“The Bartender” of London: Alessandro Palazzi at Dukes Bar

Alessandro Palazzi, the bartender behind Dukes Bar's famous martinis, has been honing his skills in London for over 15 years. With an impressive 46-year career that includes work in Italy, France, and the UK, Palazzi has become one of the world's top bartenders. How did this Italian-born drink maker become internationally renowned, and how does he continue to set the standard in the art of cocktails? Follow Alessandro Palazzi: https://www.instagram.com/alessandro_palazzi/?hl=en Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction: Meeting Alessandro Palazzi 02:00 Swifties Take Over London 03:00 Early Days: Growing Up in Rome 06:20 Discovering a Passion for Bartending 12:20 A New Chapter: Moving to Notting Hill at 17 13:59 Life as a Kitchen Porter 16:02 An Italian's Perspective on English Cuisine 19:58 The First Steps Behind the Bar 22:50 Parisian Adventures: Working at Georges V in the '80s 30:30 Back to London: Career Progression in the '80s 36:00 A Brief Return to Italy: Running a Restaurant & Wine Bar 37:50 The Ritz Years: Bartending in the '90s 47:09 Building the Perfect Bar Team 54:52 Notting Hill: Bartending at a Musicians' Boutique Hotel 1:02:00 The Great Eastern: Opening with Sir Terence Conran 1:08:00 The Rich History of Classic Cocktails 1:15:40 Making Experiences at Dukes Bar 1:18:30 Collaborating with Berry Brothers 1:23:00 The Perfect Martini 1:25:06 Loyalty to Dukes: 17 Years and Counting 1:28:00 What It Takes to be a Renowned Bartender