Small batch, locally produced, micro distilleries… these are the buzzwords when talking booze in London these days. No longer about big brands and celebrity endorsements, spirits – like beer – are now part of the bourgeoning urban craft culture and London’s East End is leading the trend.
For the Serious: East London Liquor Company
Part bar/part distillery, East London Liquor Company is located in the heart of London’s old spirits industry, Bow Wharf. Taking over a disused glue factory, ELLC distils its own gin, vodka and rum in impressive copper stills, which are all for sale next door in its bottle shop. Alternatively, settle at the bar (tall ceilings, stripped-back brick walls, reclaimed wooden tables… you know the look) and order from the impressive cocktail list, featuring their home-grown spirits.
For the Eccentrics: Butler’s Gin
Over in Hackney Wick, Butler’s Gin’s lemongrass and Cardamom infusions are distilled by the eccentric ‘Butler’ aka Ross William Butler, a designer/brand developer turned gin maker, then bottled in signed bottles with handwritten labels. For those looking to share a G&T or a few with the man himself, forget about a distillery tour; instead, request an invitation to one of his private gin tastings, which take place every Friday at a secret location in London’s East End, or on board his canal boat during summer.
For the Creatives: Our/Vodka
It’s owned by Pernod Ricard, but you wouldn’t know it thanks to its branding for the sneaker-clad ‘creative’ tribe and think-global-act-local concept. There are micro-distilleries set up all over the world – with local identities (Our/Berlin, Our/ Detroit, Our/ Seattle… so it goes on) and flavour profiles, with each city using different locally sourced ingredients. In Seattle, corn is used as it’s widely available, whereas for Our/London, wheat is used and the vodka is produced in Hackney in a distillery with ping pong tables under railway arches (naturally). They say “the vodka is smooth, fresh, with fruity notes and a natural sweetness”. We say, they had us at the packaging – simple, cool, crown capped bottles.
