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?
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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