The Wolseley Bloody Mary


Get the recipe for our Wolseley Bloody Mary – an ideal companion to breakfast or brunch.

Breakfast is something of a Wolseley institution, and what other cocktail has quite the association with this most sacred of meals than the Bloody Mary. Read on to find out how we make ours.

Perhaps most associated with its hangover curing properties, thanks to the combination of sweet and savoury notes – and of course the enlivening addition of vodka – the Bloody Mary is an ever-popular order here at The Wolseley. Although a seemingly simple drink, this unassuming cocktail has quite the story.

A little history

Said to have been created during the 1920s at the world-famous Harry’s New York Bar in Paris by bartender Fernand “Pete” Petiot, the Bloody Mary is one of the first classic cocktails to use vodka as its base ingredient – a spirit introduced to Parisians by Russian exiles who were fleeing the revolution. Petiot then transported his creation to New York’s King Cole Bar at the St Régis Hotel following the end of Prohibition, where its popularity only increased. Of course, other accounts say that it was invented by Hollywood star of the time Georg Jessl (which Petiot himself alluded to); and who was a customer of Petiot’s!

In fact, its popularity is so fabled in the USA that it has its own national day, with New Year’s Day (1st January) commemorating the Bloody Mary in all its guises. Today, many variations exist, including the Red Snapper, which swaps out vodka for gin and is also said to have also been a creation of Petiot at the St Régis, thanks to a post-Prohibition shortage of vodka in the USA.

How we make ours

Made with Ketel One Vodka and tomato juice from Turner Hardy & Co combined with an in-house blend of spices, our Wolseley Mary is an ideal companion to breakfast or brunch here at The Wolseley.

The Wolseley Bloody Mary (serves one):

50ml Ketel One Vodka
180ml spiced tomato juice*
1 Olive (to garnish)
1 Guindilla pepper (to garnish)
Black pepper (to garnish)

Method

  1. Fill a large highball filled with cubed ice.
  2. Measure your vodka and pour into the glass.
  3. Add your spiced tomato juice and stir well.
  4. Place your garnish on top and grind black pepper over the top.
  5. Serve and enjoy!

*Our Wolseley Mary mix combines Lea & Perrins Worcester Sauce, lemon juice, lime juice, celery salt, Tabasco Sauce and Dijon mustard to give it that signature kick. To make your own Bloody Mary at home, we recommend using the best quality Tomato Juice (we use Turner Hardy & Co) and season this with your favourite condiments to taste, before adding to your glass.

Of course, a Bloody Mary is not just for breakfast – ours is available to order throughout the day for brunch or even dinner, along with our selection of all-day eggs. And if you’re interested you can read a little more about Breakfast at The Wolseley here.

Published 29th June 2022