Culture

The Cabinet's Top 10 Off Licences, near our London studio

Known more fondly as 'bottle shops', London is one of the global meccas of spirit retail. At The Cabinet we are constantly frequenting these shops so we felt it was only right to create our current list of favourites. 

In no particular order, and with a short description of each, here's what made the cut...

1. Hedonism Wines: 3-7 Davies St, W1K 3DJ

Hedonism is the 'daddy' of Mayfair off licences, and to even refer to it as an off licence, seems like a gross understatement. Without doubt the finest display of all alcoholic products, minus beers and ciders, Hedonism is the perfect drinks 'theme park' for anybody who has any interest at all in what the world has to offer in pretty much any category. Try and stop us visiting at least once a week, its that good. 

2. Amathus: 113-117 Wardour St, W1F 0UN

Hidden away in the busyness of Soho, Amathus display their exhaustive selection of drinks in a inventive and select way. If you find yourself in need of something new, interesting or hard to find, this would be our first stop.

3. The Whiskey Exchange: 90-92 Great Portland St, W1W 7NT

As you would expect from The Whisky Exchange this flagship store stocks a neatly curated yet diverse and continuously-evolving selection of old and rare spirits, exclusive bottlings and new releases...and not just whiskies.

4. Cadenhead’s: 26 Chiltern St, W1U 7QF

Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop and Tasting Room may seem like a run of the mill whisky shop from the outside, but is actually a tardis of atmospheric rooms within. At the front section of the shop you’ll find the various whiskies they sell (as well as native gins and other spirits) including their own small batch whisky. Cadenhead’s is Scotland's oldest independent bottler, and is a hugely respected name on the whisky scene.

5. Gerry’s Wines & Spirits: 74 Old Compton St, W1D 4UW

Opened in 1985, Gerry’s Wines and Spirits is the original Soho independent drinks store specialising in exotic and rare spirits. Small, rammed with product, if you want to know what is hot and what is not in the London drinks scene, them this is the only place you need to go.

6. Milroy’s of Soho: 3 Greek St, W1D 4NX

A bottle shop specialising in single and rare malt whiskies, fine wines and champagnes. And for an extra bit of jazz, a hidden bookcase door takes you an underground candlelit cocktail bar, The Vault. Nothing not to like.

7. Selfridge’s: 400 Oxford Street, W1A 1AB

The Drinks Shop at Selfridges is a great place to browse. They don't only carry a very respectable assortment of wine but also an impressive selection of beer and other spirits. Their selection of drinks are a good mix between the big name brands, mixed up with some smaller more interesting producers. You also get the advanage of leaving armed with a giant yellow bag to flex your drinks muscles.

8. Drink With Sasha: 25 Duke Street, W1U 1DJ

Sasha is an adventurer who scours the world to find the best producers, new brands with a story and interesting products while keeping an eye on sustainability. Stocking a more 'curated' selection of drinks their focus is on independent brands, which means you are more likely to find something unexpected here. If you need anymore convincing why to support a local retailer, Drinks with Sasha plant a tree in reforestation zones in Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nepal, Haiti for every bottle purchased.

9. Shrine to the Vine: 48 Lamb's Conduit St, WC1N 3LH

One of the only wine only bottle shops on the list, Shrint to the Vine, part of the Noble Rot famly, offer under-the-radar ‘natural’ cuvées to mature classics from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Barolo and beyond. In offering a diverse range of the planet’s most exciting bottles of wine we would  certainly suggest a trip to Lamb's Conduit Street to taste what's going on.

10. Berry Bros & Rudd:  3 St James's Street, SW1A 1EG

BBR, at 63 Pall Mall, is the OG destination for fine wines and spirits in London. Step into their fine wine room and you’ll discover mature wines from the wine world’s most prestigious producers. Browse the shelves further and you’ll find a wonderful selection of classic bottles of wine and spirits from everywhere around the world.