Recipe Note

The Bourbon Mary

BBQ rub on the rim, bourbon in the glass

PitMaster’s Way: Vodka’s fine if you want neutral, but bourbon brings backbone. It lays down sweet caramel, oak, and smoke notes that pair like kinfolk with BBQ. Swap your smoked salt rim for BBQ rub and suddenly the drink carries its own bark. It don’t just refresh — it tells a story.

What to Do:

• Rim glass with lemon + BBQ rub.

• Fill halfway with ice.

• Pour in 4–6 oz Fire-Forged Bloody Mary Mix.

• Add 1.5 oz bourbon.

• Stir gently, garnish from the BBQ Bloody Mary Bar.

Flavor Profile:

Smoky-sweet, with spice from the rub and depth from the bourbon. Tastes like a pitmaster’s brunch.

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The Beermosa Mary

Beer instead of vodka — light, crisp, and tailgate ready

PitMaster’s Way: 

In the South, a “red beer” is already a thing — tomato juice and a light lager. This just takes that idea and dials it up with the Fire-Forged mix. Beer keeps it crisp, sessionable, and easy to pour when the cooler’s right there by your chair.

What to Do:

• Rim glass with smoked salt or BBQ rub.

• Fill halfway with Fire-Forged Bloody Mary Mix.

• Top with a light beer (lager, pilsner, wheat, or Mexican cerveza).

• Stir once, garnish as bold as you please.

Flavor Profile: 

Bright, fizzy, lighter on alcohol. Perfect for tailgates, noon kickoffs, and long afternoons by the pit.

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Rookie ✦ Backyard Pro ✦ Pit Legend

✦ Rookie

Use your go-to light beer or everyday bourbon; don’t overthink it.

✦ Backyard Pro

Rim half your glasses with BBQ rub, half with smoked salt — let folks choose their road.

✦ Pit Legend

Pair the Bourbon Mary with candied bacon skewers, and the Beermosa Mary with smoked sausage bites. Garnishes become pairings, not just props.

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From the Fire

I once poured a Bourbon Mary at a tailgate and caught grief from a buddy for “ruining good whiskey.” By halftime, he’d had two and was asking for the recipe. Same story with the beer crowd — they laughed until they tried it. That’s the beauty of BBQ: the unexpected often becomes tradition.

These recipes are intended for adults of legal drinking age (21+ in the United States; please follow the laws in your region). Fire up the grill, not the driver’s seat. Stoking the Coals encourages moderation, community, and safe enjoyment of food and drink. Please never drink and drive, and always respect your health, your guests, and the law.