Four Sisters (CLOSED)

A short stroll off the main Upper Street drag, this high-ceilinged Canonbury bar is bright and airy yet cosy and discreet – perfect for an illicit afternoon sesh. This quartet of siblings take their cocktails very seriously indeed, and it shows; you’ve probably necked a negroni or two in your time, but have you ever tried a six-week-barrel-aged negroni? It’s dark, sweet and intoxicating on many levels. The popular elderflower julep is an altogether lighter proposition, with a subtle hint of apple, and is emblematic of Four Sisters’ rigorous approach to ingredients; the gin hails from the nearby East London Liquor Co, and the syrups (lavender, passion fruit, cranberry) are made in-house. This kind of quality doesn’t come cheap, so if you’re sceptical swing by during happy hour, perch up on a barstool with a partner-in-crime and grab two works of expertly made enliveners for a mere tenner.