Cocktails at 69 Colebrooke Row

There is class and then there is class. You might assume that when you step into a cocktail bar you are stepping into a very well-to-do venue. There is everything in place that would suggest a high-quality bar; the atmosphere, the dressings and the presentation at the bar. But an emperor can only wear so many clothes. When you come to a cocktail bar, you want damn good drinks. Spare any thoughts of the acrobatics performed by the bartenders, ignore the chandeliers and fix your attention on the drinks.

Those providing the drinks at 69 Colebrooke Row are not the most flamboyant of bartenders but boy do they know their drinks. Rather than putting together accomplished creations, they break down the components of a cocktail and put them back together afresh.

The venue is a mix between a bar and a chemistry laboratory where the bartenders take time out to make their own ingredients. One such example was their horseradish vodka, which went into their own version of the Bloody Mary, more of which later.

The bartenders are dressed in uniforms that are combination between those of scientists and those of barbers, indicating the crossover in styles and approach.

The space in the venue is very limited with only about 20 people able to fit in at any one time. This gives it a compressed feel but with a pianist knocking out Nina Simone classics, the atmosphere was affable rather than oppressive.

My companion and I started off with a Silver Mountain and a Rose Kissmark respectively. The Silver Mountain was based on a Japanese vodka called schochu. It was similar to a Martini but much smoother and this was in part achieved by the schochu.

The attention to detail was on display with my Rose Kissmark. Not only was the combination of the spirits mesmeric but the glass was marked with a synthetic lipstick mark made from bees wax.

We then moved onto a Bloody Mary and a Vintage Manhattan. My companion was wary about taking on a Bloody Mary due to a bad experience in trying to make one himself. This is a common scar of fans of cocktails but luckily my companion was in better hands. The bartenders make each component of the drink themselves from the tomato juice to the aforementioned horseradish vodka.

The result was sumptuous and my companion’s faith in the Bloody Mary was once again restored. My Vintage Manhattan was equally as good although the quality of the ingredients involved meant that the price was £6 higher than the usual price of £8.50 per cocktail.

Coming to 69 Colebrooke Row is a bit like going to a first-class restaurant. You know that you will have to pay a little more but given the extra care and attentiveness to what is put in front of you, the extra amount is well worth paying out for.

69 Colebrooke Row
69 Colebrooke Row
Islington
N1 8AA

Tel: 07540 528593