The No 11 Martini Cocktail kit: “We wanted to take a piece of the Connaught Bar and make it available for you”

“James Bond asked us for a shaken martini but… [sorry, it’s] stirred, not shaken,” the duo laugh. Year after year the Connaught Bar has cemented their reputation as a global institution for lovers of martini cocktails. 2020 was the coronation of their dream when the World’s 50 Best Bars academy voted them as the best bar in the world.

“This is a place where magic is happening since 13 years [ago],” says Agostino Perrone. “We want to be the best for our guests every day,” adds Giorgio Bargiani. The pair are almost like a single entity, they immediately understand each other and more often than not will complete one another’s sentences.

As they unveil their limited-edition, 100-piece No 11 Martini Cocktail kits – conceived with Grey Goose and the Saatchi Gallery, with sales proceeds donated in aid of the museum’s Learning Programme – “Ago and Giorgio” explain  the importance of making the martini on a trolley, in front of each guest, and how the right glass completely changes the experience of what people drink.

Each kit is priced at £100 and includes two glasses hand painted at the museum in Jackson Pollock’s fashion. Those who really want to experience first-hand the Connaught’s art of mixology can buy the £1,000 edition, which guarantees an in-person, one-on-one masterclass at the iconic bar.

Here’s our exclusive interview with the master mixologists and a look at the unique gift pack.

Filippo L’Astorina, the editor
Video: Filippo L’Astorina
Photos: Virginie Viche

To buy a No 11 Martini Cocktail kit visit the Saatchi Gallery or order from their online store here. To book a table at the Connaught Bar, Carlos Place London W1K 2AL, call 020 7314 3419 or enquire on their website here.