Everywhere you turn in this Cajun Bloody Mary recipe, you have delicious, delicious spice. It all starts with the Cajun seasoning, with its mix of spices, including cayenne. Top that with more cayenne powder, the famous Tabasco hot sauce, black pepper and, of course, horseradish, and you have a tasty cocktail that punches hard.
🌶️ Quick recipe snapshot
| Flavor profile | Savory tomato with lime, Worcestershire and the sharp bite of horseradish, plus Cajun spice and vinegar tang from the Tabasco. |
| Primary heat source | Cayenne, both in the Cajun seasoning and as an optional quarter teaspoon on its own. Cayenne runs 30,000 to 50,000 SHU. |
| Heat level | Medium with the extra cayenne, milder without it. |
| How to serve it | Over ice in a tall glass, with a Cajun seasoning rim and celery, lime or olives. |
| Best uses | Brunch, especially next to Cajun shrimp and grits. |
| Customization ideas | Skip or add cayenne, extra Tabasco, homemade Cajun seasoning, or leave out the vodka. |
| Before you start | Five minutes for one drink. Rim the glass before it gets ice. |
Flavor notes
Where does the chili heat come from? Mostly cayenne, and it gets in two ways. Cayenne is the main heat source in Cajun seasoning, and the recipe adds an optional quarter teaspoon on top. At 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville heat units, that extra cayenne is where this drink gets its punch, so it’s the first thing to adjust.
Horseradish brings a different kind of heat, the sharp kind that goes up your nose instead of building on your tongue, and it fades fast, so it gives the drink a jolt without making it hotter overall.
The Tabasco does two jobs. It adds a little heat, at 2,500 to 5,000 SHU, and its vinegar gives the tomato juice a tang that cuts through all that spice. Don’t leave it out, even if you skip the cayenne.
And don’t shake it. Shaking turns tomato juice frothy, so stir it over ice, or roll it by pouring it back and forth between two shakers a few times.
Adaptation ideas
Most of these change the heat, and they’re all quick.
- Want it milder? Skip the extra cayenne. You’ll still get some warmth from the Cajun seasoning and Tabasco.
- Want it hotter? Add the full quarter teaspoon of cayenne, then a few more dashes of Tabasco.
- Making your own Cajun seasoning? Our Cajun seasoning recipe lets you set the heat and the salt yourself.
- Want it without alcohol? Leave out the vodka and add a splash more tomato juice.
- Making a pitcher? Multiply everything but the ice by the number of drinks, then stir and pour over ice glass by glass.
Serving ideas
Where does it fit? Brunch, first of all, and it likes Southern food.
- At brunch: Serve it with Cajun shrimp and grits, a pairing we love.
- With a spiced rim: Run a lime wedge around the rim and dip it in Cajun seasoning before you add the ice.
- With garnishes: Celery, a lime wedge and olives, or go bigger with Cajun pickled eggs on the side.
Storage notes
A Bloody Mary is best mixed and poured right away. If you’re making a batch for brunch, mix everything except the vodka and ice earlier in the day, keep it covered in the fridge, and add the vodka when you serve.
Stir the batch before every pour, since the ground spices settle to the bottom.
Like this recipe? You’ll love these too:
- Spicy Caesar Cocktail: The Bloody Mary’s Canadian cousin, with Clamato Picante and Tabasco.
- Sriracha Bloody Mary: Sriracha brings heat and a subtle garlic note to the brunch classic.
- Bloody Mary Ketchup: The cocktail turned into a tangy, peppery condiment.
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Cajun Bloody Mary
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces vodka
- 5.5 ounces tomato juice
- 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
- 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder optional
- 1 to 2 dashes Tabasco hot sauce
- 1to 2 dashes Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
Instructions
- In a shaker filled with ice, add all ingredients and stir or roll to combine (do not shake).
- Pour into an ice filled glass and serve with lime, olives, and/or celery garnish.
- For extra spice, rim your Bloody Mary glass with Cajun seasoning prior to adding ice and pouring in the cocktail.
