic brunch co*cktail.

  Get the recipe.

• Mayan Michelada

  

  The Michelada is Mexico’s answer to theBloody Mary. Beer is usually the sole source of alcohol in this drink, butTijuana Picnic's take amps up the booziness with a splash of mezcal, which also adds subtle smoke and agave notes to the blend of spicy and savory sauces, lime juice, agave nectar and Mexican lager beer.

  Get the recipe.

  Continue to 9 of 12 below

• Bunny Mary

  

  As its name implies, this, too, is a carrot-juice-based Bloody variation, created at now-closed Brooklyn bar Extra Fancy. It joins vodka or aquavit, lemon juice, caper brine, vinegar-based hot sauce and honey syrup, rendering a sweet-savory brunch favorite.

  Get the recipe.

• Bloody Kirby

  

  Taking the Bloody Mary closer to Dirty Martini range is this co*cktail from NYC bar pro Nick Mautone. In this drink, Kirby cucumber slices get muddled with citron vodka, dry vermouth and Tabasco sauce before being shaken up and topped with tomato juice.

  Get the recipe.

• Cucumber Snapper

  

  Similar to a Red Snapper but with the novel additions of cucumber juice, ginger-lemon bitters and ginger beer, this co*cktail, created at NYC's now-shuttered Fedora, is a less-spicy and even more refreshing version of the gin-and-tomato juice classic.

  Get the recipe.

• Bloody Maria

  

  Give vodka the boot and take a southern detour with this flavorful tequila version. It’s laced with two brands of hot sauce and a hefty dose of horseradish. Garnish with a cucumber spear, hot peppers and a chunk of queso fresco, and you’ll have quick access to snacks, too.

  Get the recipe.