The Best Bloody Mary Mix Options, According to Pros
Updated: Mar. 27, 2024
Complete your weekend brunch with the best Bloody Mary mix. Our Test Kitchen sampled 10 brands to find the perfect blends for your cocktail.
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For many, Sunday brunch isn’t complete without a Bloody Mary. This inexplicable combination of tomato juice, celery salt, Worcestershire sauce and vodka is a must-order item at any weekend morning hot spot.
But we all know that Bloody Marys aren’t just the purview of trendy brunch destinations. Bloodies can (and should!) be enjoyed at home with all the garnishes you want. Mixing up your own Bloody Mary from scratch requires some work and a lot of ingredients. It’s no wonder that so many of us just want to cut to the chase and make our drink with a bottle of Bloody Mary mix and our go-to vodka.
So which Bloody Mary mix should you be buying? You don’t want to grab any ol’ bottle and be disappointed by a runny and spiceless cocktail. To get to the bottom of this, our Taste of Home Test Kitchen, a talented crew of culinarians and tasters, sampled all the biggest brands to find the best Bloody Mary mix.
Best Crowd-Pleasing Bloody Mary Mix
Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix
Pros:
- Great consistency—not too thick or runny
- Terrific balance of heat and tomato
- Complex flavors and top-notch blend of spices
Cons:
- Color isn’t super vivid
Next time you’re hosting brunch and want a cocktail that’ll satisfy all your guests, grab a bottle or two of Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix.
This premade mixer is packed with flavor and layer after layer of spice. According to Sarah Farmer, head of our Test Kitchen, “The taste here is bold and robust.”
With every sip, our team could pick out new flavors including Worcestshire sauce, garlic, celery and even hints of smoke. Combined together, Zing Zang made for a really satisfying Virgin Mary (that’s a Bloody Mary without the vodka). Our team knows that the flavor would only be improved with a splash of vodka and a few garnishes like olives and citrus wedges.
Best Spicy Bloody Mary Mix
McClure’s Bloody Mary Mixer
Pros:
- Great texture
- Bold flavor
- Plenty of heat
Cons:
- Too spicy for those with sensitive palates
Do you like your Bloody Mary extra bold? Stop right here: McClure’s Bloody Mary Mixer is the bottle you want in your fridge. “Stick a celery stalk in this—we’ve got a winning mix!” according to Sarah Farmer, a lover of heat.
McClure’s mixer is intensely flavored with garlic, black pepper and hot peppers—a combination that will please anyone that likes their Marys with a few extra splashes of hot sauce.
But this mix isn’t all heat. You’ll get some refreshing notes as well thanks to cucumber and a bit of dill blended into McClure’s. Just add vodka and enjoy—and don’t forget that celery stick!
Freshest Bloody Mary Mix
Demitri’s Bloody Mary Seasoning
Pros:
- Fresh tomato flavor
- Ideal consistency
- Vibrant color
- Great canvas for customization
Cons:
- Not a lot of heat
- Could use some livening up, depending on your tastes
For garden-fresh taste, our Test Kitchen suggests Demitri’s Bloody Mary Seasoning.
This bright red mix wowed our testing team with its verdant flavor. According to Associate Culinary Producer Sarah Tramonte, “This one is very fresh and tomato-forward—almost salsa-like.”
Other than that great tomato taste, our team picked up notes of black pepper, garlic and celery—all the right flavors for this cocktail.
Best Out-of-the-Box Bloody Mary Mix
The Real Dill Bloody Mary Mix
Pros:
- Perfect blend of herbs and spices
- Dill pickle flavor harmonizes with the other ingredients
- Unique Bloody Mary experience
Cons:
- Pickle flavor isn’t for everyone
- Slightly thin consistency
While some like a good basic mix and others a Bloody that’s extra-spicy, there are folks that are looking for something more out of their cocktail. The Real Dill makes a pickle-accented mix that’s different from any other bottled Bloody we tried.
Sure, pickle-flavored foods can seem like a gimmick, but our Test Kitchen assures you that the combination works perfectly here. In fact, Sarah Farmer says that she typically uses pickle brine ice cubes in her at-home Bloody Marys. In fact, you can use all types of ice cubes in your Bloody Marys—even smoked ice ice cubes.
In this mix, flavors of dill, garlic and a touch of vinegar play well with the classic Bloody Mary flavors. Together with celery salt, Worcestershire and hot sauce, this bottled mix really packs a flavorful, spice-forward (but not too hot) punch.
What to Look for When Buying Bloody Mary Mix
Not all Bloody Mary mixes are created equally. So if you’re looking for a way to get a bar-quality drink at home, here are the key factors to consider.
- Appearance:Â A great Bloody Mary should be a feast for the eyes, starting with the mix. A great one should look bright and appetizing with flecks of flavor throughout.
- Texture:Â The right texture is a major component of a perfect Bloody. Too thick and it feels like you’re sipping tomato soup; too thin and it’s like you’re sipping plain ol’ tomato juice. Good mixes should walk the line between the two.
- Spice:Â Bloody Marys aren’t subtle. This cocktail is filled with hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, citrus juice, celery salt and horseradish. While the proportions will differ from one brand to the next, a satisfying mix should pack a punch.
- Flavor:Â As always, flavor is the most important category. A great Bloody Mary mix should have all the flavors we look for in a homemade cocktail. Surprising extras are also welcome; mixes with a little extra kick are great for spice fanatics.
Why You Should Trust Us
As a former editor at Taste of Home, I worked on our baking club called Bakeable and tested kitchen gadgets, home products, ingredients and more for our Test Kitchen-Preferred program. For this guide to the best Bloody Mary mixes, I recruited Executive Culinary Director and head of the Test Kitchen Sarah Farmer and Associate Culinary Producer Sarah Tramonte for their testing expertise.
Sarah Farmer has been working at Taste of Home for 20 years, and she manages the various editors, stylists and testers that make up the Test Kitchen team. When she isn’t testing, Sarah Tramonte creates photo and video content for Taste of Home’s social media accounts and other digital platforms.
How We Found the Best Bloody Mary Mix
Like all our taste tests, our experts take sampling to heart. Our team shopped for the most popular Bloody Mary mixes as well as some smaller brands with passionate fanbases. Each mix was sampled blindly and without accompaniments (no vodka or garnishes here for accurate testing).
Because Bloody Marys are a complex cocktail, our team had a lot to keep in mind as they sampled, including appearance, texture, spice and flavor. After sipping and scoring, four out of the ten brands we tested rose to the top. Check out the Bloody Mary mixers you should add to your bar cart.
FAQs
What is the best alcohol for a Bloody Mary?
Vodka is the spirit typically used in a traditional Bloody Mary. But if you’re willing to experiment, you can also try tequila or gin for a twist.
How can I improve my Bloody Mary?
Even with a terrific mix on hand, many Bloody Mary fanatics will still want to give this drink some extra flair by adding spice, infusing the vodka or adding festive, delicious garnishes. Be sure to include these ideas next time you host brunch and set up a Bloody Mary bar.
How do you make a Bloody Mary less bitter?
Squeezing in citrus, like a splash of lemon or lime juice, can brighten up an at-home Bloody Mary. Be sure to use the fresh stuff for the most delicious and potent results.
How do you thicken Bloody Mary mix?
The base of a classic Bloody Mary is tomato juice. If you like a thicker drink, then opt for a chunkier, pulpier juice or up the ratio of tomato juice by doctoring your premade mix.
Check Out More Test Kitchen-Preferred Products
Our Test Kitchen is constantly testing kitchen gadgets, cleaning gear and food looking for brands that deserve the right to be called Test-Kitchen Preferred.
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Originally Published: February 10, 2022
