AVB has a great recipe around here somewhere . . . I mix mine by the drink rather than the pitcher, and prefer to start with plain old tomato juice rather than a mix---I mean, after all, it's not HARD. Dash of Worcestershire, dash of Tabasco, a little lemon juice, salt and pepper, a bit of horseradish. Stir it on the rocks with a celery stalk and a pickle slice and leave 'em both in the glass.
I like a healthy dash of Worcestershire, and use Tabasco's Chipotle sauce for the extra smokiness. Absolut's not my favorite vodka by a long shot---that would be Reyka, currently---but for some reason it's always seemed to go well in a Bloody Mary. Hang a jumbo cocktail shrimp on the rim of your glass or lay a crispy strip of bacon across it if you really want to go all out.
~Boar