Lowcountry | An intimate subterranean whiskey bar below a stunning restaurant
Despite being an underground cocktail joint, Lowcoutry has nevertheless set the bar extremely high.
Since opening last year, it’s pulled together some glowing reviews from both critics & punters alike. And now they’re shaking things up again by conjuring up a whole new & highly inventive menu of signature drinks.
You’ll find it sat below Counter 71 in Shoreditch (which, incidentally, is one of the best restaurants in the neighbourhood). In contrast to the bright eatery above, the bar itself is a softly lit moody den, with blue-grey stoney walls, scattered tables with thick veins of green marble running through them, and a long red-tile bar dominating one side of the room. It all feels very laid back, intimate, and ever-so-slightly seductive.
Behind that bar, you’ll find the stellar new bartender, Bailey Mae Paynter, and plenty of whiskey – most of that whiskey is which is American whiskey, and most of that American whiskey is from the very Lowcountry that the bar is named for. If you’ve never been, it’s a stretch of coastal South Carolina predominately filled with tranquil marshes, lazy rivers, and fantastic distilleries. Don’t worry, they still manage to find space for the other heroes of the bar shelf too.
So, about the menu. Everything’s split up into three categories: the Signatures (which the bar team have concocted themselves); the Classics (anything invented after prohibition); and the Historical (pulled from the depths of time itself). They’re keeping a lot of the hits from the current menu (the Fast Fashioned, with its glorious bacon-washed bourbon for instance) but they’re also keeping a keen eye on the calendar, and adding some seasonally appropriate fruits, veggies, and warmth into the mix.
That means we can expect the likes of…
New Signatures:
- Caprese – Tomato Shrub, Olive Oil-washed Vodka, Ricotta Foam
- Proper Delicioso – Mezcal, English Brandy, House Vermouth, and Maraschino Liqueur
New Classics & Modern Classics:
- Corpse Reviver #2 – Gin, Yellow Chartreuse, Vermouth, and lemon juice
- And To All a Good Night – Bourbon, Tequila, Cherry Heering, Bitters
New Historical:
- Between the Sheets – Brandy, Benedictine, Triple Sec, and Lemon
- Remember the Maine – Rye Whiskey, Vermouth, Cherry Brandy
And yes, ‘new historical’ sounds weird, but there we are. There’ll also be a few new bar bites to go with all of this, so along with the cheeseburgers and popcorn chicken, you’ll also be able to get lamb croquettes or cuttlefish pancakes with chilli mayo…
…which sound flat-out delicious.
NOTE: Lowcountry is open now, Tuesday to Saturday. They accept both walk-ins and bookings. You can make a reservations, and see the cocktail menu at the Counter 71 website.
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Lowcountry | Below Counter 71, 71 Nile Street, N1 7RD
While you’re in the neighbourhood… check out your Shoreditch guide
