Giorgio Bargiani - Head Mixologist The Connaught Bar, London
During Giorgio’s time at The Connaught, the bar received these accolades: Best Bar, GQ 2015, Classiest Bar in London , Timeout 2016, International Hotel Bar 2016 , Tales of the Cocktail, World Best Cocktail Bar 2016, Tales of the Cocktails, Mixology Bar Award 2017, Best European Cocktail Bar, Imbibe UK 2016 , Best Classic Menu, Heering Legend of the List 2018, World’s 50 Best Bars - made the list for nine years on the spin, and Best Bar in Europe and #2 in the world at World’s 50 Best Bars 2019. Giorgio’s personal recognitions: 30 Under 30 list 2019 - CODE Hospitality, and #2 Best Italian Bartender Abroad at Bargiornale Awards 2019. These days, you will find Giorgio mostly at the bar, entertaining his guests with his distinctive showmanship and passionate storytelling skills. Determined to make each drinking experience highly memorable, Giorgio never misses a chance to inspire the people around him, be these bar guests, colleagues or attendees to the numerous masterclasses and events he hosts all over the world. Having built an international reputation as a talented mixologist and host, Giorgio has recently reinforced some strong collaborations with great brands such as Martini and continuously travels the world to attend the industry’s top outlets and shows.
Today he covers the prestigious role of Head Mixologist at one of the world’s best bars and with master Ago Perrone has made their signature Martini pour famous globally. However, Giorgio’s passion for hospitality roots back to a very young age, starting as a family affair in his aunt’s restaurant bar in Pisa, Italy, where he first cut his teeth. Giorgio started working as a bartender in local nightclubs while studying for his Communications degree. He was immediately captured by the vibe, atmosphere, creativity as well as the relationship building opportunity offered by the job - the same elements that still drive his captivating enthusiasm today. Fascinated by the calibre of the cocktail offering and service of some of London’s top hotel bars such as The American Bar, The Connaught and The Artesian, Giorgio decided to take on a new challenge and role in a luxury hotel in order to sharpen his knowledge and skill set. It was during his time at the Splendido Hotel in Portofino that he received the life changing call from The Connaught Bar - on 8th August 2014, as he still recalls. During his only day off, Giorgio flew to London and came back with a job offer. The following month, Giorgio started as bar back and with an incredible drive and talent he gradually worked his way up to be promoted Head Mixologist in January 2019. Right arm of mixology titan Ago Perrone, today Giorgio is a key member of The Connaught Bar team as well as an ambassador of world-class cocktail-making and hospitality. In December 2018, The Connaught and Ago designed an eponymous gin to mark the 10th anniversary of the iconic bar, and Giorgio played a key role in the development of this ultra premium, in-house crafted gin, as well as in the ideation of the 2019 cocktail list Vanguard, consolidating even further his affiliation with Ago.
SUMMER 2020
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NUMBER 11 COCKTAIL Giorgio’s Favorite Cocktail
30 ml Grey Goose Vodka 45 ml Connaught Bar Gin 15 ml Martini Ambrato Amalfi lemon oil 5 bitters distillate (Cardamom, Tonka, Ginseng & Bergamot, Lavendar, Corlander Seeds) 10 ml wine distillate Aerate all ingredients. Strain into painted coupe over an ice diamond. BARTENDER® MAGAZINE
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