Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/44136
sbe's hotel holdings are hot: The Redbury Hotel, in the heart of Hollywood, is home to Library Bar and Cleo, where Lead Bartender Caleb King runs the table— and the bar. exactly the same every time," says Charalambous, who relies on veteran staff to implement rigorous training company-wide. "The common thread is our culture and our team's commit- ment to achieving balance, consistency and excellence." A Culture of Cool There's no doubt that sbe's venues are cool and cater to a decidedly chic crowd, but their mixology staff isn't bad either. From guys like Mike Swan, Bar Supervisor at Sayer's Club, who was the second bartender hired by the Beautiful Beluga As always, sbe's finger is on the pulse of the industry, as evidenced by their partnership with Beluga Russian Noble Vodka, a high-end brand that's a perfect fit for sbe's tableside mixology and upper-tier cocktail programs. "It's fantastic!" exclaims Rob Floyd, who practices liquid alchemy with Beluga Gold in the José Gimlet, served at The Bazaar by José Andrés (see sidebar). "It's such a great spirit to work with that this cocktail is really something special, a high-end take on a classic. It would only honor Dr. Gimlet!" Like all products of great care and class, Beluga Gold comes with its own tradition: Each bottle is equipped with a specially-made wooden hammer, used to break the wax seal from the bottle, and a brush to clean it away. company and has seen the sbe brand develop its empire, to mixologists such as Caleb King, Lead Bartender at Cleo, who has also worked with other 'tenders in other sbe outlets, this is a mixing masterclass. It's a collaborative family effort at sbe: "We're all working in each other's bars all the time," laughs Swan, who attributes the portfolio's continued success to Nazarian, whose vision and knack for branding was like nothing the industry vet had ever seen before. McCallum concurs, "Template-style bartending helps us keep it simple, and once a bartender is trained at one of our locations, they can work in any of our locations." Over at the super-swanky SLS Hotel, where sbe has teamed up with famed Spanish chef José Andrés to put together the ultimate drinking and dining experience at Bar Centro in The Bazaar by José Andrés, Lead Bartender Rob Floyd is another industry veteran, but he's new to the sbe way of life. "When sbe called, I jumped at the opportunity," says the talented barman, whose passion for pushing limits comes across clearly on the palate. "sbe is all about the personal human experiences, branded in a cocktail. They have an attention to intention—and it makes all the difference." october 201 1 / the tasting panel / 69