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The Savoy appoints new head bartender
Following the departure of Erik Lorincz, the prestigious American Bar at The Savoy in London has appointed Maxim Schulte as its new head bartender.
Maxim Schulte is only the 11th head bartender in The Savoy’s 125-year history
German born Schulte started his mixology career in Hamburg before heading to China to work for the JW Marriot Hotel in Hong Kong.
The 29-year-old headed up bartending teams in Bangkok and Saudi Arabia before being appointed head bartender at The Ritz Carlton in Macau.
Schulte shot to fame earlier this year when he was crowned champion of the Beefeater MIXLDN cocktail competition for his Stack of Fortune cocktail.
Representing Hong Kong and Macau, Schulte’s colourful cocktail blended Beefeater 24, fresh lime, white Crème de Cacao, homemade bitter orange blossom sherbet, orange bitters and fresh mint.
London’s oldest surviving cocktail bar, the American Bar at The Savoy has only employed ten head bartenders in its 125-year history, from Ada “Coley” Coleman in 1903 to Harry Craddock in the 1920s, who wrote the famous Savoy Cocktail Book.
Recent veterans at The American Bar include Joe Gilmore, Peter Dorelli and its most recent resident shaker, the impossible smooth Erik Lorincz.
Schulte will serve his first cocktails at the bar on 20 August, becoming only the 11th head bartender in The Savoy’s history.
As fate would have it, Schulte’s first job application after university was to The Savoy where Lorincz made him his first Julep.
“I am thrilled to welcome Maxim Schulte into both the American Bar and the Savoy family.
“I look forward to seeing his creativity in action and most importantly enjoying time with our guests and inspiring our teams,” said bar manager Declan McGurk
“Becoming the head bartender of the American Bar fills me with pride and honour. The bar has so much history and has contributed to most bar movements around the world,” Schulte said.
“The position comes with a high status in the bar world, but what most thrills me is to be part of such an excellent team and one that has achieved so much over the years,” he added.