What spirit is the base of a Bloody Mary?

The base spirit of a Bloody Mary is vodka.

The classic Bloody Mary combines vodka with tomato juice and seasonings such as Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, lemon juice, celery salt, black pepper and horseradish. It is usually stirred with ice and served in a tall glass, often garnished with a celery stalk or lemon wedge.

The cocktail's origins are disputed. Fernand Petiot claimed to have created an early version in Paris in the 1920s and later refined it at New York's King Cole Room in the 1930s. Another account credits entertainer George Jessel with an earlier vodka-and-tomato-juice drink. These competing stories make the precise invention date uncertain.

Vodka is also what distinguishes the standard Bloody Mary from several named variations. A Bloody Maria uses tequila, while a Red Snapper traditionally uses gin. A Virgin Mary contains no alcohol. The drink is especially popular at brunch and is sometimes called a hangover remedy, although its restorative reputation should not be confused with a medically proven cure.