Secret Escape

In 1532 Henry VIII built St James’s Palace on the site formerly occupied by a hospital for treating leprosy, The Palace was part-hunting lodge, part-escape from court life for Henry, and also a secret meeting for the King and Anne Boleyn before she became his second wife.Scared Dry Vermouth into frozen glass, top up with 100ml of Frozen no.3 Gin, Zest of lemon from Amalfi coast squeeze the lemon zest to extract the fragrant oils.

Before Dukes London opened in 1908, nearby townhouses in St James’s Palace hosted by Oscar Wilde, Lord Byron, composer Frederic Chopin, who lived in one of the houses  before his final London performance, composer Elgar. Princes Diana and the Queen Mother have visited Dukes London,

Vesper Martini ( Several measures of gin, one of Vodka and half a measure of French liqueur Lillet.

Duke’s Bar, London – St. James’s Mind- blowing world’s best Martini

After a half an hours wait, once you are in the bar’s cosy atmosphere, Vodka is delicious as alcohol morphs into edible flowers. First of all,  the barman ensures that you are seated comfortably on the green leather armchairs,  as the bar is always crowded, although you are not allowed to stand. If you want a Dry martini made with all the fanfare – Ian Fleming whose favourite drinking den, has coined his phrase for the James Bond film Casino Royale Martini shaken but not stirred –  brought to your table in a drinks trolley by white-jacketed bartenders, the bottle straight from the freezer, shaken as you sit and watch and be amazed. The slick Italian bartender rolls the mixing trolley to your seat and kindly enquires about your preferences, including a choice of array of chilled spirits and bespoke blends out of this world.  You are only allowed two martinis for each person at £28 a shot, and the third one may be a drink too far, you may be legless. Drink responsibly.

If you are a Bond fan, a Martini of course shaken but not stirred, with a swirl of secretly concocted vermouth, with a large measure of gin and vodka, a sweep of lemon around the glass and have the world’s best martini, as recommended by New York Times stating “ The hotel bar which some say concocts one of the world’s best martinis. Every Duke Martini or personalised cocktail served at the internationally acclaimed bar , is something of an occasion.

It will be an honour to meet Chef Barman Alessandro Palazzi, who created the Duke’s Martini drink and has won several awards for his creativity including the Prix Villegiture Awards in 2012 as the best bar in Europe.

A Bartender at the Knickerbocker hotel named Martini di Arma di Taggia invented the Martini in 1911 especially for America’s first billionaire, John B Rockerfeller, co-founder of the Standard Oil Company. Martini is a classic cocktail that has been ordered, mixed, and server all over the world for many years. A classic Martini is made from gin and vermouth and garnished with either an olive or lemon twist and exude elegance and style, However, a German musician John Paul Aegius Schwartgendorf who emigrated to France in 1758, changed his name to Jean Paul Aegide Martini,along with vogue of Italian composers, apparently a mixture of gin and white wine, which became known among French musicians with Martini’s name and as some of these musicians emigragted to United States brought with them the drink called Martini.