Joe Gilmore

Joseph "Joe" Gilmore (19 May 1922 – 18 December 2015) was a renowned bartender and famous mixologist during the 20th century. He was Head Barman at The Savoy Hotel's American Bar from 1954 to 1976 and is recognised as the creator of numerous cocktails to mark special events and important guests, a longstanding tradition at the American Bar. Gilmore's most famous creations include Moonwalk, Link-Up, The Corpse Reviver, Lorraine, and Missouri Mule.

Joseph "Joe" Patrick Gilmore
Born	(1922-05-19)19 May 1922 Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died	18 December 2015(2015-12-18) (aged 93)
Nationality	Irish/British
Occupation(s)	Bartender and mixologist
Known for	Head bartender of the Savoy Hotel American Bar
Spouse	Marie Zambelli
Awards	Lifetime Achievement Award - Mixology Bar Awards

Early life

Joseph Patrick Gilmore was born on 19 May 1922 in Belfast, Northern Ireland to John Gilmore, a tobacconist, and Margaret O'Connor, a teaching assistant, originally from Wicklow, Ireland.

He was the third of nine children.

In 1938, aged 16, Gilmore moved to London looking for work and "adventure". He began working as a wallpaper packer at the Arthur Sanderson & Son's factory in Perivale, London, later moving to a Lyons Corner House as a kitchen hand.

Gilmore began his early bartender training at La Coquille, a French restaurant on St Martin's Lane, Covent Garden and The Olde Bell at Hurley. While working at The Olde Bell he met and served Welsh millionaire steel-baron Kenneth Davies and the aviator Amy Johnston. The couple reportedly asked Gilmore for a dry martini, which he attempted unsuccessfully. Despite his attempt being enjoyed by the couple, Davies and Johnston politely demonstrated the correct way to make a dry martini. Gilmore cited this interaction as the spark that fuelled his passion of cocktail mixology. After this first encounter, Davies and Gilmore became life long friends.

Career

Gilmore first began working at The Savoy as a commis waiter at The American Bar. By 1940, aged 18, he was promoted to trainee barman and began his apprenticeship with Harry Craddock, earning £3.10s a week.

In 1954, Gilmore took over as head bartender at The Savoy's, American Bar. Over the following two decades Gilmore created new cocktails, especially to honour special occasions and important guests, including Princess Diana, Prince William, Anne, The Princess Royal, The Queen Mother, Sir Winston Churchill, and American Presidents Harry S. Truman and Richard Nixon.

For much of the 20th century, The Savoy's American Bar was an exclusive meeting place for the rich and powerful of Britain and the world. In addition to serving five generations of royals at private receptions and parties, Gilmore frequently served Winston Churchill, Errol Flynn, Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Grace Kelly, George Bernard Shaw, Ernest Hemingway, Noël Coward, Agatha Christie, Alice Faye, Ingrid Bergman, Julie Andrews, Laurence Olivier, Joan Crawford, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.

During World War II, Winston Churchill frequented the American Bar regularly. He had his own entrance and kept his own large bottle of Black & White whisky behind the bar. When Gilmore created a cocktail in his honour, Churchill gave him one of his cigars.

Gilmore was a goodwill ambassador for The Savoy at the time, which lead him on numerous trips throughout Europe, the United States and Canada, and regularly appeared on radio and TV chat shows.

In 1969, he created one of his most famous cocktails, the "Moonwalk", to commemorate the Apollo 11 Moon landing. The cocktail is a combination of grapefruit juice, orange liqueur and rose water, topped with champagne. This was the first drink astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin had upon returning to Earth.

In 1975 he created the "Link-Up" to celebrate the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project, the first crewed international space mission carried out jointly by the United States and the Soviet Union. The cocktail is a shaken combination of Southern Comfort, Russian vodka, and a teaspoon of lime juice. When the astronauts were told the cocktail was being flown out from London to be enjoyed upon their return, they said, "Tell Joe we want it up here".

When the breathalyser was introduced in Britain, Gilmore was interviewed on NBC in New York. He was asked if the new technology had affected business, in which he responded “Not here, all our customers are chauffeur-driven”.

Frank Sinatra was a frequent guest to the American Bar whenever he was in London and insisted only Gilmore was to serve him. It is widely believed the line from Sinatra’s One For My Baby "set’em up Joe" is in reference to Gilmore.

Gilmore retired from the Savoy in 1976.

Cocktails created

The Blenheim

The Blenheim

Cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Base spirit	Brandy
Served	Straight up: chilled, without ice
Standard drinkware	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients	3 parts Brandy 2 parts Yellow Chartreuse 1 part Lillet 1 part Orange Juice 1 part Dubonnet
Preparation	Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

Created for Sir Winston Churchill’s ninetieth birthday. It is also known as the Four Score and Ten.

Churchill

Churchill

Cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Base spirit	Scotch whisky
Served	Straight up: chilled, without ice
Standard drinkware	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients	3 parts Scotch whisky 1 part Lime Juice 1 part Sweet Vermouth 1 part Cointreau
Preparation	Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

Created for Sir Winston Churchill on one of his many visits to The Savoy.

Common market

Common market

Cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Served	Straight up: chilled, without ice
Standard drinkware	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients	1 part Elixir d’Anu (Belgium) 1 part Cherry Brandy (Denmark) 1 part Noilly Prat (France) 1 part Schlichte (West Germany) 1 part Sloe gin (Britain) 1 part Orange Curacao (Netherlands) 1 part Dry White Wine (Luxembourg) 1 part Coffee Liqueur (Ireland) 1 part Carpano (Italy)
Preparation	Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

Created to mark Britain’s entry into the European Economic Community in 1973, using drinks from all the member states.

Four score (1955)

Four score

Cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Base spirit	Brandy
Served	Straight up: chilled, without ice
Standard garnish	Lemon
Standard drinkware	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients	Three parts Brandy Two parts Lillet One part Yellow Chartreuse
Preparation	Stir together with ice, strain into glass, garnish with a twisted lemon rind
Notes	This cocktail is very similar to The Blenheim

Created for Sir Winston Churchill’s eightieth birthday.

Golden doublet

Golden doublet

Cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Served	Straight up: chilled, without ice
Standard drinkware	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients	3 parts Orange juice 1 part Lime Juice 1 part Grand Marnier
Preparation	Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into champagne cocktail glass, and fill with champagne.

Created in 1973 to commemorate the wedding of Princess Anne to Captain Mark Phillips. Doublet was the name of the Princess’s horse on which she participated in the European Championships in 1973.

Kensington Court special

Kensington Court special

Cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Base spirit	Vodka
Served	Straight up: chilled, without ice
Standard drinkware	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients	1 part Passion Fruit Juice 1 part Lime Juice 1 part Apricot Brandy 3 parts Vodka
Preparation	Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

Created for Sir David Davies.

Link up

Link up

Cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Base spirit	Vodka
Served	On the rocks: poured over ice
Standard drinkware	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients	1 part Southern Comfort 1 part Russian Vodka Teaspoon of fresh Lime Juice
Preparation	Shake well, serve on the rocks.

Created in 1975 to mark the American and Russians link up in Space, the Apollo–Soyuz project. The link up cocktail was sent to the U.S. and U.S.S.R. for the astronauts to enjoy when they returned from their mission. When told this by NASA as they linked up in Space, they responded, "Tell Joe we want it up here."

Lorraine

Lorraine

Cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Base spirit	Gin
Served	On the rocks: poured over ice
Standard drinkware	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients	2 parts Gin 1 part Lillet 1 part Grand Marnier
Preparation	Stir with ice, strain into glass, and serve.

Created to mark President Charles de Gaulle’s State visit to Britain after the Second World War.

Missouri mule

Missouri mule

Cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Base spirit	Bourbon whiskey Campari
Served	Straight up: chilled, without ice
Standard drinkware	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients	2 parts Bourbon whiskey 2 parts Applejack 2 parts Lemon Juice 1 part Campari 1 part Cointreau
Preparation	Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

The Missouri mule cocktail was created for President Harry S Truman. The cocktail commemorates Truman's home state of Missouri and the donkey mascot of the Democratic Party (a mule is a hybrid of a donkey and a horse).

Moonwalk

Moonwalk

Cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Served	Straight up: chilled, without ice
Standard drinkware	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients	1 part fresh grapefruit juice 1 part Grand Marnier 2 dashes Rosewater
Preparation	Shake well, strain into wine glass and top up with champagne.

Created in 1969 to mark the first human Moon landing. The cocktail was the first drink the American astronauts had when they returned to Earth. A letter of thanks was later sent from Neil Armstrong to Joe Gilmore.

My Fair Lady

My Fair Lady

Cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Base spirit	Gin
Served	Straight up: chilled, without ice
Standard drinkware	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients	1 part Gin 1 part Lemon Juice 1 part Orange juice 1 part Sirop de Fraise/Strawberry Syrup 1 dash of egg white
Preparation	Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

Created to mark Julie Andrews’ first night in the musical My Fair Lady.

Nixon

Nixon

Cocktail
Type	Mixed drink
Base spirit	Bourbon whiskey
Served	On the rocks: poured over ice
Standard garnish	a slice of fresh peach and a cherry
Standard drinkware	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients	1 part Bourbon whiskey 1 part Sloe Gin 2 dashes of peach bitters
Preparation	Stir and serve on the rocks, garnish.

Created in 1969 to mark American President Richard Nixon's visit to Britain. The cocktail was mixed at the American bar and then sent over to Claridge's where Nixon was staying.

Powerscourt

Powerscourt

Cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Base spirit	Brandy
Served	Straight up: chilled, without ice
Standard drinkware	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients	1 parts Brandy 1 parts Lime juice 2 part Orange Juice 2 part Creme de Peche Liqueur
Preparation	Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

Created for Sarah, Duchess of York’s

The Ed Shelly

The Ed Shelly

Cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Base spirit	Whiskey
Served	Straight up: chilled, without ice
Standard drinkware	Snifter
Commonly used ingredients	1 parts Canadian whisky 1 parts Apple Schnapps (Pucker)
Preparation	Shake ingredients together. Serve straight or with one ice cube

Created for Edward Shelly at his request.

Royal arrival

Royal arrival

Cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Base spirit	Gin
Served	Straight up: chilled, without ice
Standard drinkware	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients	4 parts Gin 1 parts Lemon Juice 1 part Crème de Noyaux 1 part Kümmel Dash egg white Dash vegetable extract
Preparation	Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

Created in 1960 to mark the birth of Prince Andrew.

Savoy affair

Savoy affair

Cocktail
Type	Mixed drink
Base spirit	Brandy
Served	Straight up: chilled, without ice
Standard garnish	a strawberry
Standard drinkware	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients	1 part Lime Juice 1 part Fraise de Bois liqueur 1 part Passion Fruit Juice 1 part Peach Brandy
Preparation	Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass, and fill with champagne and garnish.

Created by Joe Gilmore at the Atlantic Hotel, Hamburg, Germany.

Savoy royale

Savoy royale

Cocktail
Type	Mixed drink
Served	Straight up: chilled, without ice
Standard drinkware	Champagne flute
Commonly used ingredients	1/2 peach 2 strawberries Teaspoon of sugar
Preparation	Liquidise, strain into a champagne glass and fill with champagne.

Created for The Queen Mother on one of her private visits to The Savoy.

Savoy corpse reviver

Savoy corpse reviver

Cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Base spirit	Brandy
Served	Straight up: chilled, without ice
Commonly used ingredients	1 part Brandy 1 part Fernet Branca 1 part White Crème de menthe
Preparation	Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a glass.

The Corpse Revivers are a series of hangover cures invented during prohibition. This recipe is a variation invented by Gilmore in 1954.

Wolfram

Wolfram

Cocktail
Type	Cocktail
Base spirit	Gin
Served	Straight up: chilled, without ice
Standard drinkware	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients	2 parts Gin 2 parts Wolfschmidt Kummel 2 parts Dry Vermouth 1 part Lemon Juice
Preparation	Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

Created in 1990 to commemorate the election of John Wolff Director of Rudolf Wolff as Chairman of the London Metal Exchange. "Wolfram" is another name for the element tungsten.

Personal life

Gilmore married Marie Jeanne Zambelli in 1943. They had three sons.

During The Blitz, Gilmore took on the role as a fire warden on the roof of The Savoy.

Gilmore never returned to Ireland, but "... never forgot his Irish roots or family background and never lost his soft Belfast accent." He remained a Roman Catholic throughout his life, and died on 18 December 2015, aged 93.

See also

• List of cocktails

Further reading

• "Joe Gilmore: Head barman of the Savoy Hotel's American Bar". The Independent. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
• "Cocktail king Joe Gilmore, Belfast's barman to the stars". The Irish News. 16 January 2016. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
• Nicholas Foulkes "Joe Gilmore and his cocktails" (2003)