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This single serving Bloody Mary is a classic brunch cocktail made with tomato juice, vodka, lemon juice, and spices. It’s quick to make, easy to adjust, and perfectly portioned for one.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick to Make: This single serving Bloody Mary comes together in just minutes.
- Easily Customizable: Adjust the heat, salt, and citrus to match your taste.
- No Bloody Mary Mix Needed: Made with simple, fresh ingredients for better flavor.
- Perfectly Portioned: Makes one drink, so there’s no leftover mix.
- Flexible Options: Make it with vodka or skip the alcohol for a Virgin Mary.
A Bloody Mary has always felt like more than just a cocktail to me. That first sip is bold and savory, with the richness of tomato juice balanced by lemon, spice, and just enough heat to wake up your palate. It’s the kind of drink that feels right at brunch but just as welcome any time you want something with a little personality.
I love that this single serving Bloody Mary keeps things simple without cutting corners. There’s no bottled mix here, just classic ingredients stirred together in a way that lets you control every detail, from the spice level to the garnish. Whether you enjoy it with vodka or make a Virgin Mary, it’s a drink that’s easy to make, full of flavor, and always satisfying.
Looking for more single serving drink recipes? Try our refreshing moscow mule, playful dirty shirley, sweet strawberry daiquiri, or a glass of vibrant sangria.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this classic Bloody Mary recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Tomato Juice: The backbone of a classic Bloody Mary. Use full-flavor tomato juice or a vegetable blend like V8 for a savory base.
- Vodka: Traditional spirit for this cocktail, but you can swap gin or tequila (Bloody Maria) or omit it for a non-alcoholic Virgin Mary version. Choose your preferred vodka for best flavor. Extra vodka can be used to make Penne alla Vodka For One.
- Hot Sauce: Adds heat and zing. Tabasco is classic, but Cholula or Louisiana hot sauce all work well to customize the spice.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Delivers savory, umami-rich depth that boosts the tomato base and ties the flavors together.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice brightens and balances the richness with tangy citrus.
- Horseradish: Prepared horseradish brings peppery spice. Use mild or hot depending on how fiery you want your Bloody Mary. Use leftover horseradish in a reuben sandwich.
- Garnishes: Classic garnishes include a celery stalk, green olives, and a lemon wedge. For a loaded, brunch-worthy cocktail, add bacon, pickle spears, baby corn, pickled jalapeños, cooked shrimp, or cheese cubes.
Recipe Variations
These simple variations let you adjust the flavor of your Bloody Mary to suit your taste:
- Spicy Bloody Mary: Add extra hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper for more heat.
- Pickle Bloody Mary: Stir in a splash of pickle juice for a tangy, briny bite.
- Spicy Bloody Mary: Add a pinch of smoked paprika for subtle smoky flavor.
- Bloody Maria: Replace the vodka with tequila for a bolder, slightly earthy flavor that pairs well with the tomato juice and spices.
- Virgin Mary: Skip the alcohol for a non-alcoholic Bloody Mary with all the same savory, spicy flavor. Add a splash of extra lemon juice or tomato juice to taste, if needed.
How To Make A Bloody Mary
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Add the tomato juice and horseradish to a tall glass and stir to blend.
- Stir in the lemon juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and vodka.
- Taste and season with a pinch of salt and black pepper, if needed.
- Fill the glass with ice, stir once more, and garnish as desired.
Expert Tips
- Use Full-Flavor Tomato Juice: Since this recipe makes one Bloody Mary, the quality of the tomato juice matters. Choose a brand you enjoy drinking on its own.
- Build the Heat Gradually: Start with smaller amounts of hot sauce and horseradish, then adjust to taste so the spice doesn’t overpower the drink.
- Chill Ingredients First: Cold tomato juice and vodka keep the drink refreshing without needing excess ice.
- Taste Before Salting: Worcestershire sauce and garnishes add salt, so taste the cocktail before adding salt and pepper.
- Keep Garnishes Balanced: One or two garnishes add flavor and texture without overwhelming a single-serving cocktail.
What To Serve With A Bloody Mary
A Bloody Mary pairs well with bold, savory foods, especially at brunch:
- Brunch Favorites: Serve alongside dishes like eggs benedict or a goat cheese and prosciutto crustless quiche.
- Savory Snacks: Pair with small batch Mexican corn dip or small batch jalapeño poppers.
- Simple Garnishes: Celery, olives, pickles, or bacon add flavor without needing a full meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. This recipe uses simple, fresh ingredients instead of store-bought Bloody Mary mix.
Add more hot sauce, extra horseradish, or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Yes. Simply leave out the vodka to make a non-alcoholic version called a Virgin Mary.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this single serve Bloody Mary recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Bloody Mary For One
Ingredients
- 6 ounces tomato juice
- ½ teaspoon horseradish
- ½ ounce lemon juice
- 2 dashes hot sauce (about ½ teaspoon)
- 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 2 ounces vodka
- salt and black pepper -to taste
- Ice
- Optional garnishes: Celery, olives, and lemon are classic, with bacon, pickles, shrimp, or cheese as optional additions.
Instructions
- Add the tomato juice and horseradish to a tall glass and stir to blend.
- Stir in the lemon juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and vodka.
- Taste and season with a pinch of salt and black pepper, if needed.
- Fill the glass with ice, stir once more, and garnish as desired.
Notes
- Use Full-Flavor Tomato Juice: Since this recipe makes one Bloody Mary, the quality of the tomato juice matters. Choose a brand you enjoy drinking on its own.
- Build the Heat Gradually: Start with smaller amounts of hot sauce and horseradish, then adjust to taste so the spice doesn’t overpower the drink.
- Chill Ingredients First: Cold tomato juice and vodka keep the drink refreshing without needing excess ice.
- Taste Before Salting: Worcestershire sauce and garnishes add salt, so taste the cocktail before adding salt and pepper.
- Keep Garnishes Balanced: One or two garnishes add flavor and texture without overwhelming a single-serving cocktail.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I’ve always been a little envious of friends who ordered Bloody Marys with breakfast, mainly because I had a dislike of tomato juice but love tomatoes in every other form; but Bloody Marys at some of the bars where I live are known to be quite elaborate and social media worthy. This made it easy for me to give it a go at home with the little juice cans–if I didn’t like it, I could donate the remaining cans to my church. Well, I think I hit a good starter recipe, with other ingredients I already had at home and liked. The only thing I would do differently is go lighter on the horseradish (hard to believe I’m saying that!), but I’m sure I will try this again at home as an alternate to the sweet morning cocktails and get brave enough to try a restaurant version soon.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I’m so glad you decided to give the recipe a try and found it to be a good starting point. Using the small juice cans is such a smart idea! Adjusting the horseradish sounds like a great plan, and I hope you enjoy experimenting with the recipe.
Good recipe.