Sacramento ($13, 46 oz)

Sacramento tomato juice is the gold standard for many bartenders who want to start with a blank slate. The brand has been around since 1931 and has been a part of the country’s largest privately owned tomato processor for four generations. 

Sacramento’s rich tomato flavor has the right amount of sweetness and acidity, with a texture that is substantial but not too heavy.

What the Pros Say

“Personally (and professionally), I want my Bloody Mary to be savory and spicy, with a touch of tomato sweetness. So I’ve always looked for tomato juice that can be a blank canvas to create a flavorful Bloody Mary, and Sacramento tomato juice is just that. It has a natural tomato sweetness that we enhance with tomato paste (which also adds viscosity), as well as balsamic vinegar to add a sweet tangy and tart component. 

We bump up the savory umami notes with Maggi (among other things). To add spice, we use our team’s go-to hot sauce, Crystal, plus a house blend of peppers: árbol, Carolina Reaper, and pasilla (among others). Sacramento gives the perfect tomato backbone for us to enhance and play with to make a delicious Bloody Mary.” —Brooks Moyer, head bartender, Cool World in Brooklyn, New York

“For the classic recipe, you cannot go wrong with Sacramento. A few years ago when Rambler [in San Francisco] opened, I compared Sacramento, fresh pureed tomatoes, and Campbell’s. Sacramento just had the right combo of texture and acidity.” —Simone Mims, beverage consultant, San Francisco

“Sacramento is OG for classic Bloody Marys. It’s straightforward enough to give a neutral base so you can experiment with your own recipe.” —Althea Codamon, general manager and beverage director, Aita Restaurant & Mayflower Bar, Brooklyn, New York

 R.W. Knudsen Organic Tomato Juice ($6, 32 oz)

This brand got its start producing all-natural juices on a farm in California in 1961. More than 60 years later the company produces over 125 different products, many of which still use organic ingredients. 

R.W. Knudsen Organic is another tomato juice with a devoted following, especially for those looking to use organic and sustainably produced products. 

What the Pros Say

“I like [R.W. Knudsen Organic Tomato Juice] because it’s not from concentrate and has a thick, almost tomato puree quality. When you mix tomato juice with spirit and ice, it really dilutes, so I want a juice that maintains rich tomato flavor and texture as much as possible. To be honest, I prefer pureeing something into the juice to really bump up that texture, but that’s another question entirely.” —Jennifer Colliau, owner, Small Hand Foods

 Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix ($12, 59 oz)

For those who want their tomato juice to come pre-seasoned, Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix is a favorite amongst consumers and bartenders alike. This mix is a blend of seven vegetable juices that, besides tomato, includes celery, beet, and carrot. The brand adds a complex assortment of spices, as well as Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce.

What the Pros Say

“Unless you’re making something special and particular, like the Bloodys at Prune, Zing Zang with some adjustments to taste is going to get you there 90% of the time. It’s honestly a better, cheaper, more efficient product than making your own unless you’re going for something specific. It’s a lovely base and if you’re doing real volume, a lifesaver. A lot of people put [in] herculean effort to make house-made Bloody Mary mixes that honestly could have just been Zing Zang.” —Lauren Frazier, bartender, formerly of Nitecap, New York City

 Clamato ($7, 64 oz)

If you’re looking to take your Bloody Mary up a briny notch, look no further than the national drink of Canada: the Bloody Caesar. Clamato is branded as a “tomato cocktail” but is most recognized as the official mixer of a Bloody Caesar. With its combination of tomato juice, spices, and clam broth, it makes for an especially savory cocktail. 

While the Caesar may be claimed by Canada, Clamato is a Californian invention. It launched production in the late 1960s and was said to be inspired by Manhattan clam chowder, which is tomato-based.

What the Pros Say

“I feel like Bloody Mary mix is like ketchup; everyone wants to make their own but the consumer is always just looking for the Heinz. Clamato juice for the win and for Caesars! I’m Canadian so it’s standard issue back home.” —Tony D’Agostino, division brand manager, Edrington

“Clamato in a traditional Caesar is the way. There is nothing better in the world.” —Evan Charest, emerging brands market manager, Brown-Forman