Had a really great Bloody Mary cocktail lately? I did — and when I asked my bartender for the recipe, they revealed the shocking truth: It was simply Zing Zang Bloody Mary mix and vodka.

Zing Zang is a mild secret (it’s the top-selling Bloody mix in the U.S.) that I’m all too happy to share, as this bottled mix is better than most homemade versions — and virtually all other bottled mixers I’ve tasted, too. I’m not sure what the secret is, but the label says that Zing Zang is made with tomato puree plus a V8-like blend of seven extra vegetables (carrot, celery, parsley, beet, lettuce, watercress, and spinach). There’s a hearty amount of salt in a serving — 740mg in 3 oz of mixer — plus MSG and a host of other flavorful goodies.

Today we’re looking at a pair of Zing Zang products — a new spicy mix, and a ready-to-drink version of Zing Zang’s standard mix with the vodka already added. (The Blazing Bloody Mary Made with Vodka is pictured here, but not reviewed. Sorry!)

Thoughts follow.

Zing Zang Blazing Bloody Mary Mix – This blends hot pepper sauce into the Zing Zang formula, eschewing the expected horseradish element in favor of a more traditional type of heat. A pop of binegary, Tabasco-style burn leads the way to a body that is rich and a little meaty, with ample notes of Worcestershire sauce taking over. The tomato is rich and indeed rounded out by all the extra vegetation, though it’s the celery in the recipe that is the only distinctive addition, as everything else melds into a minestrone-adjacent finish. Tons of heat lingers after you’ve polished off a full cocktail, to the point where I was sweating a little around the temples. For my money, if you’re looking for a more fiery Bloody Mary, I’d stick with the original mixer, and simply doctor it with whatever hot sauce strikes your fancy. That said, this is still stellar stuff, especially if you’re a heat fiend. A- / $6 (1 liter)

Zing Zang Bloody Mary Made with Vodka – The name doesn’t really roll off the tongue, but this Bloody Mary mostly fills the bill — albeit at just 9% abv, it may be lighter on the booze than most people prefer. I also found it a little sweet compared to a freshly made Zing Zang Bloody, though I’m not comparing apples to apples here against the standard sauce. It also seems heartier with the tomato, with a bit of a beefy edge to it. Neither of those are bad things, but the finish here seems a little bit too savory, at least today. Still a solid effort, but a freshly blended drink may be the ticket. Also available as a single-serve option. 9% abv. B+ / $15 (1.75 liters)

Zing Zang Blazing Bloody Mary Mix

$6

9

Rating

9.0/10

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