To introduce the Savoy as merely a lavish London beacon should be deemed illicit; to introduce the Savoy as the epitome of princely hospitality grandiosity however, could be classified tolerable.
The Savoy Theatre was established in 1889 by Richard D’Oyly Carte, a gifted theatrical impresario who chose to bring his sprightly showman artistry into play within the capital’s five-star society, showcasing the modern day hotel luxuries he experienced during his tours throughout the USA. Post a lavish £220 million revival in the guarded hands of the Fairmont hotels, the Savoy now lays comfortably snuggled within their esteemed hotel and resorts collection, alongside its fellow high born entourage of The Plaza in New York, and Bermuda’s Hamilton Princess and Beach Club.
No dining encounter should ever be permitted sans an aperitif or nightcap within one of the hotels’ two award-winning drinking dens of the American, or Beaufort Bar. It was in the latter with a peekaboo visit to the former, where I had experienced this grande dame establishment’s dramatically flamboyant cocktail library, while swathed in a cocoon of resplendent historical grandeur, impeccable hosting and a sprinkling of panache.
Lavishly celebrated for being London’s longest surviving cocktail hideaway and conquering the World’s 50 Best Bars title in 2017, the American Bar vibes to a demure, bashful Art-Deco elegance. The bar has basked in the glory of having served high esteemed visitors including Winston Churchill, not neglecting playing host to legendary bartender Harry Craddock, renowned for his Savoy tenure and turning author for his 1930, Savoy Cocktail Book.
Where the American Bar embraces a serene seraphic ambience, the Beaufort Bar exhibits a dark, bewitching, sultry aura that has kept her haute monde invitees spellbound. It has been shaped and forged on the one time showbiz pedestal of the Savoy’s cabaret stage that appeared to evoke the ambience of those hedonistic parties, hosted by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic Great Gatsby. Drawing in on her glamorous 1920’s allure, an arresting midnight black backdrop dotted with jet-black furnishings were swathed against theatrical adornments of shimmering lustrous gold and extraordinary antique chandeliers, not to forget the gleaming backlit bar displaying a rare array of vintage tipples and prestige spirits to shape up the basis of the bar’s current concept; Nocturne.
The Beaufort Bar’s menu takes up a playful journey across centuries and through flavours. Seeking to transport their glitterati guests on a twilight cocktail quest, discerning cocktail connoisseurs have the pleasure of savouring an indulgent vintage aperitif designed to reflect the scents and flavours found in Champagne. Meanwhile, the DJ sets a sizzling tone with their hypnotic tunes as the sun-kissed days transmute into those twilight hours, for an exhilarating dusky ambience right until 1am.
The show-stopping serve rested with the Golden Apple Champagne. Devilishly decadent as it is brazenly ravishing, a twinkling sugar cube cocooned in a shield of 24K gold magically appeared over a smoke infused mini cast iron cauldron, creating a spectacle of potion wizardry. Closely following at the heels, a dashing bar gentleman appeared with a martini glass in hand, holding candied cinnamon tones of toffee apple, enveloped in the refreshing orange wooded hints of Michter’s Rye Whiskey. A luxuriant flair of the intense crème brûlée aromas weaved with a caramelised orange palate from the Courvoisier XO cognac, all topped with the peach-toned sparkle finish of Laurent Perrier Champagne.
Not standing to be outshone by its liquor sibling, the earthy concoction of the Aura embraced the deep woody tastes of mushroom and walnuts, with the exquisite honeyed buttercream from Johnny Walker Blue. A splash of Johnny Walker Black aided in harmonising the robust sweetening union of the creation with its own herbal fruit tones. The third and final cocktail, Good Fortune, showcased a daintiness of champagne with a botanical reflection of jasmine and elderflower, laced into a fruity union from the white peach and zesty mandarin gin.
Eerily in parallel for my fondness for a flute of pure clean sparkles, it was nothing short of unthinkable to succumb to the gallant charm and jovial insistence of the bar maestros, as they emerged with my favoured flaxen tinted, Laurent-Perrier Blanc de Blanc Brut Nature, perfumed with a apple and white fruit tang, before escorting me to satiate my cravings within one of the Savoy’s bountiful opulent eateries.
In a nutshell
The Savoy and its silk-stocking tipple dens have spent many a golden centuries playing master of ceremonies to an enviable, little black book assemblage of the most glorious royal dynasties, powerful grandees, and distinguished personalities across the sphere, from the Edward Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, to our Tiffany loving film and fashion icon Audrey Hepburn.
Far more than just a mere few cocktails, the Beaufort Bar’s saporous aperitif medleys showcase a theatrical voyage of artistic concoctions, stirred or shaken to mastered finesse as one immerses in a rejuvenating odyssey, enlightening the senses while succumbing to the sophistication of this resplendent tavern’s refreshment offerings.
Factbox
Address: The Savoy, The Strand, London, WC2R 0EZ
Phone: 0207 420 2127
Website: thesavoylondon.com/restaurant/beaufort-bar/
All imagery credit: The Savoy
