Shake hard and fine strain over fresh ice
Whiskey Sour
Bright lemon, rounded bourbon, and a gently bittersweet finish.
Season, stir gently over ice, and pour over fresh highball ice
Bloody Mary
This guided version follows the IBA's on-request over-ice service: season in a mixing glass, stir gently, and pour into an iced highball.
Edited by CocktailSteps Editorial Team
- Time
- 5 minutes
- Level
- Easy
- Glass
- Highball
- Approx. ABV
- 10% · Low
- Tradition
- French–American
- Profile
- Sour · Spicy · Citrus
Ingredient totals
Ingredients
Amounts below make one drink. The method, Quick Check, and guided Make use these one-glass amounts.
1.5 ozVodkaRecommended brandAbsolut Original Vodka
3 ozTomato juiceRecommended brandCampbell’s Tomato Juice
0.5 ozFresh lemon juiceRecommended brandSunkist Lemon
2 dashesWorcestershire sauceRecommended brandLea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce
2 dashesTabasco sauceRecommended brandTABASCO Original Red Sauce
1 pinchCelery saltRecommended brandMcCormick Celery Salt
1 pinchBlack pepperRecommended brandSimply Organic Black Pepper
1 pieceCelery stalkOptionalRecommended brandFresh celery
1 pieceLemon wedgeOptionalRecommended brandSunkist Lemon
Measured method · one drink
How to make Bloody Mary
These steps make one glass. For more drinks, use the ingredient totals above to set up, then repeat this method for each serving.
- 01
Measure the savory base
1½ oz vodka · 3 oz tomato · ½ oz lemon · 2 dashes Worcestershire
Add 1½ oz vodka, 3 oz tomato juice, ½ oz fresh lemon juice, and 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce to a mixing glass.
Measure the savory base visual check - 02
Season to taste
Tabasco · celery salt · pepper to taste
Season to taste with Tabasco sauce, celery salt, and black pepper; begin with 2 dashes of Tabasco and 1 pinch of each seasoning.
Season to taste visual check - 03
Stir gently over ice
Cubed ice · stir gently until chilled
Add cubed ice to the mixing glass and stir gently until chilled without aerating the tomato juice.
Stir gently over ice visual check - 04
Pour over fresh ice
Fresh cubed ice · pour gently
Fill a highball with fresh cubed ice, then pour the gently stirred Bloody Mary over it.
Pour over fresh ice visual check - 05
Add the optional garnish
1 celery stalk · 1 lemon wedge
Optionally place 1 celery stalk in the drink and set 1 lemon wedge on the rim.
Add the optional garnish visual check
Add cubed ice to the mixing glass and stir gently until chilled without aerating the tomato juice.
AI-assisted illustration of one step. Follow the measured method above; sound is optional.Key move
Never shake the tomato mixture; keep the texture smooth and dense
Technique note
Why this build works
Tomato juice provides twice the vodka's volume, making texture and seasoning central to this drink. Lemon brightens the thick base, Worcestershire adds savory depth, and Tabasco contributes heat. Stirring gently distributes these ingredients without whipping the tomato into foam. The listed dashes and pinches are starting amounts: tomato juices differ in salt, and both hot-sauce strength and shaker-hole size change the seasoning delivered.
Common failure points
- The drink is too salty before the celery garnish is added.
- Taste the tomato juice first and check whether it is already seasoned. Start below a full pinch of celery salt when needed; Worcestershire contributes seasoning too.
- The surface is foamy and the texture feels aerated.
- Stir the tomato mixture with ice rather than shaking hard. Once chilled and evenly seasoned, serve over fresh ice instead of continuing to agitate it.
Measure or substitute
Another hot sauce can replace Tabasco, but begin with less because heat varies widely. For a vegetarian variation, check the Worcestershire label and use one without fish; it may have a different salt level, so season afterward.
Recipe references
These references describe the drink or its ingredients. Our measured build and teaching notes are CocktailSteps adaptations; proportions and methods may differ from the reference.
Set the station
Tools
JiggerRecommended brandCocktail Kingdom Japanese Style Jigger
Mixing glassRecommended brandCocktail Kingdom YARAI Mixing Glass
Bar spoonRecommended brandCocktail Kingdom Teardrop Barspoon
Highball glassRecommended brandRIEDEL Drink Specific Highball
Choose your bottle
Bottle buying guide
Best fit is our default. Spend less with Smart buy, or choose Upgrade when you want more character.
Vodka
Know the pour
Low
Vodka is lengthened by twice its volume of tomato juice plus citrus and dilution.
Contains alcohol. Serve only to adults of legal drinking age and enjoy responsibly.
