A Bloody Mary Bar on a Board is so much easier to make than you think! It’s perfect for holiday gatherings, BBQs, picnics, and game day parties. There is no wrong time to enjoy this incredibly presented feast for making your bloody Mary as fancy as you like it!

Bloody Mary bar set up on a board with celery, hot sauce, vodka, and more.

Calling all charcuterie lovers, Bloody Mary lovers, salty, spicy, and pickle lovers! A Bloody Mary board is a feast for the eyes as much as it is for your taste buds.

If putting boards together is your new favorite thing, you’ll want to check out these customizable Christmas brunch board, pancake board, mimosa bar, and Father’s day boards too!

Table of Contents hide
  1. About this Bloody Mary bar
  2. What do you need on a bloody Mary bar?
  3. How to build a bloody Mary board
  4. How to Make a Bloody Mary
  5. Bloody Mary vs Bloody Maria
  6. How to make three custom Bloody Marys using this board
  7. Tip for Perfect Bacon
  8. Make Ahead and Storage Tips
  9. More perfect brunch recipes
  10. Get the Recipe: Bloody Mary Bar

About this Bloody Mary bar

  • Fun: Presenting a Bloody Mary board is probably one of the most fun ways to serve a crowd this popular cocktail. If you love the garnishes as much as the drink itself, coming up with creative ways to set up a Bloody Mary bar will be right up your alley!
  • Easy: This easy-to-follow guide incudes how to set up the bar, what to include, ways to present it, and twists and flavor variations you can include. The best part is, you can make one trip to the store, pick up everything you need, and most of it’s done for you!
  • Impressive: Impress your guests with this delicious and eye-catching presentation of all of the amazing ways they can spruce up their Bloody Mary. They can keep it simple, or make it as over-the-top as they want!
Three different bloody Marys with all different garnishes.

What do you need on a bloody Mary bar?

For the drink

Since the garnishes are really the star here, we’re keeping it simple with a mixer. If you prefer to make it from scratch, try our Bloody Mary recipe.

  • Bloody Mary Mix – Zing Zang or your favorite mixer will act as the tomato base for the drink.
  • Vodka  – If you want to make it a mocktail, omit this!
  • Hot Sauce – Frank’s, cayenne, Tabasco sauce, all will work.
  • Horseradish – Prepared horseradish can be found in your local grocery store. It usually comes in a jar or a tube. It’s quite pungent with loads of spicy flavor.
  • Ground Black Pepper – Black pepper adds another layer of flavor and spice.
  • Ice Cubes – This drink is best served chilled.

The garnishes

Of course, you can do whatever you want here! These are just to give you some ideas and a jumping off point.

  • Briny: green olives, cocktail shrimp
  • Salty: bacon, salami, pepperoni, cheese cubes
  • Pickled: pickle spears, pickled jalapeno slices, pickled dilly beans,
  • Fresh: celery, lime wedges, cherry tomatoes
  • Spicy: pepperoncini peppers

For the set up

This is meant to be fun so have fun with it! Mix and match items and experiment with different bowls to figure out what looks best.

  • A Board – You’ll need a tray, platter, or wooden board large and sturdy enough to hold the garnishes. A slight rim around the edge is a good idea so that things don’t fall off the sides.
  • Small Bowls, Ramekins and/or Small Mason jars – Small containers are good for things like the shrimp cocktail, the pepperoncini, jalapeños, olives, that sort of thing.
  • Larger Mason Jars – For holding longer items like celery sticks, strips of bacon, pickled dilly beans, pickle spears, and of course the Bloody Mary itself.
  • Toothpick/Napkins – For easy and mess-free serving.
  • A Pitcher – Needed for the large batch of Bloody Marys if you’re making more than one at a time.

How to build a bloody Mary board

Like any charcuterie board, or a platter of any kind, you want to avoid leaving any blank spaces but other than that, there are no rules. Get creative and use what you like. Garnish and display it how you think looks best. Below is just a guideline that you can follow to the letter, or take it and run with it!

  • Start with Large Items: The larger items and taller bowls will naturally be your focal point. It’s easiest if you place these first. Spread them out or keep them in one area – it is up to you. Place the pickle spears, cherry tomatoes, olives, pickled jalapeños, pickled spicy beans, and pepperoncini in mason jars or bowls. The size depends on the amount you’re using.
  • Add Tall Items and Juices to Jars: Add bacon and celery to a taller jar. Place shrimp around the rim of a smaller jar with or without cocktail sauce. Jars or carafes will also keep juices from running into other items.
  • Fill in Gaps with Smaller Items: Cheese cubes, salami slices, lime wedges, and pepperoni can be placed directly onto the board. If you’re making bacon-wrapped corn dogs, add those onto your board as well.

How to Make a Bloody Mary

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. 
  2. Pour the mixer, vodka, hot sauce, horseradish, and pepper into the shaker. 
  3. Place the lid on the shaker and give it a good shake for 15 seconds or so. 
  4. Pour the cocktail into your glass using the strainer.
Overhead view of board full of toppings and garnishes for a bloody mary.

Bloody Mary vs Bloody Maria

A bloody Maria is a Mexican twist that uses tequila rather than vodka. Think about making two different batches for people to sample each kind, or keeping the alcohol separate so people can add what they like.

How to make three custom Bloody Marys using this board

If your guests are looking for a little direction on how to make a custom drink, display place cards with the following instructions.

Bacon Wrapped Corndog Bloody Mary

  1. Add 1/2 tablespoon pickle juice to your Bloody Mary. 
  2. On a skewer place corndogs, cherry tomatoes, and Jalapenos. Serve with a pickle spear.
Bloody Mary topped with mini bacon wrapped corn dogs.

Lime Shrimp and Bacon Bloody Mary

  1. Add 1/2 tablespoon of fresh lime juice to your Bloody Mary. 
  2. In a small bowl, squeeze a lime wedge over cocktail shrimp (3 shrimp per drink). 
  3. On a skewer weave a slice of cooked bacon around 3 cocktail shrimp.
  4. Serve with a lime wedge.

Tip for Perfect Bacon

To get cooked bacon that has great texture but still pliable to weave on a skewer, bake it on a lined baking sheet at 400ºF for 15 minutes. We have an entire post about baking bacon if you want to learn more about this technique.

Bloody Mary topped with shrimp and lime.

Italian Bloody Mary

  1. On a skewer, place salami, cheese cube, pepperoni, olive, salami, pepperoncini, pepperoni, and cheese cube.
  2. Serve with celery.
Bloody Mary topped with deli meats, pepperoncini.

Make Ahead and Storage Tips

Many of these items come from a jar, so it doesn’t take much to add them to the platter. There are things you can do ahead of time, like cook the bacon, cube the cheese, cut the lime into wedges, and keep them stored in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble.

You could also assemble the platter completely, and cover everything in plastic wrap and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.

Your best bet is to make it just before serving especially since it all comes together so quickly. But hey, take the shortcuts where you need to, especially during the busy holidays!

More perfect brunch recipes

Assorted ingredients to make bloody marys on a board including bacon and vodka.

Get the Recipe: Bloody Mary Bar

A Bloody Mary Bar on a Board is so much easier to make than you think! It’s perfect for holiday gatherings, BBQs, picnics, and game day parties. There is no wrong time to enjoy this incredibly presented feast for making your bloody Mary as fancy as you like it!
5 from 2 rating
Print Pin Rate
Servings: 1 serving
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Beverages, Breakfast, brunch
Cuisine: American
Calories: 107kcal
Author: Rachel Gurk

Ingredients

For each 11 oz Bloody Mary:

  • 8 oz. Zing Zang (or your favorite mixer) Bloody Mary Mix (1 cup)
  • 1 oz. vodka (2 tablespoons)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon horseradish
  • fresh ground pepper to taste
  • Ice

Garnishes:

  • Green Olives
  • Bacon
  • Pickle Spears
  • Shrimp Cocktail
  • Celery
  • Limes
  • Pepperoncini Peppers
  • Cheese Cubes
  • Pickled Jalapeno Slices
  • Pickled Dilly Beans
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Salami
  • Pepperoni

Instructions

To Make Bloody Mary:

  • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
  • Pour the mixer, vodka, hot sauce, horseradish and pepper into the shaker.
  • Place the lid on the shaker and give it a good shake for 15 seconds or so.
  • Pour the cocktail into your glass using the strainer.

To Arrange Board/Bar:

  • The larger items and taller bowls will be your focal point. It's easiest if you place these first. Spread them out or keep them in one area – it is up to you. Place the pickle spears, cherry tomatoes, olives, pickled jalapeños, pickled spicy beans, and pepperoncini in mason jars or bowls, size depends on the amount you're using.
  • Add bacon and celery to a taller jar. Place shrimp around the rim of a smaller jar with or without cocktail sauce.
  • Once your "juicier" items are in their respective jars (it does serve a function, this way you don't have all the juices running all over the place), start filling in gaps with smaller items.
  • Cheese cubes, salami slices, lime wedges, and pepperoni can be placed directly onto the board. If you're making bacon-wrapped corn dogs (see notes), add those onto your board as well.

Notes

  • Nutrition information is for one Bloody Mary and no garnishes.
  • Making a Signature Bloody Mary
    • Bacon Wrapped Corndogs:
      • Add 1/2 tablespoon pickle juice to your Bloody Mary. 
      • Slice 4-6 slices of bacon in half the long way.
      • Wrap 8-12 corndogs with the bacon slices and place on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Bake as directed on the package of corndogs (ours took 15 minutes at 425ºF).
      • On a skewer place corndogs, cherry tomatoes and jalapeno. Serve with a pickle spear.
    • Lime Shrimp and Bacon
      • Add 1/2 tablespoon of fresh lime juice to your Bloody Mary.
      • In a small bowl, squeeze a lime wedge over cocktail shrimp (3 shrimp per drink).
      • On a skewer, weave a slice of cooked bacon around 3 cocktail shrimp. Serve with a lime wedge. Note: To get cooked bacon that has great texture but still pliable to weave on a skewer, bake it on a lined baking sheet at 400ºF for 15 minutes.
    • Italian 
      • On a skewer, place salami, cheese cube, pepperoni, olive, salami, pepperoncini, pepperoni and cheese cube. Serve with celery.
Calories: 107kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 203mg, Potassium: 541mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 1030IU, Vitamin C: 47mg, Calcium: 26mg, Iron: 1mg