Black Rock is not a cosy hug of a pub bar with a big fireplace, nor is it a totally modern space. It sits outside the spectrum of old-fashioned to new-fangled you can fit most of its competitors on. It’s a secluded but welcoming bolt hole for whisky nerds and after three visits I can say that Black Rock delivers a consistent and high quality experience each time.

With the opening compliment out of the way we’ll dive into the sole sticking point – pricing.  This is a London bar and they charge London prices. However, everything will feel more expensive to the average drinker as the pours are 35ml drams rather than the 25ml of a typical bar. Even with this in mind some of the pricing can feel inconsistent versus other specialist bars like Dram Bar further down the Central Line at Tottenham Court Road.

The “dot” system where each bottle is marked by black dots to indicate price is a Black Rock selling point. This way of doing things does make it more accessible to anyone who wants to follow their heart and try things without having to always ask “how much is this?” It also means the staff can throw together fixed-priced but completely custom tasting flights on the fly which is something special to see.

This system is nice on paper but a victim of inflation. The FT review from way back in 2016 remarks that few whiskies were more than £11. Now most of them are a lot more than the current “three dot” £12 equivalent. After this you go into the “gold dot” tier that covers everything from £13 to “ouch!” If you’re an adventurous whisky fan then you will be asking the staff for prices all the time as most of the exciting stuff will be in this nebulous category. With no published dram list and a regularly changing collection you’re less likely to know how much you’ll damage your wallet vs another night at another whisky bar.

Truthfully, the cocktails are what kept me coming back to Black Rock. They are great value for the quality and on a constant rotation to keep things fresh, taking inspiration directly from what’s been in the most recent hosted tasting. Every visit I’ve been faced with a choice of at least 10 cocktails. Name me another London bar with that many well thought out whisky cocktails. The highlights are the “from the table” Old Fashioneds, drawn from within the 18 foot tree trunk table that dominates the space. These go down a treat and use house-made blends of whiskies to deliver distinct profiles. To go alongside these cocktails I’ve partaken of the unlimited spiced popcorn on each visit. It’s a fun offering alongside the likes of chorizo and oysters and I was also pleased to see just how regularly it was refilled too.

Diligent popcorn supply is just one of the many little ways the staff make you feel welcome. There’s a real softness to the place where everything is done gently and slowly.  From the moment you arrive your prior visits and whisky knowledge are assessed in just a few questions, water is poured and you’re steered to peruse the menu or cabinets. The staff on each visit have been eager to chat whisky and dive into recommendations. Even when every seat gets full the place feels calm and not too noisy. On each visit the music has been hip-hop which sets it apart from most other whisky bars and is very much on a background level so conversation is unobstructed. Add all this together and you’re left with a genuine and intimate vibe that other bars across London wish they could have.

When it comes to whisky cocktails Black Rock is one of my favourite destinations in London. For the sheer number of bottles on offer other places like Dram Bar may have it beat. However, Black Rock has comfortably carved out a niche within the niche as the calm and gentle whisky bar that feels like a haven from the bustle of London without feeling dated or fussy. It doesn’t feel like a party (Dram Bar hits that note), but equally there’s no trappings of old, no pretension and no member lists. Just good whisky and great cocktails – oh and did I mention the popcorn?