How to Build a Bloody Mary Cocktail Bar

For some, it’s just not brunch without a bloody mary. The next time you get together for a mid-day meal, consider providing a DIY bloody mary bar. It not only lets your guests make their cocktails exactly to their liking, but it also provides a fun activity to enjoy.

1. Start with a good base.

First things first: To build your own bloody mary bar, you have to have the basic ingredients. And quality matters. Make sure you provide premium items for your base so you can start from a solid foundation:

• GREY GOOSE® Vodka

• Organic tomato juice

• Purified cubed ice

2. Add the classics.

While every bloody mary recipe contains vodka and tomato juice, the cocktail ingredients beyond that are a little less standardized. But most recipes do include:

• Fresh lemon juice

• Worcestershire sauce

• Horseradish  

• Hot sauce

• Salt

• Pepper

3. Consider mixing things up a little.

You and your guests can also add some unexpected tastes to your concoction. This might include juices beyond tomato, as in the Water Mary, or substituting unflavoured vodka for a lemon-flavoured one, as in the Le Citron Bloody Mary.

• Watermelon juice

• Carrot juice

• Clam juice

• Olive brine

• Citrus-flavoured vodka

4. Top it all off with garnishes. Lots of them.

If there’s any drink known for its garnishes (beyond the martini cocktail, perhaps) it’s the bloody mary. Now is not the time for subtlety. Encourage your guests to pile on the garnishes as high as their highball glasses can take them.

Traditional garnishes:

• Celery

• Olives

• Aromatic herbs

• Black pepper

Extra credit:

• Bacon

• Shrimp

• Cheese cubes

• Pickles

• Lime wedges

• Watermelon jerky

• Hamburger sliders

5. Put it all together.

Set out all the ingredients, plus a bucket of ice, several highball or Boston glasses and some napkins on a table or bar right in a row. Et voilà — your bloody mary bar is beautiful, interactive and tasty.

P.S. If you want to make some bloody marys for your guests instead … you can always make a jug of the favourite brunch drink. For more brunch ideas, check out Grey Goose brunch cocktail and food pairings.