Last night I finally got to sample the famous Dukes martini. Well martinis I should say – you really need to get stuck in to fully appreciate what they have on offer there.

For those of you that don’t know, Dukes is a smart hotel in St James’s with a bar renowned for its martinis, particularly because Ian Fleming frequented the place and it is supposedly where he created the classic line, ‘shaken not stirred’. Spoonfed has been kindly invited to a martini tasting there and I am more than happy to take up the offer in the line of investigative journalism.

We find the hotel just off St James’s Place in a secluded courtyard and get settled in the bar, which is pretty cosy as far as upmarket hotels go. Looking at our drinks menus is a waste of time as bar manager Alessandro Palazzi (who looks like he’s been making martinis for longer than I’ve had hot dinners), already seems to know what we’ll be having. “I think you should have the passion fruit” he tells me before returning with a vivid orange number which I polish off in minutes. Sweet, fruity and fresh, it’s so delicious it barely touches the sides. The next one I try, the ‘dirty martini’  is made of sterner stuff. This is the real McCoy: undiluted, pure alcohol except for small modicum of salty olive brine to take the edge off.

Alessandro prepares classic martinis like this one  by our table, out of a special trolley no less. Vermouth is sprayed from a crystal atomiser into a chilled glass while the rim is wiped with a freshly cut lemon peel before he adds the frozen vodka (you can go for gin of course too). It hits you hard but not so hard you make a face. It is so well made that despite it being essentially neat vodka, is has a smooth and dry taste with subtle flavours of lemon (or olive in my case) that cut through the liquor.

Apparently after two martinis like this one at Dukes, if you try and order another you will be politely told it should be your last. And, judging by the slight wobble I had on the way home, this is no bad thing.

We enquire afterwards about the martini masterclass Alessandro offers: “Well, when are you coming?” he asks, “Because I get very booked up and I’m thinking of taking a break from them for a while.” You heard it here first peeps – if you want to learn how to make a martini from the best in London, get in there quick!

The Martini Master Class is £85 per person and includes (subject to availability & maximum of 6 people per class): 1.5 hours exclusive guidance, martini and canapés at end of class and a voucher for a complimentary martini at a later date.

Master Class Dates:
Saturday 27th February 2010
Saturday 27th March 2010
Classes held between 2-4pm.