Set aside any thoughts of a ho-hum taco, pizza topping, or slider bar. This year, spice up your holiday shindigs with a Bloody Mary bar. Not only does it hit all the holiday signature colors, but it presents guests with dozens of combinations of seasonings and over-the-top garnishes—from seafood to candy canes—to choose from. “What did you put in yours?” will become the ice-breaking and memorable topic of your event. A Bloody Mary bar not only spares you from playing bartender, but the interaction and creativeness of it turns your average party bar into a centerpiece for holiday cheer.
To start with…
Gather up the essentials: vodka and a good tomato juice. Or if you want to mix things up, create a mix with tequila for Bloody Marias or with gin for Red Snappers. Then, add the magic—hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, fresh lemon or lime juice, and a little salt and pepper. The key is balance. You want enough spice to wake up the taste buds but not so much that it overpowers. If you’re short on time, grab a quality premade Bloody Mary mix instead, like Zing Zang.
Either way, let your guests customize on your mainstay pitchers or punch bowls of the basic mix. Set out bottles of hot sauces and citrus juices for those who want all the heat, as well as those who crave only a tangy, mellow sip.
Here’s where the fun begins…
Garnishes! Sure, you can stick to the classics of celery stalks, olives, and pickles, but why stop there? Go bold with crispy bacon strips, jumbo shrimp, cheese skewers, or even mini sliders for a show-stopping touch. The more creative, the better!
Add some extra flair with infused vodkas (hello, jalapeño and garlic!), along with small bowls of fresh herbs, lemon wedges, and pepper grinders.
Now set it up…
Set everything out buffet-style on trays or in jars with tongs, and keep cold items, like shrimp or cheese, on a bed of ice to stay fresh. Use small labels or chalkboard signs to identify ingredients and group garnishes by flavor profiles—salty, spicy, savory—so guests can easily build their dream libation.
Arrange it all in a logical flow, starting with glasses and ice at one end, moving through the basic mixers and spices, then finishing with garnishes. Keep it organized, fun, and easy to navigate, so everyone feels like a pro mixologist and can’t wait to start sipping and sharing.
To Add That Holiday Flair…
- Incorporate seasonal garnishes—cranberries, rosemary sprigs, and mini candy canes (they come in sriracha flavor now).
- Use holiday-themed glassware—think frosted mugs or glasses pre-rimmed with green or red salt—to tie in the season.
- Enhance that string of lights and pine garlands with a clever sign, like “Make Your Own Merry Mary Here!”.
- Arrange everything at different heights on pedestals or on tiered trays atop a festive tablecloth. Now you’ve got a photo-worthy centerpiece your guests will be posting about even before they dive in.
Mercadito Cantina Bloody Mary
"If you want to make a Bloody Mary undeniably unique, you have to concoct your own mix. Mercadito Cantina feeds its thirsty with a hearty pint glass full of vitamins, herbs, vegetables and the fifth food group—vodka. "
1 1/2 ounces vodka
4 ounces tomato juice
1 1/4 ounces Bloody Mary mix
1/2 ounces lemon juice
Mercadito’s mix:
1 onion
2 cucumbers
4 stalks of celery
1 cup of loosely packed cilantro
2 barspoons of horseradish
60 oz. of Worcestershire sauce
1/2 oz. TABASCO®
1 oz. Valentina
3 barspoons salt and pepper mix
For the Mercadito’s Mix: Chop onion, peeled cucumber and celery into medium dice. Add everything to a blender, puree and refrigerate.
For the Bloody Mary: Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Shake and pour over ice. Garnish pint glass with a salt and pepper rim, a speared curl of cucumber, a sprig of cilantro, a lemon and lime wedge and a pinch of pico piquin.