Savoy American Bar: How ‘cocktail museum’ became world’s best bar
World's finest: In October 2017, the 127-year-old American Bar at the Savoy in London came out on top in the World's 50 Best Bars list for the first time.
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Prestigious reputation: "I think ours is a very unique bar," says senior bartender Dominic Whisson. "We have a responsibility to the heritage of the place -- the history is something you don't get anywhere else."
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Legendary status: "The Savoy Cocktail Book, first published in 1930," was written by famed American bar mixologist Harry Craddock and is considered a bartender's bible.
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Forward thinking: "Our history is like no other but the key to honoring this is to not just recycle stories, but write some ourselves," says bar manager Declan McGurk.
Canon Photos
Cocktail journey: The American Bar's "Coast to Coast" menu explores Britain through drinks -- the Kentish Cob pays homage to a hazelnut cultivated in the English county of Kent, Sapphire Jubilee Fizz is based on the fountain at the Savoy and Black Diamond takes its inspiration from the Pennines, a series of hills that run through central Britain.
Courtesy Rob Lawson
New era: Head bartender Erik Lorincz joined in 2010 and has played a big role in the reinvention process. "We're writing the next chapter of the American Bar's history," he says.
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Game changer: Its success goes against received wisdom that classic bars should stay classical in order to guarantee a loyal clientele.
Lewis Wilkinson
Modern makeover: Lorincz says the next chapter in the classic bar's history is still being written.