TT Liquor, Shoreditch

TT LIQUOR: WHAT IS IT?

TT Liquor’s extensive site occupies an old police station on Kingsland Road. It’s a dreamland of a drinking den, with a basement bar and a liquor shop with more bottles than you can shake a cocktail stick at. At the back there’s an extensive events space, and even a cinema that shows film screening and can double up as a space for talks and masterclasses. The subterranean bar has a live DJ on Saturday nights, and is often taken over for masterclasses and tastings.

TT LIQUOR: WHAT TO ORDER?

Take a seat in one of the old prison cells – yes, really – where you’ll likely be served by an appropriately beardy or tattooed waiter/waitress. As you’d expect from a place like this, there are heaps of creative serves to choose from. You’ll find options that are short and punchy, long and refreshing, or something totally (or only slightly) non-alcoholic.

Favourites include the brilliantly named Figgie Smalls – Irish whisky, figue spirit, chestnut, rosemary, citrus, supermalt and aquafaba – and the Motor City, with smoked bourbon, lillet blanc, fernet branca and a moreish apple and walnut oil slick.

TT LIQUOR: HOW SUSTAINABLE IS IT?

TT Liquor sources all its fresh produce – veg, meat and fish – from the sustainably minded Nature’s Choice. Elsewhere, there’s as minimal waste as possible. Whatever does get leftover ends up in the compost. The furniture is handmade; the staff are paid fairly and receive 100% of their tips. The spirits for the cocktail classes are bag-and-box to reduce waste, and you won’t find a plastic straw in sight.

17B Kingsland Rd, Hackney, London E2 8AA