Weekend guests at my house know one thing for sure: nobody’s waking up to a boring brunch! I love surprising my friends and family with something unexpected, and this bacon bloody mary recipe delivers. It starts with my fabulous homemade bloody mary mix (recipe included)—but the real surprise is in the spirits. I skip the traditional vodka and replace it with sake and blanco tequila. Stay with me!
Sake adds a slightly earthy note that pairs very well with the tomato base, while tequila blanco adds its unmistakable brightness with hints of citrus and pepper. I also believe the garnish should be just as exciting as the drink itself, so I like to top the whole thing with a crispy slice of spicy glazed bacon. A pickle spear is great, but if you ask me, bacon wins every time. Let’s talk about how to make it!
How far in advance can I make the bacon?
You may be pleased to hear that this showstopper garnish can absolutely be made ahead of time—which is exactly what I recommend if you’re entertaining.
You can prepare the spicy glazed bacon up to 2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator once fully cooled. If you'd like to restore a little crispness before serving, pop it into a 350 °F oven for a couple minutes. The soy, brown sugar, and chipotle give the bacon an irresistible, smoky-sweet coating that somehow gets even better as the flavors settle together.
What can I do to turn down the heat in the recipe?
Not everyone wants their brunch cocktail fiery hot. This one won’t burn the house down, but it does have some kick to it! If you'd like this tequila bloody mary on the mild side, start by reducing the chipotle in the bacon glaze—that’s where much of the smoky heat comes from. You can also omit it completely if you prefer.
If your bloody mary mix leans spicy, you can mellow things further with a splash of extra tomato juice, a squeeze of fresh lime, or even a touch more sake, which softens sharper spice notes with its sugars. The beauty of a good bloody mary is that it can be customized to suit your personal taste.
How do I pick a good sake for this?
If you don’t know much about sake, don’t worry—you don’t need to be an expert before brunch. For this sake bloody mary, I recommend choosing a dry table sake, often labeled futsu-shu (meaning “ordinary”). This type of sake is mellow, easy-drinking, and won’t overpower the other ingredients.
What you want to avoid here is Nigori sake. Nigori sakes are cloudy, creamy, and very sweet. You do not want that in a savory cocktail like a bloody mary. You’re going for crisp, clean, and balanced. You can always sample it beforehand if you want to know how it tastes!
I can't find sake. Is there a substitute?
If sake isn’t available, dry vermouth works because it brings herbal complexity and dryness without overwhelming the drink. A dry white wine can also work in a pinch, though it will give you a slightly fruitier finish. If you’d prefer to stay closer to a traditional bacon bloody mary, you can certainly use good ol’ vodka instead.
What can I do with leftover spicy glazed bacon?
Leftover spicy bacon is not a problem, it’s an opportunity! If you don’t just eat it right away, there are lots of ways you can enjoy it.
This smoky-sweet and slightly spicy bacon is incredible on burgers, tucked into breakfast sandwiches, chopped into salads, layered onto pizza, or even with a side of scrambled eggs. Break it into pieces and include it on a charcuterie board, or sneak a strip into a grilled cheese if you want a treat!
Extra Bites
If this bacon-garnished bloody mary has you craving brunch, I highly recommend building out the spread. Pair this cocktail with my homemade bloody mary mix for the full experience, or create a DIY bloody mary bar so guests can customize their garnishes. Try it alongside some of the recipes below. Cheers!
Bacon Bloody Mary Recipe with Sake and Tequila
This bacon bloody mary combines homemade bloody mary mix, crisp sake, blanco tequila, and smoky glazed bacon for the ultimate brunch cocktail surprise.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 °F.
- In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, and chipotle pepper. Whisk to combine.
- Lay the bacon on a wire rack over a baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes.
- Brush both sides of the bacon with the glaze and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until crispy. Remove the wire rack from the baking sheet and allow the bacon to cool so the glaze will fully set.
- While the bacon cools, combine all the ingredients for the rimming spice on a small plate.
- Wet the rim of a highball glass with a lime wedge, then dip the rim into the spice mixture until it’s evenly coated all around. Pop the rimmed glass into the freezer to chill.
- In a pitcher, combine the bloody mary ingredients. Stir with ice for 30 seconds, then strain into your chilled glass with some fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wedge and a strip of bacon. Cheers!
