Arriving at Dukes Bar

After a day of London shopping, it was off to Dukes Bar for their world-famous martinis. Located within Dukes Hotel, the Bar is regarded as one of the best in the world – and is a landmark in its own right.

Dukes Hotel has been around for over a century, but it was just a few years ago that it joined CampbellGray Hotels. They also own the One Aldwych which is where I stay in London. While Dukes is perhaps a dash more cozy, One Aldwych has a fabulous spa and swimming pool which is very important to me. It’s also a stone’s throw from Covent Garden.

Outside One Aldwych Hotel

The heavenly pool inside the One Aldwych spa

But it was high time to experience those martinis at Dukes! So my team and I met Dukes Bar manager Alessandro Palazzi for an afternoon cocktail hour where we were offered a full demonstration of how the martinis are made.

It was Dukes that inspired Ian Fleming‘s classic line ’shaken not stirred’ – so there is a martini named in his honor. Ian Fleming’s Classic Vesper consists of Crown Jewel gin, Potocki vodka, Angostura bitters, and Lillet – and the trick is to chill the glass first.

Alessandro prepares the Ian Fleming’s Classic Vesper martini

Adding the Potocki vodka

Sampling the Ian Fleming martini

We tried four different martinis. I am not usually a cocktail drinker, but the one I ended up with was delicious.

A round of martinis

Making the Tiger Tanaka martini

Enjoying a Dukes signature martini

Alessandro also showed us some of the bar’s vintage cognacs and rare malt whiskies – some dating from the early 1800s.

Going through the Bar’s vintage and rare spirits

Champagnes, cognacs and old fashioned cocktail shakers

Champagne from 1811

After enjoying ourselves, I had to hurry back to One Aldwych to get to Covent Garden for the Royal Ballet performance of Mayerling. The ballet was wonderful – but I have to say the martini did make me a little sleepy!