The Fifty Best | Bloody Mary Mix

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The Fifty Best Bloody Mary Mix Tasting 2025

The Tasting:
The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 24 Bloody Mary mixes with ten members of our spirits judging panel. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Strict tasting rules were applied. The well-chilled Bloody Mary mixes were shaken and poured into fresh glasses, each with a proportional amount of vodka., then served to the judges. The judges were provided with ice cubes to add to each sample during the tasting, as needed. Ice water, unflavored unsalted crackers and chips were available to cleanse the palate.

The judges wrote down their impressions of each product on score sheets. The scoring was done on a 5-point system, with 5 as the highest. Double-Gold, Gold and Silver were awarded according to a set range of final point scores received from the judges. There were no Bronze medals awarded for the tasting. Medals are awarded based entirely on merit and only to products judged worthy of such award.

The tasting notes that follow are summaries of the judges’ opinions, with all replicated commentary eliminated. The states of origin are identified for each brand. Clicking on the brands' names will link to their websites.

DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL AWARDS Republic Bloody Mary Mix Spicy (TX) Palate: Tomato, sugary tomato, tomato paste, seasoned V8 juice, broth, celery, bell pepper, garlic, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, allspice, black pepper, peppery, spicy, steady heat, balanced, interesting. Finish: Rich tomato, pepper, spicy, lingering spice, well balanced, smooth, rich. Double Gold Medal
Kickled Mary Premium Bloody Mary Mix Original (MN) Palate: Roasted tomato, delightful garlic & onion, celery, lemon, Clamato juice, herbal, green pepper, bell pepper, spicy red pepper, hot pepper seed, peppery, spice, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, good heat, velvety. Finish: Spicy tomato, horseradish, jalapeño, cayenne, peppery, spicy, clean, great texture, rich. Double Gold Medal
Zing Zang Dill Pickle Bloody Mary Mix (IL) Palate: Tomato, V8 juice. roasted peppers, roasted garlic, agave, mint, herbs, pickles, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, salt, celery salt, paprika, spices, pepper, black pepper, malt, well-balanced, rich, classic, makes a good Bloody Mary. Finish: Tomato, roasted red pepper, citrus, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, good heat, very mixable, big, nice. Double Gold Medal
Kickled Mary Extra Spicy Bloody Mary Mix (MI) Palate: Bell pepper, olive juice, salty dill, garlicky, black pepper, peppery, interesting pepper, nice spice, major heat, smooth. Finish: Celery, garlic, very spicy, eye watering spice, good, a perfect bloody. Double Gold Medal
4J-BQ Bloody 55 Bloody Mary Mix (WY) Palate: Pickles, lemon, celery, celery salt, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, saline, pepper, black pepper, habanero, cayenne, spicy, rich. Finish: Pickle juice, salt, black pepper, jalapeño, Tabasco, hot sauce, spicy, heat, tangy. Double Gold Medal
Zing Zang Blazing Bloody Mary Mix (IL) Palate: Bell pepper, garlic, horseradish, malt, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, nice spice, immediate spice, spicy, balanced, well-rounded, rich, big, bold, easy to drink. Finish: Tomato, celery, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, spicy Tabasco, strong, good heat, bright, good, fun. Double Gold Medal
Lee Lee’s Bloody Mary Mix (TN) Palate: Tomato, salsa, celery, lemon, garlic, pickle, dill pickle, herbs, horseradish, wasabi, chipotle, spices, intense pepper, black pepper, pine forest, smoky. Finish: Roasted pepper, red pepper, green pepper, celery, onion, lemon, rusty chipotle, anchovy, smoke, heat, interesting. Double Gold Medal
GOLD MEDAL AWARDS Major Peters’ Bloody Mary Mix The Works (NC) Palate: Rich tomato, tomato soup, carrot, garlic, vegetal, pickles, celery salt, white pepper, peppery, spicy, smoke, refreshing, classic. Finish: Tomato, celery, salt, spice, chili pepper, mild heat, smooth, clean, fresh, flavorful. Gold Medal
Rads Bloody Mary Mix (KY) Palate: Tomato, celery, garlic, bell pepper, roast pepper, dill, herbs, pickle, dill pickle, brine, Worcestershire sauce, spice, black pepper, peppery, balanced, big, classic. Finish: Tomato, celery, garlic, pepper, salt, robust Worcestershire sauce, meaty, great texture, velvety, smooth, flavorful, great. Gold Medal
The Oxford Falls Wake Up Crabby Bloody Mary Mix (MS) Palate: Romano tomato, good tomato flavor, celery, cucumber, carrot juice, onion, Worcestershire sauce, salt, herbal, peppery, sweet, balanced, robust. Finish: Tomato, pearl onion, carrot, light spice, peppery, nice balance, a great base, pleasant, very nice, a party pleaser. Gold Medal
Barts Premium Bloody Mary Mix (TX) Palate: Rich tomato, roasted bell pepper, celery, broth, herbs, allspice, perfect spice, peppery, Worcestershire sauce, olive juice, brine, clam, anchovy, smooth. Finish: Tomato, spicy tomato, mint, baking spice, salt, red pepper, black pepper, peppery, habanero, big bite, good heat, sparkles. Gold Medal
Seaside Grown Bloody Mary Mix Original Blend (SC) Palate: Tomato, celery, lemon, oregano, black pepper, peppery, horseradish heavy, green olive, briny, shrimp, clam, salt, malt, tart, moderate kick, velvety, nice flavor, classic. Finish: Tomato, roasted pepper, olives, herbal spices, black pepper, cayenne pepper, mild, silky, zesty. Gold Medal
Lighthouse Keeper's Pirate's Blend Bloody Mary Mix (Cape Cod, MA) Palate: Spicy tomato, sweet tomato, garlic, heavily herbal, clove, light wasabi, red poblano pepper, black pepper, spicy, seafood element, well seasoned. Finish: Strong black pepper, spice, balanced, rich, powerful, tasty, super versatile. Gold Medal
Seaside Grown Bloody Mary Mix Spicy Blend (SC) Palate: V8 with a kick, pasta sauce, celery, carrot, onion, garlic, dill pickle, Worcestershire sauce, anchovy, salt, oregano, black pepper, peppery, spicy, malt, pine sawdust, very viscous, chunky, good heat. Finish: Tomato, pepper, earthy, smoke, lingering spice, strong heat, a great bloody. Gold Medal
Major Peters' Original Bloody Mary Mix (NC) Palate: Tomato, celery, roasted red pepper, garlic, lemon, citrus, pepper, jalapeño seed, horseradish, salt, sweet, earthy, classic. Finish: Tomato, celery, green pepper juice, olives, garlic, good jalapeño, Tabasco spice, silky, smooth, easy drinking. Gold Medal
Kickled Mary Wasabi Bloody Mary Mix (MN) Palate: Tomato, V8 juice, spicy red pepper sauce, bell pepper, pimento, pickles, mustard, horseradish, citrus pulp, herbs, fragrant earthy truffles, salt, black pepper, spicy, well blended, unique. Finish: Roasted pepper, celery, horseradish, wasabi, salty, chunky, smooth, complex, nice. Gold Medal
Major Peters’ Bloody Mary Mix Hot & Spicy (NC) Palate: Tomato, tomato soup, celery, dill, garlic, baking spice, cayenne pepper, habanero, smoke, a lot going on, classic. Finish: Earthy, salty, smoke, tabasco, spicy, searing, nice heat, classic. Gold Medal
SILVER MEDAL AWARDS Natural Blonde Golden Bloody Mary Mix (SC) Palate: Young tomato, tomato juice, tomato soup, lime, citrus, celery, garlic, green chili, jalapeño, black pepper, peppery, heat, salt, sweet & sour, interesting. Finish: Peppers, jalapeño, very spicy, smooth, easy drinking, good, likeable. Silver Medal
Bobbo’s Bloody Mary Mix (NC) Palate: Tomato, tomato sauce, tomato paste, olive juice, garlic, celery salt, Worcestershire sauce, brown spice, white pepper, peppery, tart. Finish: Celery, green pepper, horseradish, balanced spice, mild heat, fresh, bold, easy drinking. Silver Medal
Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix (IL) Palate: Tomato juice, tomato, celery, garlic, salt, baking spice, Worcestershire sauce, jalapeño, malt, medium heat. Finish: Tomato, celery, toasted red pepper, salt, spice, light kick, nice. Silver Medal
Dick's Dirty Mary Mix (CA) Palate: Tomato, smoked tomato, tomato soup. bell pepper, sweet green pepper, heavy celery, lemon, mint, rich salty, black pepper, chili, light heat, strong flavors, classic. Finish: Green pepper, mint, Worcestershire sauce, white pepper, black pepper, salty, smoky heat, hot, strong. Silver Medal
KayBaby’s Bloody Mary Mix (LA) Palate: Tomato, tomato paste, red pepper, garlic, herbs, baking spice, cinnamon, pepper, A1 streak sauce, Worcestershire sauce, jalapeño, salty, gritty. Finish: Tomato, garlic, celery, pepper, vegetal, sweet, salty, meaty, smoky, nice, has depth. Silver Medal
Texas Armadillo Juice Bloody Mary Mix (TX) Palate: Tomato, tomato paste, roasted pepper, celery, dill, garlic, basil, Italian herbs, allspice, black pepper, peppery, salt, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, unique. Finish: Pasta pomodoro, garlic, lemony, mint, clove, pepper, black pepper, salt, balanced, has depth, classic. Silver Medal
Lighthouse Keeper's Captain's Blend Bloody Mary Mix (Cape Cod, MA) Palate: Prominent tomato, tomato soup, cucumber, green pepper, vegetal, lemon, horseradish, herbs, salt, seasoning, sweet, mild kick. Finish: Tomato, lemon, mint, black pepper, a good base, nice viscosity, smooth. Silver Medal

The Bloody Mary Cocktail Story

Around 1920, émigrés escaping the Russian Revolution began arriving in Paris, bringing with them vodka and caviar. While working at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, Fernand Petiot began experimenting with the new spirit, and eventually created a mix of Russian vodka with American canned tomato juice cocktail. A new cocktail was born.

In 1934, Petiot headed up the King Cole Bar of the St. Regis Hotel in New York, where he tweaked the drink and reintroduced it as the Red Snapper. The recipe included vodka, tomato juice, salt and black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper and lemon juice. Supposedly, Petiot had wanted to call the drink the Bloody Mary, but the hotel’s owner, Vincent Astor objected, deeming it too risque for this upscale clientele. (Astor was also married to a woman named Mary). Astor’s face is that of King Cole in the mural over the bar.

Just when other bars around town began calling it the "Bloody Mary" is vague. Many rumors of the moniker’s creator abound, including Georgie Jessel, Ernest Hemingway, but none can be proven. In any case, recipes under the name Bloody Mary date in print at least to 1946. Trader Vic listed a Bloody Mary in his “Bartender’s Guide” published in 1947. The Bloody Mary proliferated in the 1950’s, with many documentations in books and magazines.

Besides with vodka, there are different variations of Bloodys: The Bloody Joseph with Scotch whisky, the Bloody Maria with tequila, the Bloody Maru with sake and others. The Red Snapper eventually became known as a Bloody with gin.

A Bloody Mary tastes better when the tomato juice retains some viscosity, so stirring is recommended over shaking. The original recipe remains essential to this day, frequently served at bars and restaurant brunches stuffed with every sort of edible you can imagine. The great thing about Bloody Mary is that she keeps reinventing herself. We have come a long way from the first popular bottled Bloody Mary cocktail mix, "Mr and Mrs T", since its introduction in 1960. Long live the Bloody Mary!

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Related Links Best Imported Vodka Best Mezcal Cocktail Mixer Domestic Vodka Gin Part 1 Moonshine Pickles Ready-To-Drink Cocktails Tequila Blanco White Rum

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Best Bloody Mary Mix

Best Rye Whiskey

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Best Mezcal