Whisky Lounge

Bar in Paddington

8 / 10 from 1 review

Address
Hilton London Metropole
225 Edgware Road
Paddington
London
W2 1JU

Map

History

Telephone
020 7262 9805

Region
Paddington

Nearest Station
Edgware Road (Circle/District/H&C)
0.06 miles

Category
Bars

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This 22 cover Whisky Lounge boasts 72 varieties of whisky including the exclusive Johnnie Walker Odyssey Triple Malt, priced at £110 per shot. Guests who wish to become whisky connoisseurs can also sample a wide selection of aged whiskies, from Bells 8yo to the 49-year old Strathisla 1964, to name but a few.

A whisky sommelier will provide expert knowledge and guidance through the whisky menu, with guests invited to sample a Whisky Flight, which offers three whiskies perfectly matched for an introduction to whisky tasting.

A selection of savoury and sweet light bites has been developed to match and compliment a variety of whisky blends.

Whisky Lounge Picture Gallery

All In London Review

Heaps of fun for whisky lovers

The Hilton Metropole has the misfortune of being slap bang in the middle of the noisy concrete jungle created by Edgware Road and the Westway. Its new Whisky Lounge has just a degree of separation from the lobby, where the unmistakeable jangle of a hotel bar piano seeps through.

But this little room which seats just 22 people and has walls lined with whisky bottles offers hours of fun for whisky lovers, provided you have the stamina.

The selection has a heavy bias towards Scottish whiskies. We try a floral Rosebank 21 yo, with a delicate smoothness that may appeal to beginners. At £40 a pop it’s not cheap; the sommelier explains that the distillery has closed down the price will only go up as stock sells out – a bottle is currently £155. The Isle of Jura 10 yo (£7), also a Scotch whisky, could not be more different, with a striking smell that can only be described as intensely savoury, along with a salty aftertaste.

The “round the world” whisky flight (£20 for three drams) includes the famous Suntory Yamazaki (“for relaxing times, make it Suntory time” says Bill Murray’s character in Lost In Translation). We’re told it’s award-winning and could easily compete with Scottish whiskies; with its robustness and a warmth that trickles down your chest, we agree. The biggest revelation is an Indian whisky, the Amrut Fusion, with hints of delicious chocolate. There only two distilleries in India in case you’re wondering what their production is like.

The Lagavulin 16 yo (£11) has a playful blurb: “salty notes emerge in a bear-hug of peat”, whatever that means it becomes our favourite. Or perhaps it’s in the top three, along with the Isle of Jura and the Amrut. We’d like more time and an expense account to fully make our minds up.

Reviewed by Leila
Published on Sep 30, 2013