Known for its theatrical drinks and dramatic décor, The Savoy’s Beaufort Bar is launching a new cocktail menu on Thursday 9th February 2017 that will take the form of a beautifully illustrated tunnel book. Twisting strands from the Savoy’s illustrious history into a fascinating cocktail narrative, the menu takes guests on a tour of the hotel through its legendary tales and extraordinary guests. From secret wartime bars, rooftop tap-dancing and extravagant gondola parties to luminaries such as Alfred Hitchcock, Katherine Hepburn and Tom Jones, the menu will be a celebration of some of The Savoy’s most captivating stories.
Created by Head Bartender Kyle Wilkinson along with Bar Manager Anna Sebastian and the whole Beaufort Bar team, the new menu is set to surpass even the ingenuity of the bar’s previous award-winning pop-up book in terms of innovative design, thematic style, flavour combinations and signature serves. Made up of twenty cocktails, each one tells a story about a different part of the hotel through illustrations, flavours and smells.
“The Savoy is a majestic place and when writing the menu, we came across so many stories that were too good not to share. The team has created what I like to think of as a journey through some of the most exciting and historic events in the hotel’s history from past to the present- next chapter of the Beaufort Bar.” Kyle Wilkinson
The menu opens with Under The Stars, a cocktail inspired by Fred Astaire, who famously danced upon the roof of The Savoy in the 1920s and goes on to document a number of well-documented and lesser known tales: a bellboy’s infamous first day, a cocktail shaker buried inside the American Bar, the wartime ‘Tich’s Bar’ frequented by journalists, and the relaunch of the hotel in 2010. Matching distinctive tastes with unique ingredients and bespoke essences, the menu will use the likes of leather, spices, paper, walnut and chocolate perfume to recreate a sense of actually being there to witness each story unfold. The signature spirits and favourite flavours of famous residents such as Duran Duran, Richard Harris, Bon Jovi and aviator Amy Johnson will be used to create the cocktails that they have inspired.
“As The Savoy has such a distinguished history for shaking up an evening with the finest cocktails in town, I am very touched to hear that ‘By Invitation Only’ will be joining the ranks alongside the luscious ‘White Lady’ and the deadly ‘Corpse Reviver’.” Nick Rhodes
Examples from the new menu include:
Garden of Memories
At one of the most extravagant parties ever hosted at The Savoy, the courtyard was flooded, and a lavish sit-down dinner for twenty-four guests was served on a large gondola.
Don Julio Blanco, passion fruit, agave, St Germain, lime
Incognito
The Savoy was Katherine Hepburn’s hotel of choice due to the discretion of the staff; and following a visit to another famous hotel which frowned upon her wearing her trademark trousers.
Patron Anejo, popcorn, Averna, Martini Rubino, walnut
The Savoy Delivers
On one occasion, when a Maharajah left behind an important package, The Savoy sent a young page boy all the way to India to return it by hand.
Bacardi Carta Ocho, Martini Bianco, lime, honey, Indian spices
Height of FashionHeight of Fashion
London’s first ever hotel lift, known affectionately as an “ascending room”, took guests effortlessly from ground to top floor of the hotel – the well-heeled no longer had to climb the stairs.
Remy Martin VSOP, Italian blend, Cocchi Torino, leather
Read All About It!
Tich’s bar was hidden in the depths of the hotel during WWII, and regularly saw dozens of wartime journalists consuming plenty of whisky until the early hours of the morning.
Johnnie Walker Blue and Black, coffee, banana, paper
The Grass is always Greener
A musical legend, friend and guest of The Savoy.
Bacardi Carta Ocho, Benedictine, dried fruit, lime, coffee, Champagne foam
Having taken 10 months to create, the limited edition tunnel book menu has been elaborately and painstakingly illustrated by Shotopop. Designed in the opposite way to regular tunnel books, the cutouts get larger as guests traverse the menu, with every page-turn revealing a new design. Inspired by the eras most associated with the Savoy, the illustrations combine Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles with a truly modern and unique finish.
The jet-black and burnished gold décor of The Beaufort Bar exudes the glamour of a time when such luminaries as Carol Gibbons, The Savoy Orpheans and George Gershwin graced the cabaret stage at The Savoy. Today, from a Bar that stands on this very same stage, award-winning head bartender Kyle Wilkinson and his expert team offer classic and new cocktails, and one of the most extensive choices of Champagne by the glass and by the bottle, including rare vintages from Louis Roederer and Cristal.