Johnnie Walker: a Grand Voyage from Oblix East
A tour of the world in eight whisky cocktails
Staring out the window of Oblix East, on the 32nd floor of the Shard, is bound to stir up wanderlust. Who could resist the broad railway lines striking out from London Bridge, the Thames winding out towards the old trade routes and, over the docks, planes climbing sharply as they set out from City Airport?
It’s the right setting, then, for the Johnnie Walker Grand Voyage, a collection of cocktails built on far-flung flavours from five continents.
The centrepiece of the experience is an elaborate whisky dispensary consisting of eight casks, each made from wood picked to complement the blend of Johnny Walker it contains. Double-charred chestnut, for example, lends a deep smokiness to the Black Label blend used in the Tiberian Bounty, a sazerac-style cocktail with a Middle Eastern hit of ras el hanout from a rinse of flavoured absinthe.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The range is intended for whisky novices and enthusiasts alike. A more sceptical drinker might start with the Golden Utopia (below), representing Madagascar, in which creamy, coconutty Gold Label whisky is spiced with American oak and sweetened with ginger ale.
More experienced hands will reach for the Kilmarnock, based on Double Black, a smokey, Talisker-rich variant of Black Label, intensified in charred ashwood and mixed with vermouth and bitters.
The drinks are available in a range of packages, from £35 per person for a cocktail and a bar bite each - think deep-fried squid or caramelised pork skewers - to £100 each for four drinks and three plates of food. Each tasting is guided by a senior member of the bar staff, and must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
For more information, contact events@oblixrestaurant.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Criminal trail?'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Grindr 'shared user HIV status' with ad firms, lawsuit claims
Speed Read LGBTQ dating app accused of breaching UK data protection laws in case filed at London's High Court
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Published
-
The best dog-friendly hotels around the UK
The Week Recommends Take a break with your four-legged friend in accommodation that offers you both a warm welcome
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Tuck in to British fusion cuisine
The Week Recommends The trend for combining classics from two food cultures can result in dishes that are doubly delicious
By The Week UK Published
-
7 bright cocktails to usher in spring
The Week Recommends The brisk months require a certain kind of drinking
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
9 restaurants primed for spring dining
The Week Recommends Winter be gone. Appetites are ready for the warmer months.
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Good-value restaurants for fine food on a budget
The Week Recommends From an 'immensely likeable' French bistro to a family-run pub in Essex
By The Week UK Published
-
The lasting changes of the post-pandemic dining era
The Explainer The newest of new normals
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
The Westbury Hotel review: stunning suites in charming Dublin
The Week Recommends This hotel is the perfect spot to while away a weekend in Ireland's capital
By Kaye O'Doherty Published
-
Drama movies 2024: new films out this year
In Depth Latest reviews include The Boys in the Boat, One Life and Tchaikovsky's Wife
By The Week UK Last updated
-
Best new hotels and places to stay in 2024
The Week Recommends Featuring stylish island resorts, historical properties and wilderness retreats
By The Week UK Last updated