|
THE TEMPLES OF THE COCKTAIL MARTINI
|
|
The Dukes, London
|
 |
|
Alessandro Palazzi is an undisputed Master of the Cocktail Martini. His bar, conveniently located inside the charming Dukes Hotel in St James, London, is the top spot in the world for this cocktail. Here you don't have to discuss, suggest, ask or barter; just let Alessandro do his routine, and he will impress you and your guests with the right amount of scenography to go, quite appropriately, with one of the best Cocktail Martinis in the world
|
 |
|
The No.3 London Dry Gin is the basis of the Dukes' unsurpassable Martini cocktail, its faint bitter aftertaste being really different from what you get from Hendricks', Martin Miller or Tanqueray Ten. The very special 'Regal' vermouth, obtained from British grapes and not for sale, that Alessandro uses in his Martini adds to this unique flavour. As it is easy to see here, the No.3 bottle is iced; one of the secrets of a really awesome Martini being to keep the gin bottle in a freezer so you will not have to 'bruise' it against hard ice cubes in a rude shaking action |
 |
|
Der Meister at work.... Alessandro Palazzi is the only professional in the world who can convince me that, yes, I don't like the twist of lemon, but with some very 'rich' olives like the ones he imports from Castel Madama the lemon is necessary to keep at bay the 'oily' residuals of the olive itself... he's so good that I always let him put a twist in my glass. He's a Master for the Martini cocktail, and the Dukes' is a real gem in classic London |
 |
|
I'm not really gloomy, I'm only displeased to know that the 'few' amongst my friends who like and appreciate a nice Martini are not with me in this splendid evening in London, enjoying this masterpiece..... |
 |
|
|
|
30-31 March 2014 |
 |
|
We came back at the Dukes in March 2014, after Lord March's magnificent 72nd GRRC at Goodwood. Splendid! Alessandro Palazzi confirmed himself as the one of the leading Martini cocktail specialists in the world, and a very nice guy in one of London's most exquisite 'Small Luxury Hotels'..... |
|
22 March 2015: disappointment |
 |
|
We came back exactly one year after our last visit, Sunday 22 March, returning from Lord March's 73rd GRRC Meeting, with high expectations. Sadly, we were cruelly disappointed by the (non) quality of service when Alessandro is not there. If you can't get a decent table when you are a resident of the Dukes, a Martini connoisseur who always stops at the Dukes since years and have reserved that table two weeks before your arrival (and have confirmed that booking at 4 pm, just after checking in at the hotel counter...), something must be seriously wrong in their organisation |
|
07 July 2016: satisfaction |
 |
|
I was travelling alone this time, as Anna had to remain home in Bologna; I visited the Dukes once again and this time Alessandro was at the helm. What a huge difference the Old Man does! This time I hadn't even tried to reserve a table but I got a good one all the same, the Martini was perfect, a little bit of chatter is always welcome to the weary gentleman travelling alone and this was therefore the perfect introduction to another short stay in London, after Brexit even more decidedly one the world's Capital cities |
|
7 April 2019 |
 |
|
Another stay in London after the Duke of Richmond's exquisite Members' Meeting at Goodwood....and again we went at Dukes on a Sunday afternoon, Alessandro was not there but Maurizio was as perfect as his boss |
 |
 |
|
A perfect Martini based on the No.3 gin, freezing cold, unstoned olive, extremely dry and served with a smile....that's a confirmation that the Dukes is THE place to go for the best in Martini |
|
Dukes Hotel, St. James's Place,
London. SW1A 1NY United
Kingdom Fax: +44 (0)20 7493 1264
alessandropalazzi@dukeshotel.
|
