Henry Bain’s Sauce: A Derby tradition, but there’s more to the story

Henry Bain’s Sauce: A Derby tradition, but there’s more to the story

The Pendennis Club, founded in 1881, is a private social club in Louisville located at 218 Muhammad Ali Boulevard in a clubhouse built in 1928.

Outside of the club’s current membership, it is probably best known for two innovations: The Old Fashioned cocktail, and Henry Bain’s Sauce.

To be honest, the cocktail claim is contested. The sauce sourcing is not, so we’ll stick to the condiment.

According to the Pendennis Club, “this fabulous sauce was the creation of the Club’s legendary Maître d’, Henry Bain (1863-1928), who was one of its first employees after the Club’s formation in 1881.”

An old story at the Louisville Courier-Journal (link long since broken) offers a recipe for the “sweet-sour-spicy beef sauce” invented by Bain in the early 1900s.

  • 1 (17-ounce) jar Major Grey’s chutney
  • 1/2 of 9-ounce jar imported pickled walnuts (optional, see note *)
  • 1 (14-ounce) bottle ketchup
  • 1 (11-ounce) bottle A-1 Steak Sauce
  • 1 (10-ounce) bottle Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 (12-ounce) bottle chili sauce
  • Tabasco, to taste

Place the chutney and walnuts, if using, in a blender and chop fine or puree as you prefer (you’ll need to stop and stir). Combine with other ingredients...Read more