A pickle brine, tangy, salty brunch cocktail. This Pickle Bloody Mary has so much flavor and arguably much better than one you could order at a restaurant. It's got the classic ingredients like tomato juice, horseradish, and vodka, but takes on a tasty twist with the addition of pickle juice.
Table of Contents
About this Cocktail
A brunch cocktail? Count me in. I don’t discriminate when it comes to a boozy brunch. Be sure to check out my Aperol Rose Spritz or Limoncello Spritz if a bloody mary doesn’t tickle your fancy, but if it does you’ve come to the right place for an epic cocktail.
This Pickle Bloody Mary has the classic tomato base, is slightly spicy thanks to a dash of hot sauce, a little zesty, and also a whole lot of flavorful. Pickle juice and lime juice is added for a tang that you’re going to love (just like in this Pickle Juice Martini!).
This Bloody Mary Recipe includes just 5 ingredients and some seasonings, but that’s without the toppings. I suggest you load this thing up! Meat sticks, cheese, bacon, celery, peppers, you name it. Can we agree that the toppings are arguably the best part?!?
Having company? I’m envisioning a Pickle Bloody Bar with all the garnishes to pile on to your liking. You’re about to be the host of the year.
Recipe Ingredients
- Tomato Juice - The base of our Pickle Bloody Mary. I used V8, low sodium spicy blend.
- Vodka - I used Titos, but a flavored vodka like pickle, bacon, or jalapeño would be a lovely addition. You can adjust the amount according to your desired strength.
- Worcestershire Sauce - This has a LOT of flavor. It's sour from vinegar, sweet from molasses and sugar, and a bit spicy also.
- Horseradish - Another flavor packed ingredient. Tastes like super spicy and strong. Adjust amount to preference.
- Dill Pickle Juice - Salty and briney, pickle juice takes the flavor profile of this Bloody Mary to the next level.
- Toppings - Dress up your Pickle Bloody Mary however you choose. I used the following, but see below for some more tasty options.
- Meat sticks - I love chomps.
- Pepper jack cheese - You also can use cheese sticks.
- Bacon
- Celery
- Dill Pickles (I like spears)
- Mini Bell Peppers
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Variations and Substitutions
Make this Pickle Bloody Mary YOUR Bloody Mary. Here are a few suggestions on how to customize your cocktail.
- Spices/seasonings: Add chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, parsley, everything bagel seasoning, or red pepper flakes to name a few.
- Sauces: Pickle juice is the star of the show in this Pickle Bloody Mary, but experiment with dashes of other sauces like tabasco, barbecue sauce, caper or olive brine, A1, soy sauce, even dijon mustard.
- Garnishes: I’ve listed above the garnishes that I used, but don’t stop there. Just a few other ideas include lunch meat folded on a skewer, pickled vegetables (cauliflower, carrots, etc.), sausage, shrimp, hard boiled eggs, olives, cucumbers, artichoke hearts.
- Rim: Rim your Pickle Bloody Mary Glasses with fun seasonings. Garlic salt, chile powder, celery salt, smoked paprika.
- Alcohol: Traditionally, Bloody Marys are made with vodka, try a flavored vodka (yes, they sell pickle flavored vodka), or another favorite liquor. Tequila, gin, whiskey, rum, bourbon.
How to Make This Recipe
- In a large pitcher, add tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, cracked pepper, hot sauce, lime juice, and pickle juice. Whisk together.
- Let it refrigerate for a few hours to marinate all of the flavors.
- When you’re ready to serve, add vodka to the pitcher and stir. Garnish each glass with a salted/lemon pepper rim (run lime around each glass to allow salt to stick).
- Then, add ice to each glass. Pour Pickle Bloody Mary cocktail in and garnish with freshly baked bacon, celery stalk, cheese sticks, dill pickle spears, fresh bell peppers, and also any other toppings you wish. Enjoy!
Do you love Pickles?! Make pickle juice ice cubes for your Pickle Bloody Mary! Yes I said it. Pickle juice ice cubes will not only give a stronger pickle flavor, but it’ll also prevent your cocktail from becoming watered down as you sip it.
Recipe FAQs
Store your pitcher of Pickle Bloody Mary base in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve. Pour over ice and add vodka just before enjoying. I don’t recommend adding the ice to the pitcher as it will water down the bloody mary mixture. TIP: Save a large pickle jar and reuse it for the Bloody Mary Mixture!
A Bloody Mary is made with vodka, while a Bloody Maria is made with Tequila. Use your favorite in this pickle cocktail recipe.
Clamato juice is clam juice and tomato juice combined (yes clam-ato). Clamato is often used in Bloody Marys and gives a distinct flavor to the cocktail, which I don't love paired with the pickle in this recipe, so instead I used tomato juice. Clamato juice is also thinner than tomato juice and you'll definitely get a stronger vodka flavor if you choose to use it.
More Recipes You'll Love
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & if you really like the recipe consider leaving a comment further down. Thanks for visiting!
Recipe
Pickle Bloody Mary
Equipment
- pitcher
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Whisk
- Cocktail glasses
Ingredients
- 32 oz tomato juice, V8 low sodium spicy blend
- 1.5 cups vodka, Titos
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp spicy horseradish
- ¾ cup dill pickle juice
- 1 tbsp hot sauce
- 1 lime, juiced
- ½ tsp cracked pepper
- ½ tsp celery salt
- pinch red pepper flakes
Garnish
- 1 lime
- 3 tbsp salt / lemon pepper
- 4 meat sticks, Chomps
- 8 cubes pepper jack cheese
- 4 strips cooked bacon
- 4 sticks celery
- 4 dill pickle spears
- 4 mini bell peppers
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, add tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, cracked pepper, hot sauce, lime juice and pickle juice. Whisk together.
- If time allows, refrigerate mixture for a few hours to marinate all of the flavors.
- When it's time to serve, add vodka to the pitcher and stir.
- Slice lime in half and run it along the top edge of each glass and then dip glasses into salted/lemon pepper mixture for a garnished rim.
- Add ice to each glass. Pour Pickle Bloody Mary cocktail in and garnish with freshly baked bacon, celery, cheese sticks, dill pickle spears, fresh bell peppers, and any other toppings you wish. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Notes
Looking for this in MyFitnessPal?
If you're using MyFitnessPal, search 'A Paige Of Positivity' and find PICKLE BLOODY MARY calories and nutrition facts. Disclaimer: for most accurate macronutrients and caloric breakdown, it is recommended that you input each ingredient into your MyFitnessPal food diary.
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It’s my passion to create dishes that can be shared with others. Tell me something you loved or just say hi!
Courtney Paige says
I'll be the first to tell you, a Bloody Mary that looks like this is a 15/10 in my book already. I can't stand when I order one at a weekend brunch and it comes out with a singular olive as the garnish. Bacon, celery, cheese, chicken fingers, you name it, I want it! Love the subtle pickle flavor and goodness.
Sydney Van Acker says
I feel like people either love or hate bloody marys. I love them and this was AMAZING to make at home. I even had my brother try it who "hates bloody marys" (but loves pickles) and he thought it was pretty good too!