ThisJuly, the Savoy Hotel&#;s American Bar in London earned a slew of coveted cocktail awards at the Tales of the Cocktail conference in New Orleans: Best International Bar Team, Best International Bar, andWorld&#;s Best Bar, an award they won last year as well, not to mention in and
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A bartender shakes it up at the Savoy bar in London. Source: CNN Travel
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For those already familiar with the history of cocktails, such accolades will come as no surprise. Since it opened its doors in , the Savoy American Bar has been churning out classic cocktails, thanks in no small part to its talented staff, many of whom have gone down in history as some of the best and most creative bartenders in the world&#;chief among them, of course, being Harry Craddock, one of the most important bartenders of the 20th century.
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The legendary Harry Craddock pours a cocktail at the Savoy&#;s American Bar. Photo Source: Alchetron
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Born in Gloucestershire, Craddock immigrated to America in , where he became a U.S. citizen while honing his bartending skills at places like New York&#;s Knickerbocker Hotel. When Prohibition hit, Harry fled for England&#;but not b
Drink in History: The Hanky Panky
What do witchcraft, a woman barkeep, and the Prince of Wales all have in common?
You guessed it: our featured cocktail, the Hanky Panky, made of gin, sweet vermouth, Fernet-Branca, and an orange twist served up in a Martini glass or coup. Born at The Savoy Hotel’s American Bar in London, the Hanky Panky was created by Ada Coleman.
Yes, you read that right. A female bartender concocted the Hanky Panky. Coleman, aka “Coley,” as her celebrity clients called her, worked her way up as head bartender in Working there for more than two decades, she was the first and last female head bartender at American Bar, Britain&#;s oldest surviving cocktail bar that dates back to
Known for delighting even the most discriminating clientele like Mark Twain, Marlene Dietrich, the Prince of Wales, and Charlie Chaplin, Coleman was inspired to create the tipple for comic actor Charles Hawtrey when he came into the bar after a long day and asked for a drink ‘with punch.’
“[He] was one of the best judges of cocktails that I knew,” Ada Coleman is quoted as saying in the edition of The People newspaper. “It was for him that I spent hours experimenting until I had i
Ada "Coley" Coleman, Head Bartender, American Bar @ The Savoy | Who's Who in Beverage
Ada “Coley” Coleman is an English bartender.
She is one of history's most influential female bartenders, and is best known for serving as head bartender at London’s American Bar at the Savoy Hotel from , and has been dubbed “England’s most famous barmaid.”
Coleman was born in , and found her way to the Savoy Hotel after her father’s untimely death in
In need of income, Coleman accepted a post in the hotel’s flower shop before being transitioned to service in the hotel’s American Bar, where she was promoted to head bartender in
Coleman’s warm personality, passion for customer service, and groundbreaking mixology skills earned the bar an elite clientele—Coleman counted among her customers Charlie Chaplin, Mark Twain, and the Prince of Wales.
It was for one of her regulars, comedy actor Charles Hawtrey, that Coleman created the drink that would become her signature—the Hanky Panky.
The iconic drink, comprised of gin, vermouth, and Fernet Branca, is still served at the Savoy today, and was recognized by Drinks International in as one of the world’s 50 best-selling cocktails.
Ada Coleman
Ada Coleman: A Trailblazer Behind the Bar
Ada “Coley” Coleman’s name is etched in the annals of bartending history as one of the first female bartenders to achieve international recognition. Her tenure at the Savoy Hotel’s American Bar in London not only broke gender barriers but also set new standards for cocktail craftsmanship. For those of us in the bartending industry, Coleman’s legacy is a testament to skill and innovation, irrespective of gender.
Early Life and Career
Ada Coleman began her illustrious career at the Savoy Hotel in , quickly rising through the ranks to become the head bartender. At a time when the profession was predominantly male-dominated, Coleman’s presence at the bar was both pioneering and inspirational. Her charisma and mixology skills made her a favorite among the bar’s prestigious clientele.
Innovations and Contributions
Coleman is best remembered for her invention of the Hanky Panky cocktail, a delightful mix of gin, sweet vermouth and Fernet-Branca. This cocktail was not only a testament to her inventiveness but also became a signature drink at the Savoy’s American Bar. Her ability to blend flavors seamlessly and her meticulous attention to
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