Worcestershire sauce may not seem all that important to the flavor profile of a Bloody Mary, but as Bon Appetit explains, it’s a very complex sauce that includes fermented garlic, fermented onion, vinegar, molasses, tamarind, salt, sugar, and anchovies. The end result is something very sweet, umami, and a little sour, and integral to the overall flavor of your Bloody Mary.
While anchovies give the sauce plenty of depth, it also bars those with food allergies or dietary restrictions from enjoying it. There are a few Worcestershire sauces that don’t have anchovies, including Kroger and Whole Food brands, as well as Annie’s, Wan Ja Shan, and The Wizard’s, per Living My Veg Life. If you don’t want to look for a vegan brand, you could also use Worcestershire substitutes like soy sauce, vinegar, or a mix of both ingredients plus ketchup advises A Couple Cooks. They advise that the two main flavors in Worcestershire sauce are salty and tangy, so as long as you get those notes to shine through your Bloody Mary mixture, you’ll be good to go.