London’s Best Bars For Sipping Whisky In Style
Whether you’re a whisky aficionado searching for the city’s best drinking dens, a newbie wanting to learn the difference between Scotch and Bourbon, or you’re searching for a last minute Father’s Day treat, these are London’s best whisky bars for sipping in style.
From neat nightcaps to smoky cocktails, these are the best bars for whisky tasting in London.
Whisky Tasting In London: The Best Bars & Experiences To Book
The Bloomsbury Club Bar
The Bloomsbury Club Bar has launched a new Whisky Flight Experience, offering whisky lovers the chance to sample whiskies from the world’s most distinguished distilleries. Every month The Bloomsbury’s Whiskey Master, Russell Hayward invites guests to travel the world of whisky, exploring drams from famous regions, ranging from the rare single malts of Scotland through to the cult distilleries of Japan.
You’ll taste three different 25ml drams and be personally guided through the origins and flavour profiles of each tipple, demonstrating how to identify distinctive traits, flavour notes, and qualities. You’ll also get to select a dish of your choice from the bar bites menu when hunger strikes.
Where: 16-22 Great Russell St, London WC1B 3NN
Website: www.thebloomsburyclub.com
The Malt Lounge & Bar
Traditional yet innovative, Japanese Whisky is the missing link between Bourbon and Scotch, with new aromas, textures and flavours to delight whisky drinkers. The Malt Lounge & Bar’s impressive whisky selection features a rare collection of Japanese Whisky kept in their exclusive private cabinet, and over 70 different expressions – from well-established and traditional distilleries, to small and innovative finds, offering guests full immersion in the whisky world.
To make the experience even more unique, the hotel’s passionate bar team offer bespoke tastings to ensure guests are fully immersed in the history and complexity of each expression. Their passionate team can provide recommendations based on your preferences, offer guidance on pairings, and share interesting stories about the whiskies in the collection.
Where: 50 Marble Arch, Great Cumberland Pl, London W1H 7FD
Website: www.themaltlounge.co.uk
Park Chinois
Luxury Mayfair restaurant Park Chinois are launching five new whisky flights, just in time for Father’s Day, featuring an exploration of whisky – from a flight of four oak casks, to the Suntory 100 year anniversary flight, a chance to sample two distinct 100 year anniversary edition Japanese whiskeys.
A chance to sample two 100 year anniversary edition Japanese whiskeys.
Where: 17 Berkeley St, London W1J 8EA
Website: www.parkchinois.com
Pan Pacific London
Alba is the exclusive, hidden bar at Pan Pacific London, hosting up to 11 guests and designed for intimate drink experiences. Tastings come in at £50 per ticket, where you’ll be guided through different whiskies, and taken on a journey from how whisky is made to the science of ageing and cask selection.
If you’re a diehard whiskey drinker, Alba membership is £1,000 a year, which gives you access to your own exclusive whisky cage curated with help from their whisky connoisseur. Bottles will be stored for drinking at your leisure with a personalised member key handed to you on arrival. You’ll also receive a complimentary bottle of Stauning Smoke Single Malt.
Where: 80 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7AB
Website: www.panpacific.com
The Berkeley Bar & Terrace
One of London’s most elegant bars, the Berkeley Bar & Terrace offers a truly special whisky experience, with shelves boasting a collection of exquisite and rare whiskies alongside carefully selected drams.
Prices are as expected for a five-star standard, starting at £14 for a 50ml measure, right up to more luxurious options priced at £2000 a pop. There’s also a cigar menu on hand for those who like a smoke alongside their Scotch.
Where: Wilton Pl, London SW1X 7RL
Website: www.the-berkeley.co.uk
Swift
For an unforgettable evening of whisky drinking, head to award-winning, Scandi-themed cocktail bar Swift in Soho. Standing as one of London’s best whisky bars, it’s earned a coveted spot on the renowned ‘Best Bars in the World’ list, with a menu that draws inspiration from staff’s travel memories.
Their extensive whisky selection has its very own menu, spanning Scotch, Irish, American, and Japanese whiskies, including unexpected finds from Thailand, Sweden, India and beyond.
Where: 12 Old Compton St, London W1D 4TQ
Website: www.barswift.com
The Bourbon Bar at JW Steakhouse
The iconic Bourbon Bar at JW Steakhouse is home to over 300 rare, pre-prohibition, single batch and most sought-after bourbons in the world. From a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle, arguably the unicorn of all Bourbons, to Buffalo Trace, the world’s most awarded distillery, you’ll sip a selection of bourbons handpicked by their team of experts. It’s a sensory tasting experience with some of the rarest and most luxurious bourbons in the world, complemented by an authentically American menu.
Don’t miss The Old Fashioned Trolley either, a theatrical way to serve, sip and savour a perfectly crafted classic, aged or smoked Old Fashioned.
Where: JW Marriott Grosvenor House London, 86-90 Park Ln, London W1K 7TN
Website: www.jwsteakhouse.co.uk
Black Rock
Black Rock is dominated by a massive tree trunk which replaces the bar as your primary source of alcohol. Stored inside channels cut into the 185 year old oak are whisky cocktails; head to the taps at the head of the ‘table’.
If cocktails aren’t your thing, then Black Rock’s 250 bottles of whiskies will see you right.
Where: 9 Christopher St, London EC2A 2BS
Website: www.blackrock.bar
The Dram House
From the folks behind Milroy’s of Soho, The Dram House is Spitalfields’ prestigious members’ club for whisky aficionados. Nestled on the upper floors of Milroy’s of Spitalfields, the club offers a luxury whisky experience for discovering something new – whether you’re a seasoned whisky connoisseur or new to the spirit.
Take your pick from a selection of rare and old whiskies, each with its own distinctive taste and character. And for those who want to indulge further, there’s charcuterie and chocolate pairings to enhance your tasting experience.
Where: 76 Commercial St, London E1 6LY
Website: www.milroys.co.uk
The Sun Tavern
If it’s whiskey, rather than whisky, that you’re after (note the all important ‘E’ alerting your spell-check that you’ve moved from Scottish whisky to Irish whiskey) then head to The Sun Tavern in Bethnal Green.
The pub has a grand selection of whiskeys with an eclectic mix of bottles from major producers like Midleton, Cooley and Bushmills as well as smaller and lesser-known producers. Away from whiskey they’ve also got an impressive line in Poitin, another Irish delicacy.
Where: 441 Bethnal Grn Rd, London E2 0AN
Website: www.thesuntavern.co.uk
The Athenaeum
Renowned for its extensive whisky collection, The Bar at The Athenaeum promises a sumptuous setting for a unique whisky tasting. Hosted by their bar team, the one hour masterclasses include four 25ml whiskies, complete with perfectly-paired cheeses.
Hosted from the comfort of their tenth floor panoramic lounge, this is London’s best whisky tasting with a view.
Where: 116 Piccadilly, London W1J 7BJ
Website: www.athenaeumhotel.com
One Aldwych
Old Fashioned cocktails served tableside while listening to smooth jazz? Um, yes please, sign us up.
The Lobby Bar at One Aldwych is the perfect place to enjoy a whisky alongside an evening of jazz on a Thursday. They also roll out their trolley which theatrically serves Old Fashioned cocktails right to your table.
Old Fashioned cocktails served tableside.
Where: 1 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZ
Website: www.onealdwych.com
The Coburg Bar at The Connaught
The Connaught never fails to wow, making it one of our favourite hotels in the world. And its whisky collection is no exception, spreading over five pages of their bar menu and equalling quantity with quality. The splendid surroundings are merely a bonus, and no surprise given it’s widely regarded as one of the best bars in the whole of London.
Embark on a journey of discovery with a Whisky Tasting experience where their whisky sommelier will uncover the story behind each cask as you’re guided through a trio of single malts, perfectly paired with a selection of artisan cheeses.
Where: 16 Carlos Pl, London W1K 2AL
Website: www.the-connaught.co.uk
Bull In A China Shop
This Asian-inspired restaurant might not be the first place you’d expect to find a decent whisky collection, but the Shoreditch spot has over 100 Japanese and Scotch whiskies on-hand.
The food menu is also led by the whiskies, ensuring dishes match the earthy or smoky tastes in your glass.
Where: 196 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6LG
Website: www.bullinachinashop.london
The Terrace Bar at The Chesterfield Mayfair
Explore the art of the master distiller as the bar team at The Chesterfield showcases their collection of whiskies in the Terrace Bar.
Their resident mixologists will guide you through an innovative and exciting whisky nosing and tasting tour – perfect for learning something new in a stylish setting.
Where: 35 Charles St, London W1J 5EB
Website: www.chesterfieldmayfair.com
The Walmer Castle
The Walmer Castle brings a slice of the Scottish Higlands to Notting Hill, proudly boasting plush furnishings and elevated Scottish fare.
They have an extensive whisky collection of over 400 bottles, with an impressive variety of Scotch blends and single malts, for drinkers to sip their way through the rich world of whisky.
Where: 58 Ledbury Rd, London W11 2AJ
Website: www.walmercastlenottinghill.co.uk
Bread Street Kitchen
Head to Bread Street Kitchen where you can enjoy a Whisky Masterclass led by their expert bartenders. Kick things off in style with a welcome Whisky Highball on arrival before delving into the rich history of whisky from around the world.
Throughout the masterclass, experts will guide you through five different whisky tastings where you’ll discover distinct profiles from some of the world’s most iconic names. To finish, their master mixologist will create their iconic BSK Old Fashioned to complete the experience.
Where: Multiple Locations
Website: www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com
Corrigan’s Mayfair
Inside Richard Corrigan’s eponymous Corrigan’s Mayfair, you’ll find Dickie’s Bar – the Michelin starred Chef’s personal hangout. Behind the bar expect the finest Irish whiskeys from across the motherland, some especially rare numbers being from Chef Corrigan’s personal collection.
Whether its a nightcap after your Corrigan’s experience or blended into a premium cocktail, you’re certain to leave Dickie’s Bar in a very Irish manner…
Where: 28 Upper Grosvenor St, London W1K 7EH
Website: www.corrigansmayfair.co.uk
The New York Bar at The Rubens Hotel
Join the talented resident experts at The New York Bar on a tour of innovative and exciting, premium range whiskies.
You’ll enjoy three sensational tasting journeys from full, fruity single malts, to deep peat flavours, and each whisky voyage is accompanied by a sharing platter of four plates of your choice.
Where: 39 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0PS
Website: www.rubenshotel.com
