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THE TEMPLES OF THE COCKTAIL MARTINI
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Four Seasons Hotel, Firenze
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No other hotel in Firenze is more elegant than the 'Four Seasons', located in Borgo Pinti. Here, in what was one the noble Della Gherardesca family's mansions, Stefano Ricci hosts every year his magnificent 'Uniques-Special Ones' Concours d'Elegance for classic cars. Inside the perimeter of this exquisite location, the luxurious 5-stars hotel (divided in two equally magnificent ancient buildings) hosts also the 'Conventino', a small convent and church splendidly renovated for meetings, conferences etc No great luxury hotel can considered such, however, if it doesn't sport a really good bar with an equally excellent bartender; Firenze's Four Seasons has both.
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Until 2017 Massimiliano Prili was the Bar Manager of the Atrium Bar; he worked at the Dukes' in London with the legendary Alessandro Palazzi and he really knows his stuff. He understands the taste of his customers; his cocktail Martini has, unvoidably, a special touch of class coming from the blend of Florentine flair and Londoner tradition
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Hendricks' gin is available on request, just like Belvedere vodka and other exquisite premium brands; a welcome bonus is the offering, with the cocktails of your choice, of several delicious 'Spring Rolls' in a very handy junior size that makes them perfect to go with the freezing-cold stirred Martini or Vesper of your choice. We did suggest that these excellent Martinis deserved to be poured in more appropriate, conical stem glasses... and during our latest visit (18 June, just before the beginning of Pitti Uomo) the glasses were perfect, exactly the right type of conical stem glass! The 'premium gins' cabinet is always very well stocked with Bluecoat, N.209, La Mer and many others on stock. Being faithful to classic recipes, I stuck to my beloved Hendrick's and the result was truly excellent, all the more as you will enjoy this perfect mix (actually one of the best Martinis that we have ever tasted!) in a really glorious setting |
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...and at the Atrium Bar, with a perfect Martini, you can enjoy a super Costoletta alla Milanese, a habit (going on at that same table at the bar after the Martini with a personal dinner) that we got at the et De Milan and we enjoy a lot since. The epitome of urban civilisation, miles afar from the noisy 'Happy Hours' so much fashionable today |
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8 November 2013: a Blue Gin afternoon |
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A pleasant evening at the Four Seasons: Massimiliano introduced to us mr. Andreas Mühlböck, Global Brand Ambassador for the Austrian-produced 'Blue Gin'. A nice gentleman; the gin is quite interesting, containing many botanics, expertly mixed in a gin that succeeds in being full of flavor whilst having 'only' a 43° alcohol content. Sadly, he never sent me the full-proof bottle he promised me during this tasting session.... |
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12 December 2015 |
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Another splendid Martini, this time with a wonderful plate of fried shrimps, artichokes, calamari.....and an even better Martini cocktail |
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14 October 2017 |
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Getting better.... |
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8 September 2018 |
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A very nice evening during the 'Stefano Ricci Heritage' event in Firenze for classic cars. Tommaso directed us to a nice table in the park, one of the best places in Firenze, and the Plymouth-based Martini that they mixed for me was excellent, tasty, dry and extremely cold.... wonderful |
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1st June 2019 |
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Another very civilized Martini in Firenze, dry and very cold. The park of the Four Seasons is heavenly; the quality of the pictures offered by the Leica lens of the new Huawei P30 phone is astonishing. We followed this Martini with an incredibly good pizza....yes, a pizza at the majestic Four Seasons. What's wrong with it? Pizza is Italy at its best and this pizza was amazing! |
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