How To Build A Sweet Bloody Mary Bar

Vodka, which you could also infuse with fresh horseradish or garlic or both. Pour one bottle into an airtight container with 1 tablespoon fresh grated horseradish and two roughly chopped garlic cloves. Leave for 24 hours, then strain back into the original bottle. No need to spend big here people. Vodka is merely alcohol anyway when covered with all the flavors in a Bloody Mary. I do like the Absolut Peppar, though.

Juices

Sure, you could just buy some of that overly thick and heavy tomato juice that comes in a plastic bottle or can from the local bodega or grocery store. But nothing will ever compare to freshly pressed vegetable juice. It's like making your own V-8. You will, of course, need a proper juicer for this. I like to juice fresh tomatoes, carrot, cucumber, celery and bell pepper. Prepare a day in advance if you have time and mix with a little tomato paste and a healthy pinch of salt and pepper. Leave in the fridge overnight. This juice is packed with vitamins and is much lighter, more refreshing and invigorating than the store-bought stuff. Your hangover will be a distant memory in no time. Keep this in a pitcher on your D.I.Y. bar.

Pickled

Rick's Picks makes some amazing pickles including beans, carrots, smoked okra and my favorite: phat beets. They're available at Whole Foods, or at the very least, get at least a handful of the below items:

Pepperoncini

Beans

Sour pickles

Cornichons

Olives (get a few stuffed varieties)

Onions

Corn

Caperberries

Okra

Jalapeños

Acids

Lime juice

Lemon juice

Yuzu

Balsamic vinegar

Worcestershire

Mirin

Ponzu

Chardonnay vinegar

Fresh Vegetable Garnishes

Carrot

Celery

Cucumber

Radish

Cherry tomatoes

Hot & Spicy

Tabasco: red & green (the chipotle is also delicious)

Sriracha

Togarashi (a Japanese pepper spice mix)

Cracked black pepper

White pepper

Horseradish

Harissa

Mustards

Salty

Maldon salt

Soy sauce

Celery salt

Vodka

Sake

Wasabi paste

Soy sauce

Mirin

Togarashi

Yuzu

Bloody Maria

Tequila (and/or mezcal)

Lime

Fresh cilantro, finely chopped

Chipotle Tabasco sauce

Bloody Viking

Aquavit

Pickle juice

Lemon juice

Dill, finely chopped

Bloody Luigi

Grappa

Balsamic

Lemon

Pesto

*If you want to save on costs, you can also ask your guests to bring something for the Bloody Mary bar. Just make sure you assign the items so everyone doesn't turn up with a bottle of Tabasco.

Try out these Bloody Mary recipes on Food Republic:

• Green Bloody Mary Recipe
• Lobster Claw Bloody Mary Recipe
• Bloody Mary Bites Recipe
• Hot And Spicy Bloody Mary Granita Recipe