The world’s first standalone Grey Goose bar, Le Martini, has finally opened its doors at Crown Melbourne, and the opening cocktail menu features three exclusive Martini recipes from King Cocktail himself, Dale DeGroff.
Dale is the first in a series of internationally renowned bartenders who will curate bespoke cocktail menu for Le Martini, which will be served alongside the bar’s signature cocktails.
To kick off proceedings at the bar, Dale’s three cocktails are: Harry’s Original, a zesty twist on a classic inspired by the 1888 Harry Johnson martini – the first-ever, five-ingredient, martini recipe to be featured in print; the Grey Goose Millenium Dry featuring a crisp profile that pays tribute to the new millennium; and finally, the opulent Grey Goose Martinié Speciale, celebrating all things French with equal measures of blanc vermouth and Sauternes served with a juicy Sicilian olive.
Sharing his excitement of becoming the first to curate Le Martini’s guest bartender menu, Dale said: “We’re living in the most extraordinary time when it comes to cocktails and so I’m delighted to create the opening menu at Le Martini, a bar that is dedicated to this iconic drink.
“I wanted to show the evolution of the martini — from what was served in 1888 to the 19th and 20th centuries and paying tribute to the new millennium and so we’ve made that happen, all using the exquisite Grey Goose vodka, which has been my go-to vodka since I participated in the world release in New York City in 1997.”
Le Martini aims to offer a sensory journey and a memorable and immersive experience from arrival to departure, and the intimate 34-person space immerses guests “into the euphoria of the Martini’s craft”.
Head of Marketing at Bacardí-Martini Australia & New Zealand, Sander Janmaat said: “We are delighted to open the doors to Le Martini, the world’s first grey Goose bar, here in Australia, with such an exemplar of luxury, Crown Melbourne.
“Le Martini has been designed as a retreat where guests can celebrate, reminisce and create memorable experiences, sipping on the very best expertly crafted Grey Goose Martinis while immersed in luxury; we can’t wait for you to join us.”
Crown Melbourne Executive General Manager, Food and Beverage, and Retail, Enda Cunningham added: ”We are thrilled to welcome our guests to Le Martini to experience Crown Melbourne’s world-class hospitality.
“Le Martini is a fantastic addition to Crown Melbourne’s notable bar offering, providing our guests with an intimate venue, perfect for a pre- or post-dinner cocktail. We look forward to our guests embracing Le Martini and celebrating one of the world’s most popular cocktails, the Martini.”
While in Australia to curate his menu for Le Martini, Dale took time to speak with Bars and Clubs on a number of topics including what it takes to become a great bartender, and how he was involved in the journey to twists on classic cocktails.
Le Martini is open now, Thursday to Sunday from 5pm until late, Le Martini is located on Ground Floor, Crown Melbourne, Southbank, VIC, 3006, Australia.
