Virgin Mary Drink

A Virgin Mary is a Bloody Mary without the vodka. But here's what most recipes get wrong: they just tell you to skip the alcohol and change nothing else. That gives you a drink that tastes thin and flat. Like someone forgot to finish making it.

The secret to a Virgin Mary that actually satisfies? You need more flavor, not less. Without vodka to add body and carry the spices, your mix has to work harder. That's why a bold, cocktail concentrate like Stu's Bloody Mary Concentrate makes all the difference. One bottle gives you the horseradish kick, the spice blend, and the depth that a virgin bloody mary needs to stand on its own.

Here's how to make one worth drinking.

Virgin Mary Recipe (Using Stu's Concentrate)

This is the easiest version. Honestly, it's the best tasting too.

Ingredients:

6 oz tomato juice (chilled)
1 to 2 tablespoons Stu's Bloody Mary Concentrate
Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Ice

Instructions:

Fill a tall glass with ice
Add tomato juice
Stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons of Stu's concentrate (start with 1, add more if you want it bolder)
Add a squeeze of fresh lemon
Stir well. At least 15 rotations to fully mix.
Garnish and serve

That's it. The concentrate already has the horseradish, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and spice blend dialed in. You're not measuring eight different ingredients and hoping they balance.

Pro tip: For a virgin bloody mary, I actually recommend using a bit MORE concentrate than you would for a regular bloody mary. Without the vodka, you want those flavors to punch through. Start with 1.5 tablespoons and adjust from there.

Want more heat? Try Stu's Smoked Jalapeño or Jamaican Jerk concentrate instead of the Classic.

Why Concentrate Works Better for Virgin Bloody Marys

If you're exploring savory drinks and bloody mary variations, you'll notice most mixes are designed to be mixed with vodka. The alcohol adds body, carries flavor, and creates that slight warmth. When you skip it, those mixes taste watered down.

Stu's is a concentrate, not a ready-to-drink mix. That means:

You control the intensity. Want it bolder? Add more. Prefer it milder? Use less. A virgin bloody mary needs this flexibility because everyone's "just right" is different when there's no alcohol masking the flavors.

The flavor is already concentrated. You're not diluting pre-made mix even further. You're adding pure seasoning to fresh tomato juice, so every sip has actual flavor.

You pick your tomato juice. Hate the metallic taste of cheap canned juice? Use fresh. Love the extra veggie depth of V8? Go for it. Want to try Clamato? Works great. The concentrate doesn't lock you into one base.

One bottle of Stu's makes 15 to 20 drinks. Compare that to a 32 oz bottle of ready-to-drink mix that makes maybe 4 or 5. The math works out, and the taste isn't even close.

Shop Stu's Bloody Mary Concentrate →

Homemade Virgin Mary Recipe (From Scratch)

Don't have concentrate on hand? Here's how to build it yourself using classic bloody mary ingredients:

Ingredients:

6 oz tomato juice
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 to 3 dashes hot sauce
½ teaspoon lemon juice
Pinch of celery salt
Pinch of black pepper
Pinch of smoked paprika (optional)

Instructions:

Add all ingredients to a tall glass with ice
Stir thoroughly to combine
Taste and adjust. More horseradish for heat, more Worcestershire for depth, more hot sauce for spice.
Garnish and serve

This works fine in a pinch. But I'll be honest: getting the balance right takes trial and error. The horseradish overpowers, or the Worcestershire gets lost, or you add too much hot sauce and can't taste anything else.

That's why I created Stu's in the first place. To nail that balance once so you don't have to figure it out every time.

How to Make a Virgin Bloody Mary Bar

Virgin Marys are perfect for a DIY bloody mary bar because guests can build exactly what they want. Set out the components and let people customize:

The essentials:

Tomato juice (keep it cold)
Stu's Bloody Mary Concentrate (set out multiple flavors if you have them)
Ice
Fresh lemon wedges

Rim options:

Celery salt
Everything bagel seasoning
Tajín for a Mexican twist

Garnishes:

Celery stalks
Pickle spears
Green olives (stuffed or plain)
Cherry tomatoes
Pepperoncini
Bacon strips
Cheese cubes
Cocktail shrimp

Optional add-ins:

Extra hot sauce
Pickle juice
Olive brine
Fresh horseradish

The beauty of this setup: it works for everyone. Guests who want vodka can add it. Guests who don't get the exact same experience with the exact same garnish spread. Nobody feels like they're getting a lesser version.

Want everything in one box? The Stu's Bloody Mary Kit includes two bottles of concentrate, rim salts, and a ghost pepper serum for guests who want extra heat. It's a bloody mary bar in a box.

Shop the Bloody Mary Kit →

Non-Alcoholic Bloody Mary Mix: What to Look For

If you're shopping for a mix specifically for virgin bloody marys, here's what matters:

Concentrate vs. ready-to-drink. Concentrates give you more flavor and more control. Ready-to-drink mixes are convenient but often taste flat without alcohol.

Clean ingredients. Skip anything with high fructose corn syrup, MSG, or artificial flavors. You're drinking this for the taste. Don't ruin it with junk. Stu's uses all-natural ingredients: pickle brine from hand-packed Midwestern pickles, horseradish, two kinds of chili peppers, and spices. No weird chemicals.

Real horseradish. This is what gives a bloody mary its signature kick. Many cheap mixes use "horseradish flavor" or skip it entirely.

Adjustable heat. Everyone's spice tolerance is different. A good mix lets you control the heat level rather than forcing one-size-fits-all.

Stu's checks all these boxes. Three flavors to choose from: Classic, Smoked Jalapeño, and Jamaican Jerk. Match the intensity to your mood.

When to Make a Virgin Mary

A few situations where a non-alcoholic bloody mary hits the spot:

Brunch when you're driving. You still want to participate in the bloody mary ritual. A virgin version lets you do that without worrying about your afternoon.

Pregnancy. The savory, salty profile satisfies cravings that sweet drinks can't touch. Tomato juice has folate and vitamin C. Just check your mix ingredients if you're avoiding anything specific.

Drinking less (or not at all). Whether it's Dry January, sober curiosity, or exploring mocktails, a well-made virgin bloody mary is satisfying in a way that sparkling water never will be.

The morning after. Sometimes you want the comfort of a bloody mary without adding more alcohol to your system. The tomato juice, salt, and spices might actually help.

Any random Tuesday. You don't need a reason. If you want a savory, spicy, complex drink at 2pm on a weekday, make one.

Bloody Mary Mocktail vs. Virgin Mary: What's the Difference?

Nothing. They're the same drink.

"Virgin Mary" is the traditional name. It's been on brunch menus for decades. "Bloody Mary mocktail" is newer terminology, part of the broader non-alcoholic drink movement. Some menus say "non-alcoholic bloody mary" or even "bloody shame."

Call it whatever you want. The drink is identical: bloody mary mix, tomato juice, garnishes, no vodka.

Tips for a Better Virgin Bloody Mary

A few things I've learned from making thousands of these:

Use cold tomato juice. Warm tomato juice is unpleasant. Keep it refrigerated.

Don't skip the rim. The salt hits your tongue before the drink does, priming your taste buds. A proper rim salt makes a noticeable difference.

Stir, don't shake. Shaking aerates the tomato juice and makes it foamy. Stirring keeps the texture right.

Garnish matters more without alcohol. When you're not drinking, the ritual of building the drink becomes more of the experience. Load up that garnish skewer. Check out our bloody mary garnish ideas for inspiration.

Go bolder on the seasoning. I keep saying this because it's the most common mistake. Without vodka, you need more flavor in the mix. Don't be shy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Virgin Mary drink?

A Virgin Mary is a Bloody Mary made without vodka. It has the same tomato juice base, the same spicy seasoning (horseradish, Worcestershire, hot sauce, celery salt), and the same garnishes. Just no alcohol.

What is in a Virgin Bloody Mary?

Tomato juice, bloody mary seasoning (horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, lemon juice, celery salt, black pepper), ice, and garnishes like celery, pickles, and olives. Everything in a regular bloody mary except the vodka.

Is a Virgin Mary just tomato juice?

No. Plain tomato juice is bland. A Virgin Mary has all the spices, seasonings, and complexity of a bloody mary. Horseradish for heat, Worcestershire for depth, hot sauce for kick, and celery salt for that signature flavor. It's a completely different drink.

How do you make a Virgin Bloody Mary?

The easiest way: combine 6 oz tomato juice with 1 to 2 tablespoons of Stu's Bloody Mary Concentrate over ice, add a squeeze of lemon, stir well, and garnish. The concentrate has all the seasonings already balanced.

What's the best mix for a non-alcoholic Bloody Mary?

A concentrate works better than ready-to-drink mixes for virgin bloody marys. Without vodka to add body, you need bolder, more intense flavor. Concentrates let you control exactly how strong each drink is.

Can you drink Bloody Mary mix without alcohol?

Yes. That's exactly what a Virgin Mary is. The mix provides all the flavor. Vodka is optional.

Is a Virgin Bloody Mary healthy?

Compared to most drinks, yes. Bloody marys offer several health benefits. Tomato juice provides lycopene, vitamin C, and potassium. The main consideration is sodium. Most bloody mary mixes are high in salt. If you're watching sodium, use less mix or look for low-sodium tomato juice.

What's the difference between a Virgin Mary and a Bloody Mary mocktail?

There's no difference. They're the same drink with different names. "Virgin Mary" is the traditional term while "Bloody Mary mocktail" is more contemporary. For more NA drink ideas, check out our easy mocktail recipes.

Ready to Make One?

Skip the watered-down mixes. Stu's Bloody Mary Concentrate gives you the bold, balanced flavor a virgin bloody mary actually needs. No measuring a dozen ingredients every time.

Shop Bloody Mary Concentrate →

Or grab the Bloody Mary Kit if you want everything in one box: concentrate, rim salts, and ghost pepper serum.

Hosting a crowd? The 3-bottle bundle saves you 15% and lets you offer variety.

Virgin Mary Drink: The Non-Alcoholic Bloody Mary That Actually Tastes Good