This post is sponsored by Miller's Sauce. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is the BEST spicy bloody mary with bacon, that is made from scratch. Made with Miller's Banana Pepper Sauce, this easy recipe includes a chili rim salt and is even garnished with twisted bacon!
Bloody mary's are always a fun classic cocktail for Sunday brunch or on special occasions. I love a good bloody mary and this is definitely the best homemade mix, made with my favorite sweet and spicy banana pepper sauce.
Serve this ultimate bloody mary cocktail with a hash brown crust quiche, loaded chips with blue cheese and bacon or fried goat cheese balls.
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🌶 Ingredient notes
- Miller's Sauce - This fresh banana pepper hot sauce is definitely one of my favorite condiments. It gives this drink a spicy kick and a great banana pepper flavor. I used the hot flavor for this cocktail because it has just the right amount of heat. Use the mild flavor for a less zesty bloody mary or the habanero flavor to really turn up the heat!
- Bacon - These twisted bacon straws are a really fun way to garnish the drinks and also pair with the spicy cocktail really well. Use your favorite variety of bacon to make these bacon twists. Make sure to get regular sliced as opposed to thick sliced, as they are harder to twist.
- Garnishes - In addition to the twisted bacon, green olives, banana peppers, cocktail shrimp and celery stalks are used for garnish. These are optional and can be omitted or you can also add to them as needed. A pickle spear, lime wedges or artichokes are also great options.
📋 Substitutions and variations
- Vegetarian - Omit the twisted bacon and shrimp garnishes and use vegan worcestershire sauce instead.
- Non-Alcoholic - Simply substitute the vodka for extra tomato juice to make this a mocktail.
- For a Crowd - Want to serve this drink for a party? Size up the quantities to serve the amount of people you need and serve the mix in a beverage carafes. Serve ice and garnishes on the side for a make your own bloody mary bar.
🍹Step by step instructions
First, twist the bacon strips tightly and then place them on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or foil. Roast the bacon in a 400˚ oven for 20-25 minutes until crispy. Allow the bacon to drain and cool completely on paper towels.
Next, in a shallow dish or on a small plate, mix together the chili powder and kosher salt. Run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass and then dip in the chili salt mixture.
In a beverage carafe or large pitcher, mix together the plain tomato juice, vodka, banana pepper sauce, olive juice, lime juice, worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke and celery salt. Fill serving glasses about ¾ of the way with ice and pour the bloody mary mix over the top.
Finally, garnish this spicy bloody mary cocktail with the twisted bacon, a celery stick, a cocktail shrimp and a green olive and banana pepper skewer.
If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that I mention, be sure to look it up in the Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.
⭐ Expert tips
- Make sure to twist the bacon tightly so that it stays twisted during roasting. They may start to twist or move a bit during cooking and can be straightened out with tongs during cooking if needed.
- Let the bacon drain on a paper towel and cool completely so that it crisps up enough to stand in the drink.
- Use beverage toothpicks to skewer together smaller ingredients, like the olives or peppers, or just let them float in the drink by themselves.
- If making the bloody mary mix ahead of time, do not add ice or it will water down the drinks.
⏲️ Make ahead instructions
The spicy bloody mary mix can be made up to 24 hours ahead of time with the vodka in it or up to 3 days ahead of time without it. Store the mix in the airtight container in the refrigerator until use. At serving time, stir in the vodka (if needed), pour over ice and add garnishes.
🥡 Storage suggestions
Leftover mix that does not contain vodka can be frozen in ice cubes to be stored for later. Leftover bloody mary mix with the vodka will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
🍸 More cocktail recipes
If you loved this spicy bloody mary recipe, check out these other cocktail recipes that I know you will love too!
📖 Recipe
Spicy Bloody Mary with Bacon
Ingredients
Twisted Bacon
- raw bacon regular, not thick sliced
Chili Rim Salt
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1 Tablespoon kosher salt
Spicy Bloody Mary
- 12 ounces tomato juice
- 8 ounces vodka
- 3 ounces Millers Banana Pepper Sauce, hot flavor
- 2 ounces olive juice
- 2 ounces fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- 4 dashes liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon celery salt
- lime wedges
- ice
Garnishes
- celery stalks
- cooked cocktail shrimp tail on or off
- green pimento stuffed olives
- banana peppers hot or mild
- beverage toothpicks
Instructions
Twisted Bacon
- Preheat the oven to 400˚ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Twist each slice of bacon tightly and lay on the prepared sheet pan.
- Roast bacon in the oven for 20-25 minutes until crispy. Let the bacon drain and cool completely on paper towels.
Chili Rim Salt
- In a shallow dish or on a plate, mix together chili powder and salt. Set aside.
Spicy Bloody Mary
- In a beverage carafe, combine tomato juice, vodka, banana pepper sauce, olive juice, fresh lime juice, worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke and celery salt. Stir to combine.
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of each serving glass and dip into the chili salt mixture.
- Fill the glasses about ¾ of the way with ice and pour the bloody mary mixture over the ice into the glasses.
- Garnish drinks with twisted bacon, celery, shrimp and olives and a banana pepper on a beverage skewer.
Notes
- Make sure to twist the bacon tightly so that it stays twisted during roasting. If it starts to move during, just straighten them out with tongs.
- Let the bacon drain on a paper towel and cool completely so that it crisps up enough to stand in the drink.
- Use beverage toothpicks to skewer together smaller ingredients, like the olives or peppers, or just let them float in the drink by themselves.
- If making the bloody mary mix ahead of time, do not add ice or it will water down the drinks.
Substitutions and Variations
- Miller's Sauce - Use mild, hot or habanero flavors depending on preference.
- Bacon - Any flavor of bacon can be used for this recipe, however regular sliced bacon will twist easier than thick sliced.
- Garnishes - Pickles, lime wedges or artichokes are other great options for garnishes.
- Vegetarian - Omit the twisted bacon and shrimp garnishes and use vegan worcestershire sauce.
- Non-Alcoholic - Simply substitute the vodka for extra tomato juice to make this a mocktail.
- For a Crowd - Want to serve this drink for a party? Size up the quantities to serve the amount of people you need and serve the mix in a beverage carafes. Serve ice and garnishes on the side for a make your own bloody mary bar.
Jerika
YUM! This is so creative.:) I love it. Thanks!:) We will be trying this soon.
Amanda
Thank you - enjoy!
Agnieszka
We love bloody Marys and I wanted to spice things up a bit (literally). This recipe is perfect! We absolutely loved it.
Amanda
Yah! So happy to hear this!
Jan
Talk about taking it up a notch. This version of a bloody mary is a must try.
Amanda
Definitely, Thanks!
nancy
making this part of my at home brunch drinks!
Amanda
Woohoo! Glad to hear it...you won't be dissapointed!
sarah
This recipe is perfect for our upcoming brunch! Absolutely genius!
Amanda
Thank you so much! Cheers!
Kayla DiMaggio
I loved this spicy bloody mary! The bacon twist was such a fun addition!
Amanda
Thanks Kayla! The bacon twist is definitely my fav 🙂
Jeannie
this sounds like an interesting bloody mary to enjoy! will check out this sauce that you use.
Amanda
Thanks, I hope you do! It adds such a good flavor to it!