lowcountry

"When we first visited Lowcountry in Shoreditch, there was a schnauzer roaming the banquette like he was on a press tour. And it says a lot about this handsome basement bar, beneath British restaurant Counter 71, that a meet-and-greet with canine Clooney was not the highlight of our night. The highlight was the cocktails. This intimate whisky-specialist bar does the classics so well you’ll feel like you’re discovering them all over again, for the very first time. The London Negroni tastes like it’s been infused with the soul of an orange and the martinez comes with a side of genuinely interesting bar chat about how it’s technically the forefather of the martini. This place can be quiet during the week but it’s a great respite from the chaos of Old Street, and the martini flight for two is prime date night material." - Heidi Lauth Beasley

"This is the kind of special relationship we can get on board with. Counter 71 is a restaurant that champions the British Isles, but its downstairs cellar bar, Lowcountry, is all about smoky American whiskey and Southern shrimp and grits prawn toast. Inspired by the chef’s childhood in Alabama and South Carolina, there are Southern-leaning drinks and the house cocktail is a beer with a shot of bourbon or rye on the side. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Team Infatuation