Since opening, The Wellesley has cemented itself as one of the city’s most extravagant hotels, serving London’s elite and discerning international travellers. Its new and exclusive selection of tipples includes a cocktail using rum infused at the hotel with Behike 52 cigar leaf, in addition to a cocktail dedicated to its Rolls-Royce chauffeur service for guests.
The boutique-grand hotel, overlooking Hyde Park, opened its doors in December 2012 and has become renowned for its world-class cigar offering alongside Art Deco interiors, weekly live jazz and highly personal service. Its five year anniversary cocktail menu has been inspired by the hotel’s offering and curated by the manager of its Crystal Bar.
With one cocktail to represent each year of The Wellesley Knightsbridge, the menu includes:
Medio Tiempo: Dedicated to the hotel’s illustrious cigar collection
The Medio Tempo is made with Havana Club Rum infused at the hotel with Behike 52 cigar leaf. Mixed with vermouth, chocolate liqueur and chocolate bitter, it is finished with wood smoke for a smoky aroma.
Bossa Nova Bass: An ode to the hotel’s elegant Jazz Lounge
The fruity Bossa Nova Bass is inspired by the Brazilian jazz genre, and is made with gin, apricot brandy, lemon juice, Galliano liqueur and pineapple juice.
Silver Lady: In honour of the hotel’s Rolls-Royce
The Silver Lady is a take on the 1920s sidecar cocktail and named after the bonnet ornament of the hotel’s Rolls-Royce, which offers a complimentary drop-off service to all guests. It consists of Calvados, Grand Marnier and lemon juice.
Ella Fitzgerald: In celebration of The Wellesley’s Art Deco design
The Ella Fitzgerald is dedicated to the 1920s icon and ‘Queen of Jazz’ as a nod to the hotel’s 1920s Art Deco interior design. It is made using Chivas Regal 12, vanilla syrup, hibiscus citron tea and Mandarine Napoleon.
The Wellesley Martini: A nod to 1920s icon and cigar aficionado Winston Churchill
The Wellesley Martini is a staple in the Crystal Bar’s history having been served since day one, made using Belvedere vodka and homemade vermouth with a pomelo twist. It was known to be a favourite of Winston Churchill, whose portrait hangs in the Cigar Lounge painted directly onto tobacco leaves.
The menu is now available in The Wellesley Knightsbridge’s Crystal Bar until 1 January 2018, and can be savoured at the bar, in the opulent Cigar Lounge or on the heated cigar terraces. The Crystal Bar’s walls are adorned with glass display cases which contain the hotel’s impressive whisky, cognac and Armagnac collections. These include a couple of bottles of rare 1770 Cognac.
Five years at The Wellesley Knightsbridge in numbers
Having served London’s most discerning guests since December 2012, The Wellesley Knightsbridge has:
– Bought and sold the Coutanseaux 1767, the world’s oldest Cognac
– Made and sold over 180 truffle pizzas, priced at £200 each
– Popped over 12,000 corks of Champagne magnums to serve to guests
– Chauffeured almost 70,000 guests over 90,000 miles of London’s roads in the Rolls-Royce
– Sold over 110,000 cigars, including the £6,000 Cohiba Behike 40th Anniversary cigar
– Fulfilled over 210,000 butler requests
– The concierge team also received a request for a diamond-encrusted teddy bear costing £38,000
