Beaufort Bar at the Savoy in the Strand

The fact that the American Bar is the Savoy’s most famous and talked about offering speaks volumes about its exceptional nature, because with a sister like the Beaufort Bar under the same roof, it must be truly prestigious. The Beaufort Bar is one of the city’s most glamorous, captivating drinking spaces, a snapshot of Art Deco elegance that guests can’t help but fall in love with. You don’t just come here for the cocktails, you come for the buzzing atmosphere, the warmth of the staff and the beauty of its pop-up menu, which is a little work of art in itself.

Not that the drinks aren’t delights in and of themselves. The classics are all still there, as are incredible options like the Pan American Highway. A beautifully rich blend of coffee, cacao and rum, it’s the very taste of South America, one of those rare choices that tells a story every bit as evocative as it is delicious. Rhyme and Reason relies less on association and more on pure flavour, its richly indulgent mix of golden raisin liqueur, pecan milk, honey and cinnamon giving a luxurious edge that truly feels like dessert in a glass. Both beverages are perfectly balanced, featuring not only winning flavour profiles but fine tuned to such an incredible extent that they feel almost perfect. It’s rare for a bar to deliver that kind of quality with every drink, but staff at the Beaufort Bar refine theirs through countless evenings of impeccable service.

Crucially though, they’re always innovating, always hungry for some new offerings to extend their menu. To celebrate the 150^th anniversary of their distillery, Jack Daniel’s are adding a second recipe to their Single Barrel collection, a single barrel rye, as they look to expand more into the rye market. With strong notes of dried fruit, lightly toasted oak, caramel and vanilla, it’s looking to be the kind of versatile drink that’s ideal for cocktails. Head barman Kyle Wilkinson has created a pair of new beverages, both available now, that showcase the spirit’s exceptional range.

First up is the Jack Black, a heavy slug of rye whiskey, Punt e Mes, coffee and liquorice. It’s a brooding powerhouse of a drink, all dark caramels and grains, but still surprisingly smooth, thanks to the sweet touch of the vermouth. 150 in the Making is our favourite, though, a much lighter option that serves to highlight the softer side of the rye. Here the fruit notes are perfectly paired with a shot of apricot cordial, to give a rich but refreshing taste that lingers beautifully on the palate.

The Beaufort Bar remains a staple of the capital’s fine-drinking scene, a place where the opulence of the surroundings and theatrics of the menu are only matched by the quality of the drink. The Savoy’s twin bars have gone from strength to strength in recent years, rightly so, with the careful acquisition of luxurious new spirits like this single barrel rye.

★★★★★

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Daniel Masters

To book a table at the Beaufort Bar, The Savoy, Strand, London WC2R 0EU, call 020 7420 2111 or visit here.

150 in the Making

Ingredients:

40ml Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye
15ml Cocchi Americano
15ml Fixed Apricot Cordial
5ml Fino Sherry
2 dashes of Oak infused Angostura bitters

Method:

Shake all with ice and fine strain into a sherry glass; no garnish