Want to make your Bloody Mary taste smokier? The easiest way is to layer smoky flavor throughout the cocktail. Start with a chipotle-based Bloody Mary seasoning, choose mezcal instead of vodka, add a smoky rim salt, and finish with grilled or charred garnishes.

Smokiness doesn’t have to overwhelm the other flavors in your drink. By adding smoke in layers, you can build a Bloody Mary that’s earthy, savory, spicy, and complex—with as much or as little smoky character as you like.

How do I make a Bloody Mary taste smoky?

There are four easy ways to add smoky flavor to a Bloody Mary: the seasoning, the spirit, the rim, and the garnish. Combining several methods or using just one lets you control how smoky your cocktail tastes.

1. Start with a smoky Bloody Mary seasoning

Because seasoning is mixed throughout the drink, it’s one of the easiest ways to distribute smoky flavor from the first sip to the last.

Chipotle peppers are smoke-dried, giving them a naturally smoky, charred flavor alongside their heat. Demitri’s Chipotle Habanero Seasoning combines smoky chipotle peppers, habanero, and other spices for a smoke-forward Bloody Mary.

Start with your usual amount of Bloody Mary seasoning and adjust to taste. If you want more smoke, add a little more seasoning rather than changing everything else at once. That way, you can build the flavor without overpowering the tomato, citrus, and savory notes in the cocktail.

And as a bonus use in the kitchen, Demitri’s Chipotle Habanero Seasoning can also add smoky flavor to marinades, sauces, and warming chilis.

2. Use mezcal in place of vodka

Vodka is the traditional choice for a Bloody Mary because its neutral flavor lets the tomato juice and other ingredients take center stage. But if you’re looking to take the smoky flavor up a notch, try making a Bloody Maria with mezcal instead.

Mezcal’s roasting process makes it earthy and smoky. The amount of smoke varies from one mezcal to another, so look for a bottle that markets itself as smoky.

3. Add a smoky rim salt

Because you smell the rim with every sip, a flavorful rim can make the entire drink seem more aromatic and complex.

For an extra-savory, smoky experience, try Demitri’s Bacon Rimshot Rim Salt. The bacon-forward flavor and scent add another smoky and savory layer before you even taste the cocktail itself.

4. Finish with grilled or charred garnishes

If you can grill it, you can put it on a Bloody Mary.

Grilling is an easy way to make the garnish part of the flavor experience instead of just for decoration.

Try these smoky garnish ideas:

• Grilled peppers

• Grilled asparagus

• Grilled zucchini

• Grilled pineapple

• Extra-crispy bacon

• A grilled lemon wedge

You can even combine garnishes. Try grilled peppers with crispy bacon, or grilled pineapple with a charred lemon wedge, to create different combinations of sweet, savory, spicy, and smoky flavors.

What’s an easy smoky Bloody Mary recipe?

Add smoke in layers rather than relying on one ingredient to do all the work. Here’s our go-to for an extra smoky cocktail:

Ingredients:

• 6-8 ounces tomato juice

• 1-2 teaspoons Demitri’s Chipotle Habanero Seasoning

• 1-2 ounces vodka or smoky mezcal

• Demitri’s Bacon Rimshot Rim Salt

• Grilled seasonal veggies

• Bacon

• Grilled lemon or lime wedge

• Ice

Directions:

1. Gently moisten the rim of a 12-16 ounce glass with the citrus wedge, then press into a saucer of Demitri’s Bacon Rimshot Rim Salt.

2. Combine Demitri’s Chipotle Habanero Seasoning with tomato juice, vodka, and ice in a shaker-can and gently roll between the can and glass to combine.

3. Pour the mixture into the glass and garnish with freshly charred vegetables or garnish of choice.

Make your Bloody Mary your own

A few simple swaps can transform the flavor. And if smokiness isn’t your only flavor goal, Demitri’s has a Bloody Mary Seasoning for just about every kind of cocktail craving. Try the Classic Recipe for the tried-and-true combination that started it all, Chilies & Peppers for extra spice, or Extra Horseradish for next-level savory flavor. Whatever direction you take it, Demitri’s makes it easy to customize your Bloody Mary and craft your cocktail like a pro.