One evening in 2001, at the Library Bar of London’s Lanesborough Hotel, Stevie Wonder sat down at the piano and began to play. The bar fell silent, no one spoke, no one ordered. It was a gift, offered freely to all who happened to be there. When the impromptu concert ended, Salvatore Calabrese — the “Maestro” behind the bar — paid tribute to the legendary guest with a bespoke cocktail.
The Birth of the Drink
And so the Champagne Wonder was born: a personal, liquid portrait, crafted to thank a special guest and to honour a singular bond. Stevie took a sip, smiled, applauded, and said something Calabrese would never forget: “From one artist to another.” Stevie loves bubbles and sweet flavours. “I wanted to create something that truly reflected his personality and his style,” Salvatore Calabrese recalls. This wasn’t just a tribute, but the distilled essence of a relationship built over time, nurtured across “some of the London bars I worked in: the Library Bar, Salvatore at Fifty, the Playboy Club. Stevie would visit often. He liked bubbles, sweet flavours, fruit, raspberries and pineapple. That’s where the Champagne Wonder comes from: his taste, my creativity. It’s not a classic Champagne cocktail. It’s fruity, velvety, with an almond finish that adds depth.” A heartfelt thank you — served in a glass.
The Recipe of Champagne Wonder
Ingredients
20 ml of Raspberry Purée (6–8 fresh raspberries)
20 ml of Pineapple Juice
20 ml of Orange Juice
15 ml of Almond Liqueur
1 Splash of Champagne
Method
After preparing the raspberry purée, combine the remaining ingredients and shake with ice. Before pouring into the glass, add a splash of Champagne to the shaker and gently stir with a bar spoon to blend all the flavors and create a more harmonious drink. Strain and serve in a large Champagne coupe. Finally, top up with more Champagne to create a light foam on the surface.
Garnish
None.
The article first appeared on Coqtail – for fine drinkers. Order your copy here
Images credits Julie Couder – all rights reserved
