London’s N1 postcode has become the unexpected home of bourbon in recent years with Odyssey Bar and lowcountry joining The Lexington. It’s not quite a bourbon mile but with a 30 minute walk between the three it’s absolutely a worthy evening out for fans of American Whiskey in London. This year we’ll be reviewing all three to see which is best, or if they’re all worth your time.

Odyssey Bar is the newest face on London’s whisky scene, opening with fanfare in October last year and sporting the biggest bourbon collection of any bar in the UK with around 600 bottles! Behind the bar you’ll find enough to sate most bourbon fans and yet the rear of the venue is dotted with cabinets full to bursting with bourbon, rye and world whiskies. This collection mostly originates from the closed steak and BBQ restaurant, Block Bar, in Soho. For casual visitors these cabinets are a nice bit of décor but for enthusiasts they’re the reason to come – there are bottles in here you usually can’t sample outside of a private collection.

Odyssey Bar’s aesthetics are a blend of modern and traditional. The open plan upstairs area is lined on one side with a dining setup and the other with a more casual sofa and stools layout. The large windows mean the venue feels bright and spacious during the day whilst the warm lighting gives everything a calming and intimate glow at night. Whilst there isn’t much colour to speak of beyond a smattering of millennial green, there is plenty of texture going on at Bar Odyssey. Exposed brick walls contrast with the leather and soft fabric furnishings. The floor in some areas is stone, then wood, with faded Persian rugs also underfoot in areas. The bartop feels modern with handsome marble, yet next to it are drapes and barrels you’d expect to find in a venue leaning into a Western theme. There’s an overall balance of themes that works whereas other bars might seem tacky for it.

Across two visits I tried a variety of drinks including bourbons, ryes and cocktails. Prices are very competitive for the area with cocktails around £12 – £14 and all the whiskies we tried were around £7-£12 for a 25ml pour. This is only a smidge above with what many London pubs will charge you for the basics and you’re getting something special instead. Here it costs £8.50 for a single of High West Campfire, a £90 bottle. Go down the road to Old Street Wetherspoons and you can enjoy supermarket staples like Auchentoshan American Oak or a Laphroaig 10 for £6-£7 instead.

Of course there are super-premium drinks available at Odyssey Bar that might make your eyes water, but why bother when so many hard-to-find ones are so cheap? MB Roland’s Dark Fired Bourbon and Yellowstone’s 6 Year Old Family Recipe Bourbon are not available in the UK yet are £10 or less here. The team also served me their Rittenhouse rye straight from their peated barrel which I enjoyed even more than the rare imports because peaty American rye is so uncommon. The cynic in me worries that this is Honeymoon pricing. Things could shoot up faster than overall drinks inflation in the year ahead but, as of March 2025, Odyssey Bar is fantastic value for money for anyone who likes American whisky.

If you don’t like Bourbon, don’t fret. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and happy to gently convert newcomers or cater to them with plenty of other drinks. The cocktails are a key area for Odyssey Bar and it goes far beyond whiskey with inventive drinks based on gin, mezcal, vodka, rum and more. Everything has some degree of twist or personalization, even the classics. For instance the Sazerac uses Beesou, a bittersweet honey aperitif alongside the normal ingredients and the bourbon for the Old Fashioned is aged in a sherry cask. I personally find the whisky cocktails at Black Rock in nearby Moorgate more interesting but the prices overall there are higher.

Odyssey Bar is a strong start to our N1 bourbon review tour. With the biggest selection, welcoming staff and cozy atmosphere it’s going to be tough for any other venue to beat. It’s both a brilliant place to nerd out on bourbon and a venue you can comfortably drag your friends and family to.