Salvatore Calabrese

Salvatore Calabrese is one of the world’s most respected bartenders. His career spans more than 40 years in the hospitality business, beginning in Maiori on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. In 1980 he moved to London and the bar at Duke’s Hotel. While at the Duke’s he developed a reputation for his Martini Cocktail and a niche market for extra- special cognacs. This was the start of a concept he calls Liquid History, a marketing concept that gained him respect with his peers and grew to a recognition as an expert worldwide. 1994 he moved to The Library Bar at the prestigious Lanesborough Hotel and was a leader in the cocktail revival of the 1990s publishing his first book Classic Cocktails in 1997. In 2004 opened his own bar ‘Salvatore at FIFTY’ and then in 2010 ‘Salvatore at Playboy’, both in London’s Mayfair. He opened Mixology101 in Los Angeles in 2013 followed by ‘Bound by Salvatore’ in 2014 at The Cromwell Hotel in Las Vegas which` has since won ‘Best Cocktail Menu’ in the USA. In April 2015 he launched his first venture in Asia, ‘Salvatore at Maison Eight’ Hong Kong. Salvatore now offers his services as a consultant and can be found at The Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel in London’s Mayfair, Igiea Terrazzo Bar at Villa Igiea Hotel in Palermo Italy, and his latest collaboration at Velvet in London’s Corinthia Hotel. Salvatore Calabrese is a Past President of the United Kingdom Bartenders’ Guild. Today, Calabrese is active within the Industry Internationally, encouraging bartenders to become more professional through training programs, while also judging national and international bartenders’ competitions. He has received an impressive array of awards both here and around the world, including ‘Industry legend’, ‘Professional Excellence Award’ and both ‘Outstanding Achievement’ and ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Awards as well as many awards for the various bars under his command. SALVATORE CALABRESE A Biography continued –– > Salvatore - Biography.pdf p.02 He was recognized by his countrymen with ‘Salernitani Illustri nel Mondo’ in praise of his achievements and promotion of his country around the world and lately the recognition of his craft with the Maestro d’Arte e Mestiere. His proudest achievement to date was receiving a knighthood from the Italian Republic in November 2023 for his service to the industry and representing his country around the world. In October 2012 he broke the Guinness World Record for the World’s Most Expensive Cocktail with ‘Salvatore’s Legacy’ valued at £5500. In April 2015 at ‘Bound by Salvatore’, Cromwell Hotel Las Vegas, he made the World’s Oldest Martini In June 2015 he made the World’s Oldest Negroni a the Camparino Bar Milan, to celebrate their centenary. 2015 -2019 Salvatore inspired and initiated the exciting and very successful annual ‘Maestro Challenge Cocktail Competition’ in his hometown of Maiori, promoting the hospitality of the Amalfi Coast and encouraging young bartenders across all Italy: https://themaestrochallenge.it