Head to head
Lemon, Lime and Bitters and Virgin Mary side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.
The difference, by the numbers
They have no ingredient in common: the Lemon, Lime and Bitters has lime juice, lemon-lime soda and alcohol-free aromatic bitters, the Virgin Mary tomato juice, lemon juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish and Tabasco, celery salt and pepper. In parts, a Lemon, Lime and Bitters is 1 lime and 10 lemon-lime soda; a Virgin Mary is 10 tomato and 1 lemon. By volume, the Lemon, Lime and Bitters is 91% mixer and juice and 9% citrus; the Virgin Mary is 91% mixer and juice and 9% citrus. Different bottles, similar balance: that makes them close cousins on the ratio map.
They are about equally strong in the glass (both 0.0% ABV), and they hold about the same alcohol (0.00 standard drinks each). The Lemon, Lime and Bitters has more calories (about 68 against 31) and more sugar (16.5 g against 4.5 g). Both are served in a highball; the Lemon, Lime and Bitters is built, the Virgin Mary stirred.
Zero Proof · Zero proof
The ratio · 1 : 10
Full Lemon, Lime and Bitters recipe →
Highlighted: not in the Virgin Mary.
Zero Proof · Zero proof
The ratio · 10 : 1
Highlighted: not in the Lemon, Lime and Bitters.
Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.
Lemon, Lime and Bitters vs.
Virgin Mary vs.