Top 10 Best Bloody Mary Mixes for Bar-Worthy Bloodies

Hot take: Bloody Marys made with Bloody Mary mix are better than from-scratch Bloody Marys made with tomato juice and spices. (Unless, of course, you’re a bartender who really knows what you’re doing.) But you can’t just use any of the Bloody Mary mix brands out there. Only the best Bloody Mary mix will do. 

Lucky for you, I am a real Bloody Mary enthusiast. So, I gladly took up the task of trying a bunch of Bloody Mary mixes along with a few of my taste testing colleagues (watch our full, unedited taste test below!). And we found the top ten Bloody Mary mixes out there—including the best spicy Bloody Mary mix and a pickle Bloody Mary mix that really knocked our socks off. 

What we looked for in the best Bloody Mary mix: 

• Savory and zesty flavor. The best Bloody Mary mixes should be savory and zesty but balanced. We don’t want full salt bombs, but we also really don’t want plain tomato juice. 
• Thick—but not puree. It needs to have some body so it can handle the addition of booze, but it shouldn’t be too thick—I don’t want to drink gazpacho.
• Some spice. Even a mild Bloody Mary mix should have a little black pepper kick. 

How we tasted Bloody Mary mixes:

We tried the top brands of Bloody Mary mixes both with and without vodka (Tito’s, be precise). We wanted to see how the flavors of each mix melded with the alcohol, but also wanted to evaluate how each mix tasted as a virgin drink. 

Here are ten Bloody Mary mixes that are so good, you’ll look forward to your next hangover. 

Best Bloody Mary Mixes, Ranked

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Best Zesty Bloody Mary Mix

Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix

Walmart

Target

I love any bottle that advertises how light (as in, not heavy) it is. That brand understands a person’s energy level on a weekend morning. And I also love how the name so aptly describes the flavor of this mix. It is, indeed, both zingy and zangy. It’s heavy on the vinegar, celery, and pepper. It hits you in the chest with its zingy-ness and it gets your mouth watering with its zangy-ness. If you’re looking for bright and zesty and tangy, this is the best Bloody Mary mix for you. (One strange warning: When we bought a bottle of Zing Zang for our most recent taste test, it was fizzy. It had fermented in the bottle. So examine your bottle closely before buying.)

Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

Best Bloody Mary Mix for Camping

Filthy Bloody Mary Mix

Amazon

This is definitely the best mix for Bloody Mary making while camping. Because, instead of a bottle or can, Filthy sells their Bloody Mary mix in a pouch—which comes complete with a little hole in the corner so you can clip it to your backpack with a carabiner, presumably. You know, for all of those cliffside Bloodies you plan on making. The pouches are very pleasing and easy to pack, and each one makes two Bloody Marys. They are a bit difficult to pour, though. The flavor is roasted and rich—like caramelized tomatoes. It’s another mix that would be ideal for a darker spirit like mezcal or bourbon. There’s some heat on the end and a lot of funky horseradish flavor without any chewy horseradish bits.

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Horseradish Flavor

Lefty O’Doul’s

Total Wine

Named for a now-closed San Francisco divebar, Lefty O’Doul’s is the best Bloody Mary mix for folks who love that horseradish flavor but don’t want to get actual bits of horseradish caught in their teeth. It has a classic Bloody Mary flavor with a little bit more tang and spice from the horseradish.

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best for a Virgin Bloody Mary

Major Peters’ Bloody Mary Mix

Amazon

This was a shocker. Even though I had seen it on other “best of” lists, it was a new name to me and the label didn’t scream “tasty.” I just don’t associate British colonialist soldiers with high quality Bloodies. But apparently I should, because this umami bomb of a mix is delicious. It’s heavy on the tomato flavors with a hint of smoke and layers of vegetal flavors. It’s not spicy at all, so it’s perfect for the spice averse. It’s also excellent sipped on its own. No booze required (but it is certainly appreciated).

Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Spicy Bloody Mary Mix

Mr & Mrs T Bold & Spicy Bloody Mary

Walmart

Look, this Bloody Mary mix tastes exactly like you’d think it would from the label. It’s an amped-up version of the classic Mr & Mrs T mix. It is indeed bolder and spicier. It’s much more savory, but it’s a touch less tomatoey. So if you’re really in it for the tomato, stick with the classic mix.

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Pickle Bloody Mary Mix

Zing Zang the Jimmy Pickle

Total Wine

Sorry, McClure’s, but Zing Zang and Jimmy John’s have partnered to make the best pickle Bloody Mary mix. It really tastes like tangy, tart, just-dilly-enough pickle. And it tastes even better with vodka. There’s a hint of sweetness to the mix that really melds well with booze. Also, there aren’t any little chunks like there are with other pickle Bloody Mary mixes. If you want something to chew in your Bloody, add a garnish. (Note: This was a limited release, so you might not be able to find it. That said, Zing Zang just came out with a new dill pickle mix, so keep an eye out for that—we’ll be doing the same.)

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Canned Bloody Mary Mix

Q Spectacular Bloody Mary Mix

Walmart

Our top four best Bloody Mary mixes are all pretty much tied in terms of quality. It just depends on what you’re looking for, specifically. And if you’re looking for the best canned Bloody Mary mix, you’ve found it here. Q’s canned Bloody Mary smells a little like dill pickles, but the flavor is very tomato-forward. It really taps into the umami of tomato along with a touch of tang and some delicious spice. You can see flecks of horseradish but the flavor of the root isn’t overpowering. And I love that it comes in little cans (four per pack) so you don’t have to commit to multiple Bloodies in one weekend. The label doesn’t lie. It truly is a spectacular Bloody Mary mix.

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Best Craft Bloody Mary Mix

Fevertree

Amazon

This is artisanal Bloody Mary mix. This is fancy. It’s craft cocktail bar stuff. It really tastes like it’s made with fresh tomato puree—it has that bit of a sweet-grassy taste. And there’s just a bit of heat that builds as you sip. Plus, it’s thick, which means you can cut it with vodka and you won’t be left with a watery soup. We all really flipped for this stuff. It’s worth the extra scratch, and it’s the best Bloody Mary mix if you’re looking for that high-end cocktail bar feel.

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Best Ultra Savory Bloody Mary Mix

Barsmith Bloody Mary Mix

Amazon

This Bloody Mary mix is deeply savory. While we initially assumed it was due to a heavy hand with the Worcestershire sauce, after examining the label we found out this mix is actually made with Rochester sauce concentrate. What’s Rochester sauce? A quick search reveals it’s a sauce (popular in Rochester, NY) that is made with ground beef, onions, spices, and tomato paste. I’m fairly sure that’s not what was used in this mix, though. A deeper search suggests Rochester sauce is also essentially double-strength Worcestershire sauce made without caramel coloring. Whatever it is, it’s delicious. And it makes this the best Bloody Mary mix to pair with a meat-heavy brunch or tailgate. It’s packed with umami flavors and it’s zesty—like, fresh lime zest. I took this bottle home with me.

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Best Classic Bloody Mary Mix

Mr & Mrs T Original Bloody Mary Mix

Walmart

This has been my go-to for a long time. It’s in my parent’s fridge for their odd 5 p.m. Bloody Mary ritual, it’s the airline standard, it’s great. It’s tangy, tomato-forward, and, most of all, extremely savory. There’s a hint of spice to it and some artificial lime—this is exactly when I want artificial lime. It’s perfect as is, great with vodka, and it leaves room for customization. If you want your Bloody extra-spicy, load it up with hot sauce. It can take it. If you want more of that sinus-clearing horseradish, add a few spoonfuls. This is the Heinz ketchup of the Bloody Mary mix world. Cheers to the happy couple, the Ts, because they continue to make some of the best Bloody Mary mix available.

Credit: Ryan Martin / Target

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Other Bloody Mary mixes we tried: Agalima Authentic Bloody Mary Mix, Finest Call Loaded Bloody Mary Mixer, Collins Spicy Bloody Mary Mix, Stirrings Mixer Bloody Mary Mix, Jack Links Dill Pickle Bloody Mary Mix, Tabasco Bloody Mary Mix Extra Spicy, Stonewall Kitchen Mixer Bloody Mary Mix, Sonoma Gourmet Mixer Bloody Mary, V8 Bloody Mary Mix, McClure’s Bloody Mary Mix, Old Bay Bloody Mary Mix, Master of Mixes Loaded Bloody Mary Mixer, Cutwater Spicy Bloody Mary Cocktail Mix, The Real Dill Bloody Mary Mix, Tres Agaves Bloody Mary Mix, Diane Minas Bloody Mary Mix, Preservation & Co. Bloody Mary Mix, Mr & Mrs T Horseradish Bloody Mary Mix