Joe Gilmore

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".{{cite web |date=January 15, 2016 |title=Joe Gilmore, barman - obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/12102090/Joe-Gilmore-barman-obituary.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 28, 2017 |website=The Telegraph}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2016-01-16 |title=Cocktail king Joe Gilmore, Belfast's barman to the stars |url=http://www.irishnews.com/notices/livesremembered/2016/01/16/news/cocktail-king-joe-gilmore-belfast-s-barman-to-the-stars-382007/ |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=The Irish News |language=en |archive-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210141840/https://www.irishnews.com/notices/livesremembered/2016/01/16/news/cocktail-king-joe-gilmore-belfast-s-barman-to-the-stars-382007/ |url-status=dead }}

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.

Gilmore first began working at The Savoy as a commis waiter at The American Bar.{{Cite web |title=Joe Gilmore |url=https://www.diffordsguide.com/encyclopedia/2886/people/joe-gilmore |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=www.diffordsguide.com |language=en}} By 1940, aged 18, he was promoted to trainee barman and began his apprenticeship with Harry Craddock, earning £3.10s a week.{{Cite web |date=2016-01-16 |title=Cocktail king Joe Gilmore, Belfast's barman to the stars |url=http://www.irishnews.com/notices/livesremembered/2016/01/16/news/cocktail-king-joe-gilmore-belfast-s-barman-to-the-stars-382007/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=The Irish News |language=en |archive-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210141840/https://www.irishnews.com/notices/livesremembered/2016/01/16/news/cocktail-king-joe-gilmore-belfast-s-barman-to-the-stars-382007/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news |title=Bartender to royals, politicians, world leaders and celebrities |language=en-GB |work=Belfast News Letter |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/bartender-royals-politicians-world-leaders-and-celebrities-1276443 |access-date=2023-02-10}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2016-01-16 |title=Cocktail king Joe Gilmore, Belfast's barman to the stars |url=http://www.irishnews.com/notices/livesremembered/2016/01/16/news/cocktail-king-joe-gilmore-belfast-s-barman-to-the-stars-382007/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=The Irish News |language=en |archive-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210141840/https://www.irishnews.com/notices/livesremembered/2016/01/16/news/cocktail-king-joe-gilmore-belfast-s-barman-to-the-stars-382007/ |url-status=dead }}

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.{{Cite web |date=2016-01-16 |title=Cocktail king Joe Gilmore, Belfast's barman to the stars |url=http://www.irishnews.com/notices/livesremembered/2016/01/16/news/cocktail-king-joe-gilmore-belfast-s-barman-to-the-stars-382007/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=The Irish News |language=en |archive-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210141840/https://www.irishnews.com/notices/livesremembered/2016/01/16/news/cocktail-king-joe-gilmore-belfast-s-barman-to-the-stars-382007/ |url-status=dead }}

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.{{Cite web |date=2019-03-18 |title=Moonwalk |url=https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Moonwalk-Cocktail/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Saveur |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Link Up {{!}} Local Cocktail From London |url=https://www.tasteatlas.com/link-up |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=www.tasteatlas.com}} 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".{{Cite web |date=2016-01-16 |title=Cocktail king Joe Gilmore, Belfast's barman to the stars |url=http://www.irishnews.com/notices/livesremembered/2016/01/16/news/cocktail-king-joe-gilmore-belfast-s-barman-to-the-stars-382007/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=The Irish News |language=en |archive-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210141840/https://www.irishnews.com/notices/livesremembered/2016/01/16/news/cocktail-king-joe-gilmore-belfast-s-barman-to-the-stars-382007/ |url-status=dead }}

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.{{Cite web |title=A final toast to Ireland's cocktail king |url=https://www.irishecho.com/2016/1/a-final-toast-to-irelands-cocktail-king |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Irish Echo Newspaper |language=en}}

Gilmore retired from the Savoy in 1976.

{{More citations needed|section|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| iba =

| name = The Blenheim

| image =

| caption =

| type = cocktail

| flaming =

| brandy = yes

| served = straight

| garnish =

| drinkware = cocktail

| ingredients = * 3 parts Brandy

• 2 parts Yellow Chartreuse
• 1 part Lillet
• 1 part Orange Juice
• 1 part Dubonnet

| prep = Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

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

{{clear|right}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| name = Churchill

| image =

| caption =

| type = cocktail

| flaming =

| scotch = yes

| served = straight

| garnish =

| drinkware = cocktail

| ingredients = *3 parts Scotch whisky

• 1 part Lime Juice
• 1 part Sweet Vermouth
• 1 part Cointreau

| prep = Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

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

{{clear|right}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| name = Common market

| image =

| caption =

| type = cocktail

| flaming =

| served = straight

| garnish =

| drinkware = cocktail

| 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)

| prep = Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

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

{{clear|right}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| name = Four score

| image =

| caption =

| type = cocktail

| flaming =

| brandy = yes

| served = straight

| garnish = Lemon

| drinkware = cocktail

| ingredients = * Three parts Brandy

• Two parts Lillet
• One part Yellow Chartreuse

| prep = Stir together with ice, strain into glass, garnish with a twisted lemon rind

| notes = This cocktail is very similar to The Blenheim

| footnotes =

}}

Created for Sir Winston Churchill’s eightieth birthday.

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{{Infobox cocktail

| name = Golden doublet

| image =

| caption =

| type = cocktail

| flaming =

| served = straight

| garnish =

| drinkware = cocktail

| ingredients = * 3 parts Orange juice

• 1 part Lime Juice
• 1 part Grand Marnier

| prep = Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into champagne cocktail glass, and fill with champagne.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

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.

{{clear|right}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| name = Kensington Court special

| image =

| caption =

| type = cocktail

| flaming =

| vodka = yes

| served = straight

| garnish =

| drinkware = cocktail

| ingredients = *1 part Passion Fruit Juice

• 1 part Lime Juice
• 1 part Apricot Brandy
• 3 parts Vodka

| prep = Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

Created for Sir David Davies.

{{clear|right}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| name = Link up

| image =

| caption =

| type = cocktail

| flaming =

| whiskey =

| vodka = yes

| served = rocks

| garnish =

| drinkware = cocktail

| ingredients = *1 part Southern Comfort

• 1 part Russian Vodka
• Teaspoon of fresh Lime Juice

| prep = Shake well, serve on the rocks.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

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."

{{clear|right}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| iba =

| name = Lorraine

| image =

| caption =

| type = cocktail

| flaming =

| gin = yes

| served = rocks

| garnish =

| drinkware = cocktail

| ingredients = *2 parts Gin

• 1 part Lillet
• 1 part Grand Marnier

| prep = Stir with ice, strain into glass, and serve.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

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

{{clear|right}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| name = Missouri mule

| image =

| caption =

| type = cocktail

| flaming =

| bourbon = yes

| campari = yes

| served = straight

| garnish =

| drinkware = cocktail

| ingredients = *2 parts Bourbon whiskey

• 2 parts Applejack
• 2 parts Lemon Juice
• 1 part Campari
• 1 part Cointreau

| prep = Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

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).

{{clear|right}}

===Moonwalk===

{{Infobox cocktail

| name = Moonwalk

| image =

| caption =

| type = cocktail

| served = straight

| garnish =

| drinkware = cocktail

| ingredients = *1 part fresh grapefruit juice

• 1 part Grand Marnier
• 2 dashes Rosewater

| prep = Shake well, strain into wine glass and top up with champagne.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

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.{{cite book|title=The Savoy Cocktail Book|author=Harry Craddock|publisher=Pavilion Books|year=1999}}. This is in the preface to the 1999 edition. A letter of thanks was later sent from Neil Armstrong to Joe Gilmore. {{citation needed |date=December 2022}}

{{clear|right}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| name = My Fair Lady

| image =

| caption =

| type = cocktail

| flaming =

| gin = yes

| served = straight

| garnish =

| drinkware = cocktail

| ingredients = *1 part Gin

• 1 part Lemon Juice
• 1 part Orange juice
• 1 part Sirop de Fraise/Strawberry Syrup
• 1 dash of egg white

| prep = Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

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

{{clear|right}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| name = Nixon

| type = lowball

| bourbon = yes

| served = rocks

| garnish = a slice of fresh peach and a cherry

| drinkware = cocktail

| ingredients = * 1 part Bourbon whiskey

• 1 part Sloe Gin
• 2 dashes of peach bitters

| prep = Stir and serve on the rocks, garnish.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

Created in 1969 to mark American President Richard Nixon's visit to Britain.{{cite book | last1=Schmid | first1=A.W.A. | last2=Fearing | first2=D. | title=The Kentucky Bourbon Cookbook | publisher=University Press of Kentucky | year=2010 | isbn=978-0-8131-3956-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ACt3EvVsYA4C&pg=PA8 | access-date=January 28, 2017 | page=8}} The cocktail was mixed at the American bar and then sent over to Claridge's where Nixon was staying.

{{clear|right}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| iba =

| name = Powerscourt

| image =

| caption =

| type = cocktail

| flaming =

| brandy = yes

| served = straight

| garnish =

| drinkware = cocktail

| ingredients = * 1 parts Brandy

• 1 parts Lime juice
• 2 part Orange Juice
• 2 part Creme de Peche Liqueur

| prep = Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

Created for Sarah, Duchess of York’s{{Clarify|reason=Incomplete sentence|date=November 2019}}

{{clear|right}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| iba =

| name = The Ed Shelly

| image =

| caption =

| type = cocktail

| flaming =

| whiskey = yes

| served = straight

| garnish =

| drinkware = snifter

| ingredients = * 1 parts Canadian whisky

• 1 parts Apple Schnapps (Pucker)

| prep = Shake ingredients together. Serve straight or with one ice cube

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

Created for Edward Shelly at his request.

{{clear|right}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| iba =

| name = Royal arrival

| image =

| caption =

| type = cocktail

| flaming =

| gin = yes

| served = straight

| garnish =

| drinkware = cocktail

| ingredients = *4 parts Gin

• 1 parts Lemon Juice
• 1 part Crème de Noyaux
• 1 part Kümmel
• Dash egg white
• Dash vegetable extract

| prep = Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

Created in 1960 to mark the birth of Prince Andrew.

{{clear|right}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| name = Savoy affair

| image =

| caption =

| type = champagne

| flaming =

| brandy = yes

| served = straight

| garnish = a strawberry

| drinkware = cocktail

| ingredients = *1 part Lime Juice

• 1 part Fraise de Bois liqueur
• 1 part Passion Fruit Juice
• 1 part Peach Brandy

| prep = Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass, and fill with champagne and garnish.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

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

{{clear|right}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| name = Savoy royale

| image =

| caption =

| type = champagne

| flaming =

| brandy = no

| served = straight

| garnish =

| drinkware = flute

| ingredients = *1/2 peach

• 2 strawberries
• Teaspoon of sugar

| prep = Liquidise, strain into a champagne glass and fill with champagne.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

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

{{clear|right}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| iba =

| name = Savoy corpse reviver

| image =

| caption =

| type = cocktail

| flaming =

| brandy = yes

| served = straight

| garnish =

| drinkware =

| ingredients = *1 part Brandy

• 1 part Fernet Branca
• 1 part White Crème de menthe

| prep = Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a glass.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

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

{{clear|right}}

{{Infobox cocktail

| iba =

| name = Wolfram

| image =

| caption =

| type = cocktail

| flaming =

| gin = yes

| served = straight

| garnish =

| drinkware = cocktail

| ingredients = *2 parts Gin

• 2 parts Wolfschmidt Kummel
• 2 parts Dry Vermouth
• 1 part Lemon Juice

| prep = Shake ingredients together with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

| notes =

| footnotes =

}}

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.

{{clear|right}}

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 "...{{nbsp}}never forgot his Irish roots or family background and never lost his soft Belfast accent."{{Cite web |last=The Newsroom |date=2016-01-20 |title=Bartender to royals, politicians, world leaders and celebrities |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/bartender-royals-politicians-world-leaders-and-celebrities-1276443 |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=newsletter.co.uk}} He remained a Roman Catholic throughout his life, and died on 18 December 2015, aged 93.{{cite web | last=McDaid | first=Laura | title=Belfast barman who served cocktails to the stars dies aged 93 | publisher=BBC News | date=January 25, 2016 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-35399125 | access-date=January 28, 2017}}

{{portal|Liquor}}

• List of cocktails

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web | title=Joe Gilmore: Head barman of the Savoy Hotel's American Bar | website=The Independent | date=February 2, 2016 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/joe-gilmore-head-barman-of-the-savoy-hotels-american-bar-who-mixed-neil-armstrongs-first-drink-back-a6849606.html | access-date=January 28, 2017}}
• {{cite web | title=Cocktail king Joe Gilmore, Belfast's barman to the stars | website=The Irish News | date=January 16, 2016 | url=http://www.irishnews.com/notices/livesremembered/2016/01/16/news/cocktail-king-joe-gilmore-belfast-s-barman-to-the-stars-382007/ | access-date=January 28, 2017 | archive-date=10 February 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210141840/https://www.irishnews.com/notices/livesremembered/2016/01/16/news/cocktail-king-joe-gilmore-belfast-s-barman-to-the-stars-382007/ | url-status=dead }}
• Nicholas Foulkes "Joe Gilmore and his cocktails" (2003)

{{Cocktails}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilmore, Joe}}

Category:1922 births

Category:2015 deaths

Category:Bartenders

Category:People from Belfast