While it’s the ultimate companion to a lazy Sunday afternoon, even icons deserve a little company.
Our much-loved Beefy Mary has been a firm favourite since the early days, turning heads with a touch of beef jus for an extra nudge of naughtiness. But, this year, we decided it was time to shake things up.
So we launched the Blacklock & Axia Bloody Mary Competition, calling on bartenders to dream up a Sunday-worthy twist on the classic. The brief was to create something bold. Something that would make guests think, “I didn’t expect that… but I love it.” And to make things even more exciting, we teamed up with Axia Mastiha, a Mediterranean spirit unlike anything else behind our bars. Competitors were judged on creativity, sustainability, storytelling, garnish game, and crucially, on a busy Sunday, replicability. After all, the winning cocktail would be served across all our restaurants.
Submissions rolled in, and the final showdown took place in the bar at Canary Wharf just a few weeks ago. It was a real nail-biter, especially when there was a trip to Greece and the incredible Athens Bar Show up for grabs.
A Spirit Like No Other
If you haven’t met Axia yet, allow us to get you acquainted. Axia Mastiha is a bold Mediterranean spirit crafted from the aromatic resin of the Mastiha tree, found only on the sun-scorched hillsides of Chios, Greece. This resin has been harvested for centuries, known for its distinctive piney aroma and refreshing herbal quality.
It lifts and transforms flavours, opening the doors for creativity while keeping one foot firmly in tradition. You can see why we thought it would make a surprising but delicious companion for a Bloody Mary riff.
And the Winner Is…
After a fierce but friendly final, Bryan from Manchester clinched the top spot with his brilliant creation, the Fresco Maria.
Inspired by everything a Bloody Mary stands for, without actually being a Bloody Mary, the Fresco Maria is a fresh take on the classic morning reviver. Bryan envisioned a drink that restores you after the night before: something light, a touch healthy, and absolutely packed with flavour.
His winning recipe brought together AXIA Mastiha, mezcal, pineapple, herbs, green pepper, and a touch of chilli. This combination landed somewhere between fresh, smoky, and lightly spiced. Familiar yet surprising and with bucket-loads of depth. It captured the essence of the competition perfectly: a re-imagined Sunday classic that’s bold and utterly drinkable.
(You’ll be seeing it on our Sunday menus very soon.)
A POSTCARD FROM GREECE
As part of his win, Bryan jetted off to Greece for the Athens Bar Show, and he didn’t go alone. The rest of the Blacklock bar team joined him for a whirlwind trip full of brilliant bars and inspiring people, plus a couple of late nights that may or may not ever be spoken about.
They explored the city, met incredible industry folks like the team from Panda & Son up in Edinburgh (IYKYK), soaked up plenty of Greek hospitality, and no doubt toasted Bryan’s win more than a few times. They returned home with big smiles and sleepy eyes, but that’s usually a good sign.
Catch the Fresco Maria on a Sunday, book a table below and just ask one of our friendly Barkeeps.