Founded in Aberdeen in 1842, Cadenhead’s is the oldest survivor of a very rare breed: the independent whisky bottler. Selecting barrels from distilleries all over Scotland, Cadenhead’s ages them independently, before bottling them in very small batches without filtration or any other kind of intervention, making for some seriously tasty, high-end whiskies. One of the company’s three shops – alongside one in Edinburgh and one at the company’s headquarters in Campbeltown – its Marylebone outpost is one-of-a-kind in London, and an absolute must-visit for whisky lovers.
As well as selling the full range of Cadenhead’s whiskies, plus select lines of own-brand rum, gin, calvados, cognac and armagnac, the shop runs regular whisky tastings. Costing £45 per head, a classic tasting allows visitors to sample drams of six specially-selected blends from across the Cadenhead’s range alongside complimentary nibbles. Or if you want to go more in-depth, you can join one of its monthly tastings introducing regulars to the brand’s upcoming releases.