Bloody Mary vs. Bloody Maria. What’s the difference?
Are you team Bloody Mary or team Bloody Maria? Leave a comment below and let me know!
I’ve been drinking virgin bloody marys since I was about 5 years old, which then evolved into adult bloody marys when I turned 21…..of course. It wasn’t until I was almost 11,000 days old (you do the math) that I discovered and tried a bloody maria!
I get a lot of questions about what different kinds of bloody marys there are and how to make variations of the cocktail so I thought I’d explain what the difference is between a traditional bloody mary and a bloody maria is.
Although the differences are subtle, there are a few differences between a bloody Mary and a bloody maria!
If you’ve ever wondered what the difference between a bloody mary and a bloody caesar is then check out this guide HERE!
Liquor
Bloody Mary
Undoubtedly the most obvious and telling difference between a bloody mary and a bloody maria is the liquor that is mixed with the cocktail. Traditional bloody marys are mixed with vodka and bloody maria’s are mixed with tequila!
Bloody Maria
You can mix a bloody maria with any kind of tequila, including mezcal, which if I am drinking a bloody maria I prefer. I recommend using a silver tequila over a gold tequila, but as someone who isn’t a tequila aficionado, I’d leave that decision up to you!
I can drink bloody marys all day but when it comes to bloody marias, it’s not 1,2,3 tequila floor….but 1 tequila floor for me! I prefer to stick with vodka in my bloody mary!
Flavor
Bloody Mary
One of the reasons I love traditional bloody marys served with vodka is because unless you go extremely overboard, you cannot taste the alcohol. The vodka melds with all the flavors of a bloody mary, letting the ingredients be the star of the show! When you’re hungover the last thing you want to taste is alcohol so it is the perfect cocktail combination for recovery from those long nights!
Bloody Maria
If you’re looking for something different and looking to have a bold, spirit-forward bloody mary then I highly recommend a bloody maria, especially if you love tequila. In a bloody maria, the spirit becomes the star of the show and the ingredients take a back seat. Tequila in your bloody maria gives hair of the dog a whole new meaning! As I mentioned, if I am drinking a bloody maria, I prefer mezcal. Mezcal gives the bloody maria a smoky and rich flavor that is bold but less abrasive than straight than a silver or reposado tequila!
Food each cocktail pairs best with
Bloody Mary
Bloody marys are a breakfast/brunch cocktail that sometimes, depending on the garnish can be considered a meal in themselves, but in general a bloody mary pairs well with any breakfast and brunch food and surprisingly seafood. Because the bloody mary is so versatile you can add so many different ingredients to your own recipe that it leaves the door wide open for food pairings.
For example, create a citrus-forward, horseradish, hair of the dog bloody mary to accompany seafood. Mix an umami bloody mary with ingredients like soy sauce or beef broth and accompany with cheeses, dark meats, and umami-forward vegetables like this Umami Mary Recipe. Or create a from-scratch bloody that is light and refreshing and serve with tea sandwiches, veggie trays, or charcuterie boards for a fun spa day or bridal shower like this Yellow Heirloom Tomato Bloody Mary Recipe!
Bloody Maria
Since bloody marias are mixed with tequila, foods that pair well with tequila will go best with a bloody maria. You can’t help but agree that Mexican food and Mexican breakfast are some of the best foods to pair with a bloody maria with but it’s not the rule!
For example, serve a bloody maria mixed with a smoky mezcal with some steak and eggs, preferably a ribeye. The smoky rich mezcal combined with the fat of the steaks will bring out the best flavors of both, and really help with the headache! Pair the bright and beautiful dish, chilaquiles or ceviche with a blanco tequila to balance the light and bright flavors of both. Or pair some spicy breakfast tacos with a reposado bloody maria because go big, or go home!
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with this spicy Bloody Maria Recipe!
Keep in mind, there are no rules! Drink either at any time of day with whatever food you’d like, no judgment here!
History
Bloody Mary
Many agree that Fernan Petiot invented the modern-day bloody mary in 1934 at King Cole Room, a bar at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. It has been said the cocktail was first crafted for Hemingway and his circle to aid their immense hangovers from late-night “enlightened” escapades. Over the year the Bloody Mary has evolved and has proven year after year it is not just a trend but breakfast and brunch staple that will continue to live on!
Bloody Maria
The bloody maria doesn’t really have any history that I could find. If you know so factual evidence as to where it originated and who came up with it, please comment below or shoot me an email. All I know is that somewhere down the line someone decided to throw in some tequila and the experiment stuck and the bloody maria was born. Converting tequila lovers everywhere into bloody mary fans!
Now you know the difference between a bloody mary and a bloody maria! Whether you prefer one over the other or just like to switch things up from time to time, you can’t go wrong with either cocktail!