Basil Mary
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 9.5% ABV ∙
The Basil Mary is an herbaceous twist on the classic Bloody Mary, built on pepper vodka, tomato juice, fresh lemon, Worcestershire, and horseradish. Fresh green aromatics and rich umami notes ride over a tart vegetable base, finishing with a sharp, pungent heat — a complex brunch centerpiece.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Fresh basil leaves 7 pcsPepper vodka 60 mlTomato juice 120 mlHot pepper sauce 4 dashesTawny port 15 mlWorcestershire sauce 4 dashesHorseradish sauce 1/2 bspCelery salt 2 pinchesBlack pepper 2 grindsLemon juice 15 ml
- Fine strain into the ice-filled glass
- Garnish with a basil leaf
Tips
- Let the shake bruise the basil — the leaves go in whole with the rest, and a hard shake with ice draws their aroma without the bitterness crushing brings.
- Shake hard with ice for a full 10-15 seconds to fully emulsify the seasonings into the mix.
- Fine-strain into the Collins glass over fresh ice to catch shredded basil fragments and pepper grind, giving a cleaner texture.
- The tawny port is shaken in with everything else at 15 ml - that small pour is what rounds off the tomato's edge, rather than sitting on top of it.
History
The Basil Mary is a basil-infused variation of the Bloody Mary, credited to French bartender Fernand Petiot in the 1920s–30s. This build keeps the savory, spiced tomato-and-vodka base but muddles or infuses fresh basil into the mix, lending the classic a herbal edge in place of its usual celery-forward profile.
FAQ
What is in a Basil Mary?
Pepper vodka, tomato juice, fresh basil, lemon juice, tawny port, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish sauce, celery salt, and black pepper, shaken and served in a Collins glass with a basil leaf garnish. The port adds a subtle sweetness not found in a standard Bloody Mary.
Is a Basil Mary shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The basil, tomato juice, and savory seasonings need the vigorous mixing of a shake to blend evenly, unlike a stirred spirit-forward drink.
What glass is a Basil Mary served in?
A Collins glass, garnished with a basil leaf on top.
Is a Basil Mary a strong cocktail?
It is not strong, coming in at around 9.5% ABV. That puts it closer to a light, sessionable cocktail than to a spirit-forward drink, so it’s easy to sip and doesn’t hit very hard.
What is the difference between Bloody Mary and Basil Mary?
Basil Mary is a herbal twist on Bloody Mary: it keeps the tomato base and savory-spicy structure, but adds basil for a fresher, greener aroma and flavor. In some versions it also uses basil-infused or chili-flavored spirit, which makes it taste more herbal and slightly sharper than the classic Bloody Mary.
