Made from a rich and devilish concoction of vodka, tomato juice, and spices – this particular drink has had a long and storied history. One that has seen the Bloody Mary go from a vintage party drink to a nutritious hangover cure.

The Bloody Mary is one of the most universally recognized and popular cocktails out there. This drink has been passed down through generations and seems as popular today as it was all those years ago.

And the most beautiful thing about Bloody Marys is that they are simple enough to make from the comfort of your own home!

A Brief History of the Bloody Mary

The bloody Mary is a relatively recent invention, having been around since the 1920s. It is often believed that Fernand Petiot, a New York bartender who worked in the '20s, invented the cocktail in his tavern in the Big Apple.

According to legend, Petiot was the one who gave the drink its name. Additional evidence, on the other hand, suggests that he was just "spicing up" a tomato juice and vodka mix that was already well-known.

George Jessel, a Hollywood star from the 1920s through the 1950s, is the original originator of this iconic combination. Bloody Mary was allegedly the moniker he gave it.

When his companion Mary Brown entered the room, he was reportedly trying the tomato juice/vodka mix. As she took a sip, she unintentionally spilled the crimson drink over her white clothing. Her response was "Now, George, you may call me bloody Mary!"

Best Vodka For Bloody Mary

While there are plenty of other elements to a fabulous Bloody Mary, we shouldn’t downplay the importance of vodka. One thing that can take away from the experience of a Bloody Mary is an underwhelming vodka. Sure, you could buy just any vodka, but it’s really about getting one that you enjoy drinking.

So what is the best vodka? Here we’ve compiled a list of the best ones and who knows, you might discover a new favorite or two! For speedy deliveries on your favorite liquors, head over to The Bottle Haus.

Ketel One

Ketel One was born out of a bold idea: to create the best vodka in the world. The smooth, clean taste of Ketel One comes from utilizing gentle distillation methods and top-quality ingredients. The result is a delicately flavored vodka with a hint of smooth spice and a subtly sweet finish. Not surprisingly, Ketel One has reached a passionate following among vodka connoisseurs who find its soft flavor best complements cocktails served on the rocks or straight up. 

Ketel One makes an excellent addition to any Bloody Mary crafted with flavorful garnish options like capers, vegetable garnishes, and olives.

Chopin Family Reserve Potato

Every sip of Chopin Family Reserve Vodka delivers a smooth, earthy, and fruity taste that excites the palate. A product of Poland, Chopin Family Reserve is crafted from 100% small-batch handcrafted potatoes giving it its incredibly rich yet delicate flavour. The spirit is then left undisturbed in fifty-year-old Polish oak barrels for two years to allow time for it to rest and mellow before being bottled, by hand. 

Even though the vodka is delightful on its own, it really shines when mixed into a Bloody Mary. The fresh and light taste makes this vodka the perfect complement to the bombastic Bloody Mary ingredients, giving you a cocktail that is distinct and delicious.

Belvedere Vodka

If you’re looking for a world-class vodka, then look no further than Belvedere. Belvedere is no stranger to making great vodka. This spirit has won countless awards for its aesthetics and has also been featured many times in some of the best bars and restaurants in the world.

A good vodka for your Bloody Mary should not be overpowering but should not be bland either. Belvedere, on the other hand, is none of those things; this is a vodka that is perfectly balanced. It provides the appropriate mix of sweetness and tartness to balance out your drink. In the quest for the perfect vodka for a Bloody Mary, look no farther than Belvedere.

Russian Standard 

Russian Standard vodka is the ‘real deal’ that offers both purity and taste. The vodka gets its name from being a "standard" for all other vodkas to aspire to. Made in Russia, this viscous spirit is distilled from winter wheat from the Black Steppes and softened with glacial waters from Lake Ladoga. It's also quadruple filtered, making it relatively pure with a well-rounded flavor containing hints of spice and grit.

It is presented in a classic "tulip-style" bottle, identical to the shape that it was distilled in. Its unique flavor and aroma make a real difference in Bloody Mary mixes and its lower price compared to other similarly crafted spirits is more than welcome.

Tito’s Handmade

Introducing Tito's Handmade Vodka, handcrafted in Texas from 100% corn and distilled six times to create an ultra-premium vodka with a smooth character. his special vodka is made from yellow corn, giving it a unique sweetness that you won’t find in many other vodkas. The aroma is clean and full of corn and spice. The palate offers a strong combination of sweet and spicy with notes of corn.

Aged in old whiskey casks to produce a smooth taste, this is the perfect vodka to make your favorite bloody Mary recipe even better than ever. 

SKYY Vodka

SKYY Vodka is a touch of San Francisco in every drop. Whether you're sipping it neat, with soda on the rocks, or in a cocktail, SKYY Vologne has the depth, smoothness and purity to take your cocktail experience to the next level. With its touch of San Francisco's mineral-enriched water, quadruple distillation and spacious filtering through California limestone, SKYY Vodka adds character that elevates any drink.

You deserve a Bloody Mary that complements the spice of your homemade mix, not overwhelm it. SKYY Vodka is THAT vodka.

Bloody Mary Recipe: A Quick Guide

Everyone has their own preferences, just as with any other cocktail mix. Now while you can buy great bloody mary mixes, making your own ensures that your bloody mary will be tasty and freshly made.

Unlike many other cocktails, a bloody Mary includes a larger list of components, which makes it more vulnerable to alteration and interpretation. Eventually, some spices were added to the original recipe which just contained vodka and tomato juice.

Over the years, the recipe has changed slightly, and now, most people use the following items as a starting point:

• Vodka
• Tomato juice
• Lemon juice
• Hot sauce or tabasco
• Worcestershire sauce 
• Salt 
• Pepper

Some of the most common garnishes are celery, lemon, shrimp, and bacon. In addition to these, horseradish, celery salt, and cream sherry may also be used.

As soon as you've settled on your ingredients, the following steps are necessary:

1. Combine tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice in a glass.
2. Add in the salt and pepper to taste. Mix with a spoon.
3. Add a few ice cubes to the mix.
4. Pour in the vodka and finish with a few drops of hot sauce.
5. Gently mix until all the ingredients are blended.
6. Add garnish to spruce it up.