Bloody Mary Mix
 

Best Bloody Mary Mix

 

The Fifty Best Bloody Mary Mix Tasting 2023


The Tasting:
The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 18 Bloody Mary mixes with seven 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 poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles and served to the judges. The judges were provided with ice cubes to add to each sample during the tasting. 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 WINNERS

Oxford Falls Wake Up Crabby Bloody Mary Mix
(MS)

Nose: Heirloom tomatoes, roasted tomatoes, molasses, BBQ sauce, mixed seafood, ocean, briny, pickles, lime, white pepper.
Palate: Sweet tomatoes, onion, garlic, seafood, horseradish, light spices, touch of salt, black pepper, chunky, creamy mouthfeel, smooth, delicate, rich, fresh.
Finish: Shrimp cocktail-like, crab, tomato soup, tamarind, brine, spicy, smooth, pleasant, elegant, super interesting, versatile, mix with almost anything.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Oxford Falls Wake Up Crabby Bloody Mary Mix



Fever-Tree Classic Bloody Mary Mix
(NY)

Nose: Ripe tomato, roasted tomato, tomato soup, tomato paste, cucumber, saucy lemon, oregano, earth.
Palate: Tomato, roast peppers, basil, cocktail sauce, horseradish, mushroom, earth, herbs, oregano, spice, black pepper, roasted jalapeño, poblano, hot sauce, touch of Tabasco, thick, rich.
Finish: Arrabiata sauce, pasta sauce, herbal, lemon, hot sauce, spicy, pepper, sweet, pleasant heat.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Fever-Tree Classic Bloody Mary Mix



Diane Mina's Original Bloody Mary Mix
(AZ)

Nose: Rich tomato, tomato sauce, tomato juice, V8 juice, celery, celery salt, sweet pepper, bay leaf, herbal, fresh horseradish, cayenne, poblano, mesquite, interesting.
Palate: Sweet roasted tomatoes, lemony, light herbs, molasses, hot sauce, black pepper, BBQ, smoky, heat rises gradually, smooth, delicate, rich, easy drinking.
Finish: Tomato skin, celery, spicy, hot sauce, chewy, mesquite notes carry through, great, flavorful.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Diane Mina's Original Bloody Mary Mix



Kickled Mary Bloody Mary Mix Extra Spicy
(MN)

Nose: Tomato forward, red bell pepper, green pepper, dill, onion, garlic, vegetable soup, lemon, lime zest, Italian dressing, olives, brine, horseradish, bright.
Palate: Tomato, mild salsa, onion, garlic, cucumber, lemon, brine, vinegar, horseradish, cayenne, pepper flakes, nice blend, good balance.
Finish: Pickles, horseradish, vinegar, cayenne, hot, spicy, red pepper builds, slow burn, heat to +5, bright, nice, elegant.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Kickled Mary Bloody Mary Mix Extra Spicy



Chief’s Bloody Mary Mix
(SD)

Nose: Fresh tomatoes, tomato juice, bell pepper, green bell peppers, green olives, capers, lemon juice, celery salt, Old Bay seasoning, bay leaf, white pepper, light jalapeño.
Palate: Tomato juice, tomato purée, cherry tomato, bell pepper, basil, garlic, vegetal, white pepper, black pepper, spicy, mid-level spice, slightly tart, good viscosity, not too overpowering, good overall.
Finish: Spicy tomato soup, lemon peel, peppery, sweet n’ spicy, spice builds nicely, yum, flavorful.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Chief’s Bloody Mary Mix



Kickled Mary Bloody Mary Mix Premium
(MN)

Nose: Onion, garlic, green pepper, bell pepper, citrus, horseradish, wasabi, herbal, oregano, black pepper, Tabasco sauce, salt, maritime.
Palate: Sweet red pepper, celery, garlic, garlic juice, vinegar, cayenne, fire roasted vegetables, smoke, well balanced herbs & spicy, delicate, rich, nice.
Finish: Garlic bomb, touch of lemon, cayenne, mushrooms, woodsy, meaty, funky, savory, great, outstanding.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Kickled Mary Bloody Mary Mix Premium



Rads Bloody Mary Mix
(OH)

Nose: Roasted tomato, lime, lime juice, lemon, citrus, fennel, herb, pepper, light vinegar, brine, meaty, bright.
Palate: Very horseradish, celery, dill, brown sugar, sour pickle, brine, vinegar, big black pepper, jalapeño, smooth.
Finish: Horseradish, sour pickle, vinegar, cayenne pepper, nicely spicy, black pepper builds, heat rises.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Rads Bloody Mary Mix



GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix
(IL)

Nose: Tomato, sweet tomato, canned tomato sauce, celery, lemon, lemon/lime zest, Worcestershire sauce, mild pepper, black pepper, spices, chipotle, brine, smoke.
Palate: Tomato, red bell pepper, sweet pepper, celery, garlic, brown sugar, maple, vanilla from wood barrel, black pepper, spices, pickle, briny, well-balanced, smooth, rich.
Finish: Light tomato, celery stalk, nice salt note, just right balance of heat & brine, balanced flavors, chewy, rich, great.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix



SPOOKY Dill Pickle Bloody Mary Mix
(FL)

Nose: Tomato,sundried tomatoes, roasted tomato, celery, dill, clam juice, salt, red pepper flakes, briny, pickle brine, smoky, smooth, classy.
Palate: Sundried tomatoes, garlic, blend of herbs, lemon giving way to pepper, lightly spiced, pickles, vinegar, briny, malty, bright.
Finish: Tomatoes, citrus, white pepper, hint of cayenne, Tabasco, increasingly spicy.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



SPOOKY Dill Pickle Bloody Mary Mix



Top Hat Bloody Mary Original Recipe
(CA)

Nose: Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, molasses, cucumber, green bell pepper, garlic, dill pickles, cayenne pepper, Tabasco, spicy, brine, oyster shell, earthy notes.
Palate: Tomato juice, BBQ, horseradish, lemon, dill, black pepper, peppery, jalapeño, strong cayenne, vinegar, salty, brine, tomato acidity, delicate.
Finish: Jalapeño, strong cayenne, peppery, consistent black pepper note, spicy, hot, lemon peel.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Top Hat Bloody Mary Original Recipe



Three Bar Bloody Mary Secret Mix
(ID)

Nose: Tomato, Guinness beer, malt, beef consommé, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mulled apples, sweet pie spice, cinnamon, cardamom, smoke.
Palate: BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, basil, vegetal, black pepper, olive juice, saline, vinegar, hint of horseradish, sweet cinnamon, apple pie, tart.
Finish: Sweet pickles, Worcestershire sauce, malty, brine with beef stock, vinegar, citrus, peppery, sneaky black pepper, black pepper builds, versatile.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Three Bar Bloody Mary Secret Mix



The Real Dill Bloody Mary Mix Original
(CO)

Nose: Tomato, celery, dill, lemongrass, lemon, lime zest, floral, garlic, oregano, paprika, dill pickle juice, brine.
Palate: Pickles, pickle juice, briny, lemon, fennel, garlic, capers, herbs, Worcestershire sauce, Ranch seasoning, jalapeño, black pepper, nice viscosity.
Finish: Pickles, dill pickles, lack olives, vinegar, salty, spicy, nice balance, nice fade out, interesting.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



The Real Dill Bloody Mary Mix Original



Zing Zang Blazing Bloody Mary Mix
(IL)

Nose: Roasted tomatoes, roasted peppers, celery, molasses, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, A1 sauce, beef stock, vinegar, brine.
Palate: Sweet tomato, tomato juice, onion, horseradish, lemon, lime, celery salt, Santa Fe peppers, hot salsa, hot sauce, black pepper, anchovy, briny, smoky, good heat, savory.
Finish: Onion, touch of salt, spicy, black pepper builds nicely, heat to +4, hot, fire, stays savory, nice.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



   Zing Zang Blazing Bloody Mary Mix



Diane Mina's Dirty Diane’s Bloody Mary Mix
(AZ)

Nose: Tomato juice, Arrabiata sauce, hot sauce, fresh celery, cucumber, fennel, basil, herbal, flowery, fauna, oregano, cayenne, smoky.
Palate: Tomato, tomato paste, herbs, celery salt, salt & pepper, horseradish, vinegar, brine, sweet, smoky.
Finish: Tomato, sweet tomatoes, light horseradish, slightly spicy, smooth, easy, classic quality mix.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Diane Mina's Dirty Diane’s Bloody Mary Mix



SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Hell's Kitchen Bloody Mary Mix
(MN)

Nose: Bright tomato, red pepper, onion, garlic, celery, basil, dill, sour lemon, horseradish, Worchestershire sauce, vinegar, briny, Tabasco sauce, spicy.
Palate: Tomato, celery, onion, basil, black olive, vinegar, saline, black pepper, spicy, salty, tart, balanced.
Finish: Tomato, spicy tomato, tomato bisque, garlic, onion, celery, basil, black olive, anchovies, vinegar, saline, salty, spicy.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



Hell's Kitchen Bloody Mary Mix



Kickled Mary Bloody Mary Mix Wasabi
(MO)

Nose: Roasted red pepper, bell pepper, onion, garlic, celery, dill, lemon, Italian dressing, red chili pepper, jalapeño, cooked shrimp, savory.
Palate: Rich tomato, fire roasted peppers, onion, garlic, celery, basil, thyme, black pepper, crab/clam juice, nice blend of classic Bloody Mary flavors.
Finish: Onion, super garlicky, celery & thyme lingers, black pepper, saltiness grows, slight heat rises, mellow, flavorful.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



Kickled Mary Bloody Mary Mix Wasabi



Jeffs Best Bloody Mary Mix Concentrate
(AZ)

Nose: Tomato, savory tomato, tomato juice, bell pepper, green pepper, celery, herbs, oregano, garlic powder, cayenne, mesquite.
Palate: Mellow tomato, lemon, celery, celery salt, minced garlic, basil, herbs, touch of brine, smoky, nicely balanced, smooth, rich.
Finish: Classic tomato explosion, pepper, black pepper, grainy from spices, stays on the sweet side, easy drinking, soft, rich.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



“Jeffs



SPOOKY Green Olive Bloody Mary Mix
(FL)

Nose: Fresh tomato, tomato purée, brown sauce, red bell pepper, fresh cucumber, olives, garlic, dill, celery salt, spicy, vinegar, toast, pretzels, well blended.
Palate: Tomato, green pepper, olives, dill, herbs, celery salt, lemon, citrus, horseradish, pickle juice, vinegar, good flavor evolution.
Finish: Tomato, olive, green pepper, lemon, salt, light spice, soft black pepper, classic mix, nice, mellow.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



”SPOOKY

 

 


 

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.

 

 

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