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Thanksgiving is next week. Are you ready? Not to brag but I've got the Turkey Day process pretty much down to a science and am not sweating it at all. With that said, I've already set my sights on the rest of the holiday season and all the entertaining opportunities that come with it. Today, with a holiday brunch party in mind, I'm teaching you how to set up your own Bloody Mary bar plus introducing you to the bloody margarita at the same damn time. Let's get into it!
When entertaining, I incorporate interactive elements that encourage conversation and even allow my guests to play with their food. Peep this DIY s'mores bar, to get a better idea of what I mean. Setting up a Bloody Mary bar is right in line with that and my favorite part is that it minimizes work for hosts during the party. People can pour, mix, and mingle as they wish while you just glide through the room looking amazing and not at all stressed. 🙂
I rely on and recommend Mr & Mrs T® mixes from Walmart for your Bloody Mary Bar and bloody margarita recipe because they're easy to use and the made-from-scratch taste works for any occasion. Look for them in Walmart's mixer aisle. Saving money when hosting around the holidays is important and I love that I can grab all the essentials for this Bloody Mary bar (including the cute mini Christmas trees!) while enjoying Walmart's Everyday Low Prices. Below is everything you'll need for the setup and how to execute it easily.
How to Build a Holiday Bloody Mary Bar
What You'll Need
- Two plates or shallow dishes
- Bloody Mary ingredients and garnishes (see list and recipe below)
- Rocks glasses
- Cocktail skewers
- Cocktail spoon
- Ice bucket and scoop
- Festive holiday decor
Instructions
- Arrange Bloody Mary garnishes on one plate and place on bar cart (or whatever surface you're using for your Bloody Mary bar) then place your favorite mixers (I like Mr & Mrs T® Original Bloody Mary Mix and Mr & Mrs T® Bold & Spicy Bloody Mary Mix) and liquor(s) just behind the plate.
- Pour Mexican seasoning onto remaining plate in a ⅓-inch layer then place on bar cart, as pictured.
- Rim a few rocks glasses with lemon or lime juice then Mexican seasoning. Set these behind the plate. This will get your first guests started and provide an example for everyone else to follow.
- Be sure to include a cocktail spoon and skewers nearby for drink mixing and garnishing.
- Just before the party starts, add ice and a scoop (a large serving spoon will do) to an ice bucket and set it near the other Bloody Mary bar components for easy access.
- Adorn your setup with whatever festive decorations you have on hand. I included mini faux saplings I also found at Walmart, along with burgundy ribbon, and large gold ball ornaments. Everything coordinates with my Christmas tree and overall holiday decor.
When setting up your holiday Bloody Mary bar, feel free to include a variety of liquor options so that your guests can create their own takes on the Bloody Mary, including the Bloody Margarita. This variation one requires tequila, triple sec, and a couple of other special touches to make it the perfect mix of a Bloody Mary and a margarita. Peep the details and full recipe below.
What is a Bloody Margarita?
The Bloody Mary is the OG of savory brunch cocktails but did you know she has a few cousins made with different liquors? The bloody margarita (also known as Bloody Maria) is a twist for the tequila fans. Speaking of tequila: margarita-infused watermelon. You're welcome. To make a bloody margarita instead of a Bloody Mary, swap out the vodka and tag in splashes of tequila and triple sec to get the party started. This cocktail also has a rim of lime and Mexican seasoning plus jalapeño garnish, so you know it's real. I prefer to use the Mr & Mrs T® Bold & Spicy Bloody Mary Mix for bloody margaritas because the extra kick plays well with tequila. Get the full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!
How to Garnish a Bloody Mary
With all the extreme food trends that have popped off over the past few years, you can really go as over the top as you want when garnishing your bloody Mary cocktail. Stick them into the glass, drape them over the rim, and skewer them with a cocktail skewer. Here are the classic options, to start with:
- Baby Tomatoes
- Celery
- Gherkins
- Lemon Slices
- Lime Slices
- Olives
- Pearl Onions
Nowadays, you can make your Bloody Mary a whole snack with garnishes. For those of us who like to do a little extra, here are more creative Bloody Mary garnish ideas:
- Avocado
- Bacon Slices
- Cheese Cubes
- Chicken Wings
- Cocktail Shrimp
- Jalapeno Slices
- Pickled Okra
No matter which garnishes you decide to go with, there's space for them in this Bloody Mary bar setup and everything will be perfectly within reach for your guests. Be sure to check out all of my brunch recipes to complete your party spread.
I hope you'll build a Bloody Mary bar of your own for the holidays from Walmart (or whenever--no judgement!) and would love to know how it turns out. Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
Bloody Margarita
Ingredients
- Mr & Mrs T® Bold & Spicy Bloody Mary Mix
- Ice
- Mexican seasoning mix of your choice like Tajin or Valentina
- 1 wedge lime or lemon
- 2 ounces tequila
- 1 ounce triple sec
Optional Garnishes
- 1 slice fresh jalapeno
- 2 fresh baby tomatoes
- 1 stalk fresh celery
- 1 slice lemon or lime
- 1 cocktail skewer
Instructions
- Pour a shallow layer of Mexican seasoning onto a plate. Rub lime or lemon wedge around rim of a rocks glass then flip glass upside down into Mexican seasoning to garnish the rim.
- Fill glass about ⅔ full with ice. Pour in tequila followed by triple sec then top up with Bloody Mary mix.
- Stir gently then add garnishes of your choosing on a cocktail skewer.
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