Sharing a drink with a few good buddies is always a pleasure, but The Bloody Buddy is that one pal that will really spice up your next get-together.
Created by Buddy Jordan and Joey Kindred, The Bloody Buddy is a chili pepper-infused vodka and homemade bloody mary mix combined in one convenient bottle. Made with fresh, top-shelf ingredients at a distillery right here in Dripping Springs, this feisty beverage is Texas’ first and only ready-to-drink bloody mary.
The Bloody Buddy sets itself apart with its high-quality, all-natural ingredients. The peppers that give the vodka its Texas kick are ordered fresh and cut by hand. “Everything we do needs to be all natural,” says founder and creator Jordan. With no additives or preservatives and lower sodium, “it’s as healthy a drink as it can be,” he shares.
The Bloody Buddy was born when Jordan was a bartender at a downtown Austin steakhouse and, stirred by the growing trend of infusing distilled alcohol, began experimenting. His first version of The Bloody Buddy—a bloody mary-inspired cocktail, shaken with ice and strained into a chilled, salt-rimmed martini glass—became the number-one drink on the restaurant’s menu.
“That got our wheels turning,” says Jordan, who buddied up with Joey, his restaurant colleague, to create the first ready-to-drink bloody mary on the market. After years of researching and learning to make their own vodka, the two set up their distillery and completed their first run in 2016. Now, you can find The Bloody Buddy pre-mixed bloody mary in bottles or cans, as well as bottles of chili pepper-infused vodka to create your own zesty cocktail, in 2,700 stores throughout six states.
From concept to creation to expansion, the evolution of The Bloody Buddy was made possible with the help of Joey’s late father, Michael Kindred. A former banker, Michael was instrumental in guiding the partners through creating a business plan, raising capital, and understanding the spirits industry. “We couldn’t have done this without him,” shares Joey. To honor and acknowledge his “handiwork” that enabled Jordan and Joey to bring The Bloody Buddy to fruition, each bottle is marked with Michael’s thumbprint.
Michael’s influence also lives on in the company’s core values of integrity, honesty, love, leadership, and community involvement. With these principles in mind, Jordan and Joey endeavor to create a fresh, healthy product and build a family environment. “Having those core values is what drives us,” shares The Bloody Buddy owner and operator Joey. “Those are the things we try to live by and instill in those we work with.”
Aiming to support the Dripping Springs community, The Bloody Buddy has built relationships with charity organizations such as RED Arena, The Arc of Texas, and the Best Buddies program. “We’re nothing without Dripping Springs, so we give back as much as we can,” Joey says.
And now The Bloody Buddy is bringing new friends to the table, as Joey and Jordan are working on a line of beachy, summer-inspired cocktails. “We’ve got a lot on the horizon,” Joey says. “We’re going to work really hard and this new cocktail line is going to be a lot of fun.”
Ultimately, The Bloody Buddy’s mission is simple: “Our goal is seeing people smile, making people happy by drinking The Bloody Buddy,” says Jordan.
“When they’re having The Bloody Buddy, they’re enjoying their day,” Joey adds. “That’s refreshing.”
TheBloodyBuddy.com | @thebloodybuddy
“This business is one of the most fun things I’ve done in my life.” – Joey Kindred