Bloody Mary: A Delicious Cocktail with Tomato Juice

We are going to show you the steps you have to follow to make a great "Bloody Mary" cocktail at home, both with and without alcohol.
Bloody Mary: A Delicious Cocktail with Tomato Juice
Saúl Sánchez Arias

Written and verified by the nutritionist Saúl Sánchez Arias.

Last update: 27 May, 2023

The Bloody Mary is one of the most famous cocktails in existence. It can be prepared with alcohol, and also without it, achieving results with a high antioxidant content that could be classified as healthy. We’re going to give you the two alternatives, although you have to keep in mind that the less alcohol in the diet, the better.

Before starting, it should be noted that the best tool to ensure a good state of hydration is natural mineral water. In any case, and in moderation, other liquids can be included in the diet from time to time. However, it’s advisable to avoid a high presence of soft drinks or juices, mainly due to the presence of large amounts of simple sugars.

Ingredients for the “Bloody Mary”

Bloody Mary.
The “Bloody Mary” is a traditional cocktail that can be decorated in a very striking way.

Discover, below, the traditional version with alcohol. The ingredients you will need to prepare an exquisite Bloody Mary are as follows:

  • 60 milliliters of vodka
  • 2 drops of Tabasco
  • 3 drops of Perrins sauce
  • 1 pinch of celery salt
  • 1 dash of freshly ground black pepper
  • 10 milliliters of beef broth
  • 15 milliliters of lemon juice
  • 180 milliliters of tomato juice
  • Celery stalk and a slice of lemon for garnish
  • Crushed ice

Step by step instructions

  1. Add the vodka together with the Perrins sauce, the tabasco, and the lemon juice in a shaker.
  2. Season with a little salt, broth, and freshly ground pepper.
  3. Then shake everything well so that the ingredients are integrated. You can also carry out this process with a cocktail stirrer.
  4. Finally, add the tomato juice.
  5. Once it’s ready, you need to “create” it in the glass. First, crush the ice cubes and place them in a large glass. You could use the cubes as they are, but the result won’t be as good. When the glass is well chilled, serve the cocktail and finish with a celery stalk and a slice of lemon as decoration.

“Bloody Mary” without alcohol

Of course, it’s also possible to prepare a non-alcoholic version of the classic cocktail. The ingredients you will need for 4 people in this case are as follows:

  • 600 milliliters of tomato juice
  • 4 teaspoons of lemon juice
  • 8 drops of Perrins sauce
  • 12 drops of Tabasco
  • A pinch of salt
  • Pinch of black pepper
  • A pinch of celery salt
  • Ice cubes
  • 4 sprigs of celery for garnish

Step by step instructions

  1. Put the tomato juice, lemon juice, Tabasco, Perrins sauce, salt, black pepper and celery salt in the mixing glass.
  2. Shake well and serve in a glass with ice cubes or crushed ice, according to individual preference.
  3. To finish, garnish with celery stalks and you’re done.

Benefits of the “Bloody Mary”

Bloody Mary.
The non-alcoholic “Bloody Mary” could bring different benefits to your body.

The consumption of the non-alcoholic version of the Bloody Mary could be beneficial to your health if taken in moderation and included in the context of a varied and balanced diet. The presence of lycopene in the cocktail should be noted. This antioxidant present in tomatoes has been shown to be able to help prevent the development of cardiovascular pathologies.

Moreover, this same substance could prevent the excessive promotion of oxidative processes, reducing the incidence of other types of complex pathologies. According to research published in the journal Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, its regular consumption is associated with a reduction in markers related to prostate cancer.

Another positive point of this non-alcoholic cocktail is that it has no added sugars. There’s evidence that such nutrients can increase inflammation and oxidation internally. Also, they have a significant effect on pancreatic health by increasing the chances of suffering type 2 diabetes over the years.

Prepare a “Bloody Mary” at home in a simple way

As you have seen, there are very easy ways to prepare a Bloody Mary at home, one of the most famous cocktails in existence. However, we always recommend the non-alcoholic version, as it’s much safer for your health in the medium term. Although until recently it was claimed otherwise, alcohol is a toxic substance for the body, regardless of the amount consumed.

Finally, remember that when the goal is to improve your health, it isn’t enough to only take care of your diet. It’s very important to pay special attention to what you drink and the state of hydration. Liquids containing large amounts of simple sugars should be avoided at all costs, as they have a significant impact on the pancreas and the metabolic system.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Przybylska, S., & Tokarczyk, G. (2022). Lycopene in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases. International journal of molecular sciences23(4), 1957. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23041957
  • Mirahmadi, M., Azimi-Hashemi, S., Saburi, E., Kamali, H., Pishbin, M., & Hadizadeh, F. (2020). Potential inhibitory effect of lycopene on prostate cancer. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie129, 110459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110459
  • Yoshida, Y., & Simoes, E. J. (2018). Sugar-Sweetened Beverage, Obesity, and Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents: Policies, Taxation, and Programs. Current diabetes reports18(6), 31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-018-1004-6

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.