Name: Bacon Bloody Mary
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 cocktails
Ingredients: For the Bacon; 4 slices thick-cut bacon; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 1 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper; 2 oz dry sake; 1 ounce blanco tequila; 6 ounces Mary’s Bloody Mary Mix; 2 tablespoons coarse sea salt; 1 tablespoon tajin; 1 teaspoon lime zest; 1 lime wedge

Drinks

Bacon Bloody Mary

Author: Mary DiSomma

Weekend guests at my house know one thing for sure: nobody’s waking up to a boring brunch! I love surprising my friends and family with something unexpected, and this bacon bloody mary recipe delivers. It starts with my fabulous homemade bloody mary mix (recipe included)—but the real surprise is in the spirits. I skip the traditional vodka and replace it with sake and blanco tequila. Stay with me!

Sake adds a slightly earthy note that pairs very well with the tomato base, while tequila blanco adds its unmistakable brightness with hints of citrus and pepper. I also believe the garnish should be just as exciting as the drink itself, so I like to top the whole thing with a crispy slice of spicy glazed bacon. A pickle spear is great, but if you ask me, bacon wins every time. Let’s talk about how to make it!

Bloody Mary Mix

Cheers to a cocktail that’s truly a meal in a glass! It's so easy to make, you will even have time to create your own a Bloody Mary bar for your next party.

Yield: 4-6 cocktails
Prep Time: 5 minutes 5 min
Cook Time: 0 minutes0 min
Total Time: 5 minutes 5 min

Ingredients

3 cups tomato juice
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4 tablespoons steak sauce (I use A-1 Steak Sauce)
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon brown sugar
½ teaspoon celery salt
½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

Combine all of the ingredients in a pitcher. Make sure to stir it well to incorporate all of the ingredients. Taste and adjust the seasonings to your taste. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Ingredient Tips

If you don’t know much about sake, don’t worry—you don’t need to be an expert before brunch. For this sake bloody mary, I recommend choosing a dry table sake, often labeled futsu-shu (meaning “ordinary”). This type of sake is mellow, easy-drinking, and won’t overpower the other ingredients.
What you want to avoid here is Nigori sake. Nigori sakes are cloudy, creamy, and very sweet. You do not want that in a savory cocktail like a bloody mary. You’re going for crisp, clean, and balanced. You can always sample it beforehand if you want to know how it tastes!

If sake isn’t available, dry vermouth works because it brings herbal complexity and dryness without overwhelming the drink. A dry white wine can also work in a pinch, though it will give you a slightly fruitier finish. If you’d prefer to stay closer to a traditional bacon bloody mary, you can certainly use good ol’ vodka instead.

Preparation + Preservation Tips

You may be pleased to hear that this showstopper garnish can absolutely be made ahead of time—which is exactly what I recommend if you’re entertaining.

You can prepare the spicy glazed bacon up to 2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator once fully cooled. If you'd like to restore a little crispness before serving, pop it into a 350 °F oven for a couple minutes. The soy, brown sugar, and chipotle give the bacon an irresistible, smoky-sweet coating that somehow gets even better as the flavors settle together.

Not everyone wants their brunch cocktail fiery hot. This one won’t burn the house down, but it does have some kick to it! If you'd like this tequila bloody mary on the mild side, start by reducing the chipotle in the bacon glaze—that’s where much of the smoky heat comes from. You can also omit it completely if you prefer.

If your bloody mary mix leans spicy, you can mellow things further with a splash of extra tomato juice, a squeeze of fresh lime, or even a touch more sake, which softens sharper spice notes with its sugars. The beauty of a good bloody mary is that it can be customized to suit your personal taste.

Extra Tips

Leftover spicy bacon is not a problem, it’s an opportunity! If you don’t just eat it right away, there are lots of ways you can enjoy it.

This smoky-sweet and slightly spicy bacon is incredible on burgers, tucked into breakfast sandwiches, chopped into salads, layered onto pizza, or even with a side of scrambled eggs. Break it into pieces and include it on a charcuterie board, or sneak a strip into a grilled cheese if you want a treat!

Chivito Steak Sandwich with Grilled Onions➝

Mary’s No-Mayo Farmers Market Potato Salad➝

Slow Cooker Cubano Sandwich➝

Mary’s Southwest Cheeseburger Slider➝

If this bacon-garnished bloody mary has you craving brunch, I highly recommend building out the spread. Pair this cocktail withmy homemade bloody mary mixfor the full experience, or create a DIY bloody mary bar so guests can customize their garnishes. Try it alongside some of the recipes below. Cheers!

Easy Bloody Mary Mix➝

Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs➝

Billy’s Hot Giardiniera➝

French Toast Casserole with Maple Praline Topping➝