Shannon becomes only the 13th Head Bartender in the lineage of this iconic hotel bar's 128-year lifespan. Not only the first American to take up the position, but also the second female in nearly a century. Shannon will follow in the footsteps of Ada Coleman, who held court for 21 years from 1903 to 1924. The American Bar is Britain's longest-surviving cocktail bar and one that is steeped in layers of history. The Savoy Cocktail Book, written in 1930 by American Bar Head Bartender Harry Craddock, remains a go-to source of learning for bartenders of all ages and experience levels.
The COVID-19 pandemic has closed the American Bar temporarily, but the global bar community will be looking forward to raising a glass (most likely a creation of Ada's, the Hanky Panky) for its reopening under the Shanon's able leadership in September this year.
