Athenaeum Whisky Bar is so decadent that it’s almost like sitting inside a premium whisky bottle. And their selection of the golden spirit is second-to-none.

The Venue
Athenaeum Whisky Bar is quite possibly the most sultry and well-put-together high end bar in London – it certainly rivals other top bars in the capital. Warm and comforting, the colourscheme is a rich mix of reds, oranges and browns that reflect the whiskies that this bar so clearly idolises. A large mirror gives the illusion of space without taking anything away from its inherent cosiness, and the black leather seating and sofas covered in huge cushions encourage you to sink in and not move again for hours. Spot on.

The Atmosphere
The Athenaeum Whisky Bar has an obvious upmarket appeal but is somehow laid back at the same time. This is the kind of place that attracts real lovers of whisky rather than hotel bar posers, and it really contributes to the pleasant ambience. And the staff are incredibly welcoming and seem only too happy to chat whisky with you for hours – and boy do they know their stuff.

The Drink
The whisky menu at Athenaeum Whisky Bar is almost overwhelming with over 270 bottles to choose from. It’s best to ask the staff for recommendations if you’re not sure or you could spend forever looking over options you’ll probably be unfamiliar with. And that won’t be a problem as this bar has one of only two whisky sommeliers in the whole of London.

They have whisky – or whiskey depending on its origin – from across the world and the menu is divided up by country. And the prices range from under a tenner to over £150 a shot. They also host an interesting whisky and cheese matching service with one pairing priced at £15 or four pairings at £50 including one of six unusual cheeses matched to specific whiskies – it’s a very nice touch and a good way of showing people that cheese matches with more than just wine.

The Last Word
This is a bar that knows what it’s good at and embraces it wholeheartedly. Even if you’re not a fan of whisky then you’ll soon find yourself caught up in the passion of it all.

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