Strictly and Big Brother star Will Best has a successful drinks business on the side – and it’s incredible

Will Best is a familiar face on British television thanks to his presenting roles on Big Brother and Strictly Come Dancing — but away from the small screen, he is also behind a successful drinks business.

The broadcaster is the co-founder of Bloody Drinks, a brand dedicated to one of the world’s most hotly debated cocktails: the Bloody Mary.

The business was born from Best and his co-founder’s shared love of the drink, with the pair turning years of experimenting and searching for the perfect Bloody Mary into a business.

As the company explains: “We’re old friends who love Bloody Marys. Arguably, too bloody much. For years we spent our Sundays obsessively seeking the finest examples of the drink, before eventually distilling our painstakingly accrued knowledge into fluid ounces at home.”

What started as a homemade recipe soon became a much bigger operation, as friends began asking for more of their creations.

“Mixing for friends quickly led to demand outstripping supply, and a search to find production partners who could take our little recipe and scale it up without compromising on ingredients, flavour or quality,” the brand says.

Today, Bloody Drinks has developed into a sizeable range of cocktails and accompaniments, with its products available to buy through its website and from retailers around the UK.

The company’s range includes its signature Bloody Mary, alongside variations including the Red Snapper, Mezcal Maria and Mariko. It also offers a Virgin Mary for those looking for a non-alcoholic option, as well as Bloody Mary salts, garnishes and other products.

At the heart of the business, however, is still the original Bloody Mary — and the founders are well aware that perfecting one is likely to provoke plenty of debate.

“We know that the Bloody Mary is the most contested cocktail out there, and debate rages over the different levels of spice, umami and sweetness that can go into it,” they explain.

Rather than attempting to create a recipe that appeals to everyone, the founders say they wanted to make a drink based on their own passion for the cocktail.

“That’s why our recipe hasn’t been designed by committee. It’s been designed by people who truly love the cocktail, and set out to share with the world a version that shows what a beautifully complex and balanced drink it can be.”

And their verdict on the finished product?

“And we’re proud to say, we think that’s exactly what we’ve created.”

The range has since grown well beyond the original drink, with Bloody Drinks offering different takes on the classic cocktail and products designed to let customers recreate the experience at home.

Where can you buy Bloody Drinks?

For those wanting to try Will Best’s drinks business for themselves, the full Bloody Drinks range is available to buy directly through the brand’s online shop, with everything from its signature Bloody Mary to its non-alcoholic Virgin Mary and selection of salts and accompaniments.

The brand’s products are also available through selected UK retailers, including Sainsbury’s, although availability can vary between stores and online.

You can browse the full range and shop directly from the official Bloody Drinks website here: Bloody Drinks – Shop the range

We’ve tried the original ones, and they’re absolutely BANGING.

For Best, it means his career now stretches well beyond his television work. While viewers know him as one of the faces of Big Brother and from his appearances on Strictly Come Dancing, he has also helped build a drinks brand from a shared obsession between friends into a business with a growing presence of its own.

It seems that, for Best, the question of what makes the perfect Bloody Mary is more than just a Sunday debate — it’s become a successful business.

Catch Will on Hits Radio Breakfast each weekday morning and Saturdays, on Big Brother (ITV) and Strictly Come Dancing.

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