Japan has been steadily building a reputation for distilling some of the best and most complex whisky in the world, and you can get your hands on some at Tonkotsu Mare Street's bar, which has more than 36 distinct bottles from Japan (plus others from around the world). The 17-year-old Nikka Taketsuru, having recently been named best blended malt at the World Whiskies Awards, is a jewel in the crown, and as well as Nikka and Suntory's vaunted Hibiki blends, Tonkotsu is home to some rare bottles that were blended after the legendary Karuizawa distillery ceased production in 2001. Curious? Try the Yamazaki 18 with okonomiyaki – a rich, pork and prawn pancake that's the perfect partner for the liquid's prune and plum notes.
Bourbon drinker? Hop on over to the Blues Kitchen in Shoreditch. With over 100 varieties of the classic American whiskey, including a classic cocktail list, it goes the whole hog with smoky, Southern-style BBQ food, bourbon-infused shakes and, as the name suggests, live blues music; all housed inside a converted Victorian warehouse – of course...
You'll find a pretty comprehensive whisky list at this Hampstead hideout, with plenty of properly old bottles hiding in there, too. It's also set to hold a new series of evenings, Whisky 101, where you can learn the art of whisky pairing through matchings with some of its 101 bottles (hence the name).
Whisky novice? Don't be overwhelmed by the 300-and-counting bottles here – the staff at this hotel bar will happily help you find something suitable on the menu, and pair it with a great cheese. It's also got its own 8-year-old blend that's well worth a try.
There are three Boisdales, but the Canary Wharf outpost is the one for whisky lovers. The lively Scottish restaurant – plus cigar library, oyster bar and jazz venue – has more than 1,000 bottles of malt behind its 12m bar.
