As one of the world’s leading bartenders, Salvatore Calabrese is an award-winning global powerhouse – a consultant for select brands, a sought-after judge for worldwide competitions, and former President of the United Kingdom Bartenders’ Guild. His best-selling books and barware products exemplify the quality, talent and experience he brings to the industry.

Salvatore began developing his passion for combining flavours at an early age, during his time working in a bar in Maiori village on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. He moved to London and found himself at Duke’s Hotel, where he developed a niche market for rare and aged cognacs, beginning a concept he dubbed Liquid History.

Inspired by the great classic cocktails, Salvatore’s skills as a mixologist soon prompted the name by which he is affectionately known today – The Maestro. As befitting such a title, his experiments with new liqueurs, old and new spirits, and fresh juices have resulted in exotic cocktails that have become modern classics in their own right.

Known for his flair, style and presence, Salvatore is also responsible for the world’s most expensive cocktail, mixed at The Playboy Club in Mayfair and worth £5,500 per glass. Salvatore’s Legacy is also the world’s oldest cocktail, containing rare liqueurs with a combined age of 730 years. The legacy, like the man himself, is something a bit special.

Salvatore Calabrese, The Maestro, has been making drinks for more than 40 years. From humble beginnings on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, where he made his first cocktail aged just 12, to a succession of top hotel bars, private members clubs and exclusive cocktail bars around the world. As one of the world’s most well known and respected bartenders, Salvatore has made drinks for the rich and famous, from presidents to royalty and is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the modern drinks industry.

A best-selling author, his cocktail books have sold in the millions and make him the 21st century heir to the first bartender ever to have published a cocktail recipe book – Jerry ‘The Professor’ Thomas – back in 1862.

At 21 he became the youngest Maitre d’ on the Amalfi Coast, where he had 27 people working under him. Salvatore moved to England in 1980 and joined Dukes Hotel, where he came up with the concept of Liquid History and created the recipe for the ultimate Dry Martini, he then moved to the Lanesborough Hotel, before running his own bar at the Fifty St James club, and then Salvatore’s at Playboy in London. The Maestro has created drinks now famous all over the globe – including his renowned Breakfast Martini. Salvatore now concentrates on his consultancy business. His clients include Rocco Forte Hotels and he can be found at The Donovan Bar, Brown’s Hotel, London, as well as Velvet at The Corinthia, London.

Salvatore is a Past President of the United Kingdom Bartenders’ Guild and  is  busy on the global stage as a consultant for select brands, as well as appearing at competitions as a judge.