We know this famous drink, but have you ever made it gluten-free? This gluten-free Bloody Mary will have you putting away the regular vodka!
Jump to RecipeJump to:
- Why You'll Love This
- "Hair of the Dog" or Drink of Choice?
- What's The Deal With (Gluten-Free) Bloody Marys?
- All About the Tomato Juice
- Gluten-Free Vodka
- Ingredients
- Substitutions & Variations
- Equipment
- Instructions
- Serving Suggestions
- Top tip
- Storage
- FAQ
- Breakfast Dishes To Pair
- Other Great Cocktails!
- Bloody Mary
Why You'll Love This
- Endless Garnishes: There really are plenty of garnishes to top your Bloody Mary with! This makes it a fun drink to present and also fun for everyone to enjoy. In a way, you are also snacking while drinking!
- Easily Customizable: With so many different options and combinations, this drink is easily customizable for everyone. Pro tip: create a garnish set-up station if sharing with others. This is a fun way for everyone to pick and choose their favorite garnishes for this cocktail!
- Strong Savory Flavors: If you are a fan of savory flavor profiles, this one is for you. With a slight kick from the tabasco, tomato juice, and the warmth from the Worcestershire sauce you are sure to get one of the best savory cocktails to date.
"Hair of the Dog" or Drink of Choice?
When we think of a Bloody Mary, we think of a hopeful cure to a good hangover. Or, do you think of it as delicious drink to order? Either way, we each have our own reasons and qualities we love about this famous cocktail. It's highly refreshing, filling, satisfying and sometimes spicy. What's not to love?
If you are unfamiliar with the drink, or are a bit intimidated by its aesthetics, allow me to shed some light. The main ingredients to a gluten-free Bloody Mary include tomato juice, vodka, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, celery salt and pepper. Wait, isn't Worcestershire sauce the sauce you use for marinating meat? Yes, yes it is. However, as interesting as it sounds, it is very tasty when mixed in with the tomato juice and tabasco! This drink is fantastic for those who love anything savory.
Now that we are a little more familiar with the base of the drink, how about all of those fancy garnishes? We will most definitely dive more into it further in this post. For now, all that I really have to say is to not let all of those fancy garnishes intimidate you! It may look like a fully loaded drink topped with almost everything, but it all really does add to the quality of the drink. It is what truly makes a Bloody Mary unique!
What's The Deal With (Gluten-Free) Bloody Marys?
The Bloody Mary drink has been around since the Prohibition days. It was a French bartender, by the name of Fernand Petiot, who had first claim to inventing the drink. The invention took place somewhere around 1921. During this time, located in a Paris bar, Petiot had mixed both vodka and tomato juice without thought. From there the famous Bloody Mary drink really took off!
How did these ingredients find each other? Interesting question with an even more interesting answer. During the Revolution, Russians (upon their arrival to Paris) brought their vodka with them. The Americans had brought tomato juice. It was during this Prohibition era that the drink had appeared on menus under the name "tomato juice cocktail". It was then that mixing the two ingredients and the added spices, curtesy of Petiot, that the Bloody Mary was formed.
So why is the Bloody Mary considered a hangover remedy? It contains alcohol, shouldn't that do the opposite? It is believed that mixing both "poison" with remedy, tomato juice, will help ease the pain of the usual hangover symptoms. Interestingly enough, if you have used a Bloody Mary for these exact reasons, does help with a hangover. Who knew!
All About the Tomato Juice
There are a few different brand tomato juices people like to use for their Bloody Marys. Some use a plain tomato juice (really any brand), some use Clamato, and some use V8! There are a few differences between tomato juice brands that might sway your decision on which one to use. It all truly depends on your preferences!
Really any pure tomato juice is as it says. Just tomato juice! On the contrary, Clamato is a popular brand to use when it comes to Bloody Marys. Clamato is part clam juice and part tomato juice. This will add a different flavor and consistency to your drink. More specifically, it will make the Bloody Mary thinner! If clam juice with tomato juice just is not your thing, then I've got an even better suggestion.
V8 tomato juice is, in my opinion, the best tomato juice to use in a Gluten-Free Bloody Mary. Going along with the general theme of a Bloody Mary, being a "cure" to hangovers, V8 offers more health benefits. So why not add more nutrients to your gluten free Bloody Mary? For starters, V8 does not have any added sugar. As we know, sugar will only add to the headaches of hangovers. So far starting on the right foot.
V8 is mostly all tomato juice, but it does include about 8 different vegetables blended in. So, you really are getting your daily intake of; tomato, carrots, beets, celery, lettuce, parsley, spinach and watercress. I suggest getting more "bang for your buck" and using V8 instead, as this recipe calls for!
Gluten-Free Vodka
Vodka comes in many different varieties. There is pure vodka, flavored vodka, Russian vodka, American vodka, rye vodka, fruit vodka and so much more. So what are the ones that are safe for those who are gluten-intolerant? Technically, all types of vodkas are safe enough. Let's dive deeper into it!
Is vodka really gluten-free? The answer is yes! However, there are still some things to look out for. And yes, there are certain branded vodkas that have the celiac stamp of approval. It is only the pure distilled vodka that is truly gluten-free! According to the Beyond Celiac website, pure distilled vodka (even made with wheat, barley or rye) is gluten-free. It is actually the distillation process that makes a lot of vodkas safe for those with celiac disease.
What makes other vodkas "not gluten-free" are gluten contaminates from other ingredients added post distillation. This may come in the form of flavorings and other miscellaneous additives. It is always best to do a little research before grabbing a bottle off of the shelf. Put most simply, any pure distilled vodka is the best bet. If you are truly unsure, here are some vodkas that are gluten-free according to the Beyond Celiac website; Absolut, Tito's, Smirnoff, Grey Goose, Burnett's, Kettle One, Svedka and New Amsterdam. All brands listed claim to be gluten-free.
Ingredients
Everything you need to make these delicious gluten-free cocktails!
Ingredients for the Bloody Mary
- Ice: For a perfectly chilled drink
- Tomato juice: The entire personality of this drink! The tomato juice makes for a refreshingly savory base for the perfect breakfast cocktail.
- Guten-free vodka, chilled: Wouldn't be a Bloody Mary without it! A gluten-free vodka is the perfect pairing as it is light and will blend perfectly into the tomato juice and other ingredients. It won't overpower or throw off all of the other flavors.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adding in to compliment the tomato juice. This will add into more of the savory flavors we are building! It is very tasty when mixed in with the tomato juice and tabasco.
- Tabasco sauce: For some spice! This ingredient, again, pairs beautifully with the tomato juice and Worcestershire sauce to create a well rounded spicy and flavorful cocktail.
- Paprika: To build on top of the spice level
- Celery salt: Fresh and salty, a perfectly balanced spice to add. This will also complement the celery garnish we add to the cocktail.
- Pepper: Adding in an extra little kick. This ingredient will enhance the other spicy ingredients we have added such as the tabasco and paprika.
Ingredients for the Garnish (Optional)
- Tajin: This spice rimmed on the glass makes for a perfect addition (if you like an extra spicy and sour flavor)
- Lime wedges: Lime will perfectly add a sour component to the cocktail to balance out the spice.
- Celery stalks: Celery is a great way to also cool down the heat!
- Grilled cheese: Food? how could you not add a grilled cheese on top? Grilled Cheese sandwiches always pair well with a tomato soup, so adding it to your Bloody Mary is a fantastic and filling garnish to add!
- Bacon: It is a breakfast drink, so obviously we are adding bacon... The saltiness from the bacon pairs well with the spices and celery salt we added to the drink.
- Jalapeños: For those who love extra spicy things.
- Olives: If you want more saltiness, add these in!
- Cornichons: Also, a great addition if you want more salty flavors mixed with some sweet and tartness
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
If you're missing a few of the above ingredients, or just looking for simple modifications, these tips below can help you adjust the recipe!
- More Kick: Instead of utilizing gluten-free Vodka, opt for gluten-free Tequila. A gluten-free Tequila will still perfectly blend into the Bloody Mary however, it will pack more of a punch. Technically, using a Tequila in a Bloody Mary now makes it a Bloody Maria.
- Fishy Note: If you love a little bit of a taste from the sea, I would recommend adding in some clam broth into the tomato juice! This will enhance the flavors in the Bloody Mary making it more pungent. Or, to make it simpler, just replace the tomato juice with some Clamato juice.
- A Summer's Bloody Mary: In other words, a Michelada! Adding a light beer to a Bloody Mary will make it a lighter and more refreshing cocktail to enjoy on a nice hot day.
- Make it Non-GF: If you don't have gluten-free vodka, you can use regular vodka. There shouldn't be much of a taste difference, if any, between the two.
Please note that this recipe has not been tested with any other substitutions or variations than the ones listed above. Please be mindful that if you replace or add any new ingredients not mentioned above that the recipe results may change.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out! Luckily, this super simple recipe only requires a shaker and some tallboy glasses to serve.
Instructions
As easy as one, two and three! You'll have yourself some gluten-free bloody mary cocktails in no time. Here is what you need to do:
Run a lime wedge across the rim of two tallboy cocktail glasses. Then, add the tajin to a plate and invert each glass before garnishing the rims with tajin. Then, place the glasses in the refrigerator. Combine the ice, tomato juice, vodka, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, paprika, celery salt and pepper in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds to combine. Evenly disperse the Bloody Mary mix between the two glasses. Finally, garnish your Bloody Mary with whatever options you choose!
Shake up your Bloody Mary and pour into an ice filled and Tajin rimmed tallboy glass.
Add in your preferred garnishes, starting with the celery!
Next, add in your bacon and start skewering all other garnishes.
Finally, you are left with a beautifully crafted Bloody Mary cocktail!
Serving Suggestions
To really maximize your Bloody Mary I recommend utilizing all garnishes. It will not only enhance the presentation but it will also up the ante on the experience. For this recipe, I utilized all garnishes to make for a very stacked cocktail!
Top tip
If you are unsure about what to garnish your Bloody Mary with, I've compiled a full breakdown of what each one will add to your cocktail:
- Tajin: Will add a citrus-y spice to the drink! I suggest rimming the tallboy glass with Tajin to add an "edge" to the drink. If you enjoy spice and are looking to add to the heat, Tajin is the perfect garnish to incorporate. It will also visually elevate the final product!
- Lime wedges: If you are looking for a sour twist to your Bloody Mary, I suggest including a lime wedge! You can slice it up into a wheel, a wedge or even peel off some of that skin as a visual garnish. The lime perfectly compliments the tomato juice.
- Celery stalks: For a more refreshing garnish, celery stalks are the perfect light and watery compliment to a "heavy" drink. With so many different flavors going on in one cup, a celery stalk will lighten it up with a refreshing crunch. The stalk will also add a beautiful pop of green to such a red drink!
- Grilled cheese: Yes, grilled cheese! You can either pair a whole grilled cheese dish to the side of this drink or you can add it in as a garnish on top. This could look like small wedges of grilled cheese on a skewer tucked into the drink. This will add more sustenance to the drink as well as something to eat while drink.
- Bacon: Who doesn't love bacon! Bacon will add the perfect amount of savory and an added punch of flavor to your gluten free Bloody Mary. A few pieces of bacon on top make for a beautiful drink! If you want to really "beef up" this gluten-free Bloody Mary, I highly suggest using some bacon on top for an even more filling drink.
- Jalapeños: If you love heat, this one is for you. I would recommend pairing this garnish with the tajin for added spice! Jalapeñs are pretty self explanatory, this garnish will most certainly add heat to your gluten-free Bloody Mary. A few slices of jalapeño on top will do it!
- Olives: For all of those salt lovers, adding some olives to your garnish selection will be the perfect option! Olives become a perfect compliment to the smooth tomato juice. I also would pair this with Tajin as that spice will accentuate the saltiness of the olives.
- Cornichons: If you are first hearing this word, cornichons are pickled cucumbers. Basically mini pickles! These are a great addition for all of my salt lovers. Pair this with olives and Tajin, maybe some jalapeño, for the ultimate gluten free Bloody Mary!
Storage
Really I recommend keeping all ingredients separately stored so the next time you wish to indulge you can make it fresh. Especially when it comes to the garnishes, keep those tightly sealed in the refrigerator to ensure freshness. I wouldn't recommend pre-mixing the cocktail and letting it sit for a few days! It is always best to mix the same day of.
FAQ
It being a tomato based cocktail, it still does a pretty decent job at incorporating other flavors to give it a well rounded profile. If anything, it is amazingly savory drink while being refreshing at the same time. Overall, it is a tomato base drink so if you don't love tomato juice, I would consider skipping this one!
Of course! Just skip the alcohol and get to shaking up all of the other ingredients and garnish as normal. It is still an amazing drink without any alcohol!
Yes! Just double all of the ingredients to increase the serving size and you're good to go. No other modifications needed.
Breakfast Dishes To Pair
As much as a gluten-free Bloody Mary is quite filling, we still need a dish to pair well with it! Here are a few of my favorite, equally filling, breakfast dishes:
Other Great Cocktails!
If you are on a cocktail kick, I know just the ones you'll want to try next! Quite the opposite of this gluten-free Bloody Mary recipe, however, a nice refreshing drink is always a great choice. Here are some of my current favorites to reach for:
Bloody Mary
Course: CocktailsDifficulty: Easy2
servings10
minutesA savory yet refreshing hangover cure cocktail perfect for breakfast or lunch!
Ingredients
- Ingredients for the Bloody Mary
1 cup of ice
8 ounces tomato juice
4 ounces of gluten-free vodka, chilled
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon celery salt
½ teaspoon pepper
- Ingredients for the Garnish (Optional)
¼ cup Tajin
Lime wedges
Celery stalks
Grilled cheese
Bacon
Jalapeños
Olives
Cornichons
Directions
- Run a lime wedge across the rim of two tallboy cocktail glasses.
- Then, add the tajin to a plate and invert each glass before garnishing the rims with tajin. Then, place the glasses in the refrigerator.
- Combine the ice, tomato juice, vodka, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, paprika, celery salt and pepper in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds to combine.
- Evenly disperse the Bloody Mary mix between the two glasses.
- Garnish your Bloody Mary with whatever options you choose!
Leave a Reply