Interactive cocktail map shows London's regional drinks preferences

Londoners are a mixed bunch as new cocktail map confirms south London’s love of rum and the City’s taste for whiskey
Shoreditch serve: Cocktails at Loves Company

London’s first “cocktail map” has revealed startling variations in local preferences among the capital’s growing band of mixology fans.

The map — looking at all 32 boroughs, the City of London and five cocktail hotspots including Soho and Dalston —was created by the team behind new app Drinki, which launches today.

Feedback from bars and pubs across the capital was used to determine the “favourite” cocktail in each area.

Drinki’s cocktail consultant, Michael Stringer, who has created personalised drinks for David Beckham, Jamie Oliver and the Kardashians, said: “Certain drinks and spirits have a deep heritage in different parts of London.

“Champagne cocktails define Mayfair and the West End. The experimental East has seen many cocktail trends, from oyster cocktails in the 19th century to Espresso Martinis, popular with the fashion and arts party crowds.

“Vermouth Negronis are on the rise in up-and-coming areas in the East, while Clapham’s roots are in rum-based drinks, like the Mojito.”

The map reveals preferences such as the whiskey-based Old Fashioned favoured in the City, Waltham Forest’s exotic No 1 choice, the Between the Sheets (white rum, cognac, triple sec and lemon juice) and Soho’s classic best-seller, the Bloody Mary.

Sushil Ranjitkar, of VOC Bar and Grill in King’s Cross, said north London boroughs tend to go for White Russians, Margaritas and Whisky Sours. “I’d say these areas typify your classic, and perhaps conservative, cocktail drinker,” he said. “Apart from Camden of course, with its preference for Dark and Stormy’s. I think that tells you everything you need to know about Camden.”

Matt Uden, manager at The Shrub and Shutter in Brixton, said south London has “a long-time love of rum” but there was “a movement towards gin-based cocktails as seen in Southwark’s gimlet”. Adam Wright, head of alcohol at coffee and cocktail chain Grind & Co, said: “Of all areas of the capital, the East has always been the most adventurous.”

The Drinki app allows users to claim one of 10,000 free drinks a week on offer at participating bars.

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