It may seem counterintuitive to combat a dreaded hangover with more alcohol, but nothing slaps better than a salty, spicy bloody mary. The brunch-time staple of tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and something heat-inducing (typically horseradish or hot sauce) has earned a deservedly permanent spot on many Sunday morning dining tables.
It stands on its own, but also tastes great when paired with practically any breakfast food from greasy bacon to syrup-laden pancakes.
I recently took a trip to Chicago where I may or may not have imbibed a little too much at my sister’s engagement party and may or may not have chosen to remedy the a.m. headache with a bloody mary at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
“I would challenge everyone out there who loves a good bloody mary to take the time out and make your base from scratch,” recommends Roberto Alicea, director of food and beverage operations for the newly renovated property.
“Make sure to find the freshest and hottest horseradish,” he adds, noting that having an array of garnishes such as olives, celery sticks and cheese cubes can also make or break a party.
But for anyone who may not have the time or patience to concoct their own at-home blend, a store-bought option can be used in a pinch. That said, a majority of the products you’ll find on shelves taste so artificial and packed with sodium that you may be wondering if actual tomato juice is part of the ingredient lists at all.
“A good bloody mary typically balances a variety of flavors: savory, spicy, tangy and a hint of sweetness,” says Alicea, who recommends shoppers consider three criteria while at the supermarket:
- Look for natural ingredients: It’s supposed to taste garden-fresh.
- Avoid artificial flavors, colors and preservatives: These can impact the outcome of your cocktail in a negative way.
- Seek balanced flavors upon first sip: You want that aforementioned savory, spicy, tangy and sweet flavor profile without one layer overpowering another.
While there are many gourmet and artisanal jars available worldwide — which I highly recommend — I stepped into my local grocer and purchased the seven most mass-produced bloody mary mixes I could find. Some were quite delicious while others deserved an onslaught of tomatoes thrown at them. Here’s how they each stacked up.
7. Ocean Spray Bloody Mary Mix
Oh, Ocean Spray. I love your cranberries, but I really despise your tomatoes. This had a bizarre, almost fruity aftertaste — and after one look at the label’s ingredient list, I saw that it was because the beloved company uses actual cranberry (and grapefruit) juice (!) in this Frankenstein-esque concoction. Not even booze could mask its weirdness — and, trust me, I tried.
6. V8 Original Bloody Mary Drink Mix
This was by no means a canned fruit cocktail disguised as a bloody mary the way I thought Ocean Spray was, but it certainly wasn’t memorable. In fact, the libation was quite one-note, not the least bit spicy and simply tasted like boring tomato juice with an ever-so-subtle tang. The company recommends using a citrus-flavored vodka for a “citrus twist,” which begs the question: Why didn’t they just include lemon juice to begin with?
5. Mr and Mrs T Original Bloody Mary Mix
As a Delta loyalist, this reminded me of my post-takeoff drink of choice. The airline, along with its competitors, has relied on the brand for literal decades to appease passengers in need of what my dad likes to call an immediate “attitude adjustment.” Unsurprisingly, the flavor profile was completely different while sampling this in a kitchen and not at a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet. While I appreciated notes of familiarity, it was sweeter and saltier than what I was used to (which makes a lot of sense, because our taste buds are subdued in-flight). Unfortunately, I may have to reserve this one exclusively for the friendly skies and leave it off my bar cart.
4. George's Old Bay Seasoned Bloody Mary Mix
You have to really enjoy the distinct flavor of Old Bay seasoning to appreciate this spice-heavy mix. And since I fall into the category of Old Bay-lover, I was tickled to see it incorporated in this way. Just be warned: The spice is overwhelming and may not be the best choice if you’re entertaining a large number of guests. People find Old Bay polarizing, and some will likely ask for something a bit more basic. After all, a good bloody mary is a vessel for accoutrements, and you want its foundation to be supportive, not distracting.
3. Tabasco Tomato Cocktail Bloody Mary Mix
Tabasco took home top honors in my roundup of best hot sauces, so it was no surprise that I enjoyed this iconic green and red bottle featuring the Louisiana classic. Opt for the Extra Spicy variety, though, as it was lightyears more impactful on the tongue than the OG. And if you’re not sipping a bloody mary to feel this fiery kick, then what are you even doing here? The spicy condiment deserves to shine in all of its glory — if you disagree, pour yourself a mimosa and leave this one to the experts (aka me).
2. Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix
If there was an award for the most beloved readily-available bottle, it would go to Zing Zang. People can’t get enough of this stuff and I can totally understand why. At first sip, I appreciated its vegetable-heavy recipe with top notes of celery and spices, as well as the subtle hints of lemon juice. It also had a silky mouthfeel, which co-existed effortlessly with oversized ice cubes. My only gripe was that it was a touch too salty, which is saying a lot coming from someone who keeps a salt shaker in his backpack 24/7. But if I’m hungover and in desperate need of a savory pick-me-up, this is a quality I can obviously overlook.
1. McClure’s Bloody Mary Mixer
Pickle brine, dill and garlic made McClure’s a clear winner in this surprisingly competitive field of options. The herb and spice-forward blend had the most depth, complexity and artisanal qualities of the bunch. It also tasted less mainstream and more gourmet (which makes sense, considering it is manufactured and bottled in smaller batches in Brooklyn) with a wonderfully smooth, yet somewhat gritty, homemade texture and the perfect level of heat. It was so good that it inspired me to reserve pickle juice and heed Alicea’s advice: I’m currently trying my hand at making my own bloody mary mix. And if I fail miserably, I know that I’ll at least have McClure’s on standby.
