The Bloody Mary holds a special place among popular cocktails like the margarita and the martini, known even to those who are not cocktail enthusiasts. What sets it apart are the bold and spicy flavors along with its distinct red color. It starts with a base of vodka and tomato juice and the rest of the complexity comes from a mix of spices and flavorings. These can be common ingredients like hot sauce and lemon juice or more adventurous items such as Worcestershire sauce and horseradish.

While the Bloody Mary is acclaimed for its complex and spicy taste, vodka is a critical element of the cocktail. The clean, neutral flavor of vodka actually provides the backdrop on which the vivid flavors of the cocktail emerge. Because the vodka is not meant to be the star of the show, there is no need to use top-shelf vodkas as their intricate nuances will be overshadowed by the flavors of the spices and flavorings in the cocktail.

Rather, it is suggested to use a more budget-friendly vodka and divert the savings to high-quality mixers. Choose good quality tomato juice, fresh lemon or lime juice, high-quality hot sauces, and fresh spices. These will make a much more substantial difference in your Bloody Mary than what even the most premium vodkas can offer!

Read more: 23 Cocktails To Try If You Like Drinking Gin

The best vodka for your Bloody Mary is one that complements the spices and flavors without stealing the show. Look for mid-range vodkas like Smirnoff, Absolut, or Stolichnaya; they’re well-distilled, providing the needed smoothness and neutrality without breaking the bank.

It’s worth noting that when we say “bottom-shelf vodka,” we don’t mean you should scrape the shelves’ bottoms and buy the absolute cheapest bottles available. Ultra-cheap vodkas often undergo minimal distillation and prioritize cost savings over flavor in their production, resulting in a sharper, more “ethanol-like” taste due to higher levels of fermentation byproducts called congeners. That’s not what you want in your Bloody Mary! A handy rule of thumb is to choose a vodka that you’d enjoy sipping on its own. If it’s smooth when sipped neat, it’s likely to work well in your Bloody Mary.

In case you want to get creative, some bartenders suggest trying flavored vodkas like pepper or citrus-infused types to add an extra flavor kick. But remember, this is entirely up to your taste. Plus, adding flavored vodka to a Bloody Mary can be a bit tricky, as it will affect the balance of flavors. So, it’s a good idea to have a recipe on hand (like this Kimchi Bloody Mary recipe!) to make sure everything tastes just right when you give it a go!

Read the original article on Tasting Table.