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Halloween Ripper Tour at DSC

Discount Suit Company is plumb in the middle of the neighbourhood where Jack The Ripper committed the most heinous crimes. We’re teaming up once more with the award winning London Walks – proprietors of THE Jack The Ripper Tour.

All Hallows’ Eve sees the return of our Jack The Ripper Tours. It will commence at Discount Suit Company, 29a Wentworth Street, where you’ll receive a hot punch upon arrival, to warm your cockles before you embark on your amble

You’ll then slalom the backstreets of Whitechapel and Spitalfields, guided by Simon Whitehouse – a blue badge holder and mentored by Donald Rumelow – “THE leading authority on Jack The Ripper” – on a compassionate tour, learning both of  Jack’s awful exploits and the bungled investigations that followed.

Concluding at Discount Suit Company, you can digest all you’ve taken in with a few cocktails and enjoy 20% off your bill with all table bookings when paired with your ticket to the tour (subject to availability).

The tours will start at 6.30pm & 8.30pm on the 31st October and should last approximately 90 minutes. Tickets are £25 Sterling, inclusive of the hot punch, 20% discount on your bar tab and the walking tour itself.

Book yourself in here – 6.30pm 8.30pm

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Nothing But The Plum – Guest Cocktail – DSC

March’s guest sees us collaborate with Empirical Spirits who’s expertise lies in super-artisanal, and sometimes seemingly, off-the wall spirits. Nothing But The Plum is based upon their liquid, The Plum, I Suppose, which leans heavilly on the addition of plum kernel, giving a nuanced marzipan appeal. A tart fruity kick is gained from White Vermouth and a milk washed plum jus brings yet more fruit and an added creamy mouth feel.

 

Nothing But The Plum – Empirical Spirits ‘The Plum, I Suppose’, White Vermouth, Milk Washed Plum Jus

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INFINITY GIMLET – GUEST COCKTAIL – DSC

February is the lover’s month and our guest, Infinity Gimlet, is a sharing cocktail best paired with a partner. With not one, but two of Sipsmith’s fine gins – their London dry gin and their sloe gin – which are brought together with our secret infinity cordial. The perfect start, end or middle to Valentine’s Day, but be sure to book – bookings@discountsuitcompany.co.uk.

Infinity Gimlet – Sipsmith London Dry Gin, Sipsmith Sloe Gin, Infinity Cordial

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DSC 6th Birthday New Menu Launch

15th of January marked our sixth birthday and to celebrate we launched a new menu. A lot has happened since we first opened our doors, but our passion for forgotten classics with our own twist of modernity is unerring, and as much was to be found from our eight new friends gracing the cocktail list.

Dry January was seemingly a mere myth as the bar was full from 6pm with customers, friends, and family alike, all sampling the fruits of our labours. The guys behind the stick worked at a heady pace to keep the customer satisified, and that they did!

By the time our resident DJ hit the decks playing our signature sounds of Funk ‘n’ Soul, the revellers were ready to let loose – there were certainly some bears with sore heads the next morning.

Check out the cocktails below….or join us to try them in the basement!

Whipping Boy – Ocho Blanco Tequila, Lillet Rosé, Citrus, Olive Brine, Agave

Cockney Touch – Dewar’s 2yr Whisky, Fino Sherry, Citrus, Bitter Grapefruit Syrup, Club Soda

 

Hug Me Not – Seven Tails Brandy, Akvavit, Acorn, Maple, Umbrella Brewing Sparkling Cider

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Burn Baby Burn – guest cocktail – dsc

Leaning heavily on Kamm & Sons Islay Cask (that’s Kamm & Sons which has been rested in an Islay Whisky cask for three months). We’ve paired that up with some Dewar’s 12yr, sweet vermouth, honey, and bitters to give us a brimming, bold concoction to loosen the lips – after all it is Burns’ Night on the 25th.

 

Burn Baby Burn – Kamm & Sons Islay Finished Aperitif, Dewar’s 12yr Whisky, Sweet Vermouth, Honey, Bitters

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Nakatomi Fizz – Guest Cocktail – DSC

December’s Guest Cocktail pays homage to everyone’s favourite Christmas film – Die Hard. Named after the tower where the film is set, we’ve collaborated with Ford’s Gin to bring a Christmas twist to the evergreen Gin Fizz. The secret to the festive spin is our Yippe-Kai-Yay Syrup, which leans on seasonal staples, cranberry, cardamom, and nutmeg to bring the yuletide spirit. Stop by for a glassful of Christmas cheer.

 

Nakatomi Fizz – Fords Gin, Citrus, Yippee-Kai-Yay Syrup, Fizz

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Fast & Loose – Guest Cocktail – DSC

November’s guest comes courtesy of Woodford Reserve just in time for Old Fashioned Week. Fast & Loose is an Old Fashioned of sorts which hones in on the spicier notes of Woodford Reserve Bourbon and compliments them with the ginger beer syrup made from our very own Umbrella Brewing ginger beer.

Old Fashioned Week lasts from 1st November to 10th November (we know, people are becoming quite liberal with the term WEEK!), but Fast & Loose will be available for the whole month, so you’ve got no excuse!

 

 

Fast & Loose – Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Pimento Dram, Umbrella Brewing Ginger Beer Syrup, Abbott’s Bitters

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DSC X FORDS GIN X BALDERDASH

Discount Suit Company are taking a trip with their friends at Fords Gin. 25th October sees them leave their Spitalfields basement and head due East to takeover Copenhagen’s champions of whimsy and wonder, Balderdash.

Two signature Martinis from Discount Suit Company and Fords Gin will be served along with some of Discount Suit Company’s greatest hits from menus past, all gin based, naturally. Oysters will be shucked on the house for attendees.

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Serenidad – Guest Cocktail – DSC

We teamed up with the folks at Patron Tequila for October’s Guest Cocktail – Serenidad. As the Spanish word for serenity, it uses traditionally calming ingredients; lemon balm, chamomile & eucalyptus all making an appearance.

The Serenidad has been created especially for LCW and is available for just £6 to Festival Pass Holders between October 3rd – 13th, but as our guest for the month, you’ve ample time to check it out. Get your LCW pass now. 

 

Serenidad – Patron Silver Tequila, Lemon Balm, Chamomile & Eucalyptus Honey, Citrus.

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Halloween Ripper Tour at DSC

Discount Suit Company is plumb in the middle of Jack The Ripper’s infamous hunting ground of yesteryear, so we’re teaming up once more with the award winning London Walks – proprietors of THE Jack The Ripper Tour.

All Hallows’ Eve sees the return of our Jack The Ripper Tour. It will commence at Discount Suit Company, 29a Wentworth Street, where you’ll receive a hot punch upon arrival, to warm your cockles before you embark on your amble

You’ll then slalom the backstreets of Whitechapel and Spitalfields, guided by Simon Whitehouse, a blue badge holder and mentored by Donald Rumelow – “the leading authority on Jack The Ripper”.

You’ll learn of both, Jack’s exploits and the bungled investigations that followed. The tour will conclude at Discount Suit Company, where you can digest all you’ve taken in with a Jack The Ripper themed cocktail – the Gin soaked Saucy Jack.

Saucy Jack – Gin, Amontillado Sherry, Blackberry Syrup, Citrus, Bitters

There tour starts at 18:45 and lasts approximately 90 mintes. Tickets are £20 Sterling, inclusive of two cocktails and the walking tour itself, so wrap up warm and spare not the horses squire!

Book yourself in here.

 

 

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Yorkie – Guest Cocktails – DSC

We’ve collaborated with the good people at Victory to put together our guest serve for the month of September, with both their gin and bitters range featuring heavily.

We’ve decided to call the new kid on the block Yorkie, and it’s a heady mixture of Victory Gin, Victory Bitter, cacao liqueur, citrus, with an added kick thanks to a dash of strawberry & black pepper syrup.

The perfect autumnal sipper to see you through September. It’s available all month long at £8.50 a pop.

Yorkie: Victory Gin | Victory Bitter | Cacao Liqueur | Citrus | Strawberry & Black Pepper Syrup.

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June Whisk(e)y Cocktails at TST

Speyside-based Glenfiddich were next up under the spotlight, as our monthly Whisk(e)y Cocktails initiative marched on into June.

Their iconic 12-year lay at the base of our daring duo of bespoke serves. One of the world’s best-selling and most-awarded malts, the famous triangular bottle is a fixture in practically every bar on the globe, so we’d like to think we’re dab hands at getting the most out of it.

The liquid boasts a unique freshness thanks to the Highland spring water that they’ve used since 1887, and – since it is carefully matured in the finest American and European oak sherry casks for at least 12 years before being mellowed in oak marrying tuns – it boasts distinctively sweet and subtle oak flavours.

Creamy with a long, smooth and mellow finish, this 12-year old is the perfect example of Glenfiddich’s unique Speyside style, and is widely proclaimed the best dram in the valley.

Our two-strong cocktail list – and our iconic beer ‘n’ a bump was available all month long, 7 days a week, at £7.50 a pop. If you missed out, never fear – we’ve got a brand new cocktail list for July featuring the fittingly light and vibrant Nikka Days Blend.

Check out last month’s line up below:

Robbie Dhu – Glenfiddich 12yr | Orange | Citrus Lemon Grass | Umbrella Brewing Ginger Beer.

Pink Stag – Glenfiddich 12yr | Rinquinquin | Bitter Orange | Citrus | Peach.

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Loco Nouveau – Guest Cocktails – DSC

July’s guest cocktail here in Spitalfields is this smooth customer, which we’ve dubbed Loco Nouveau.

This month, we’ve collaborated with Haiti’s best kept secret in the form of Clairin. For those not in the know, it’s found in the island’s most remote parts, and it’s a highly artisanal eaux-de-vie that shares multiple similarities to white agricole rhums whilst retaining its own character.

And now we’re bringing it to the streets of east London at the base of this serve, to which we’ve added some Basil Dolin Blanc, Absenteroux, Menthe Blanche and a dash of White Cacao to create a heady, surprisingly sophisticated libation.

It’s available all month long at £6.50, so why not come and say anchante before it packs it’s bags?

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May Whisk(e)y Cocktails at TST

Venerable old bourbon distillers, Jack Daniel’s, were next to be featured in The Sun’s Whiskey-based serves as we arrived in the warmer climes of May.

Their Tennessee Rye is the first bottle they have dropped since the dark days of Prohibition and – in our humble opinion – it was well worth the wait.

It’s made up from 70% rye, 18% corn and 12% malted barley, and is put through the same charcoal filtration process as Jack Daniel’s iconic, instantly-recognisable bourbons.

The result is a mellow and sweet whiskey that’s enlivened with distinctive rye spice. With all that in mind, we placed a hearty measure of it at the base of each of our two whiskey serves in May. It also formed the kick in our trademark ‘beer ‘n’ a bump’, available at £6.

Our daring duo were available all month long, 7 days a week, at £7.50 a pop. If you missed out, never fear, there’s a refreshed menu every single month.

Click here to be directed to The Sun Tavern Calendar, where you can get the low-down on all that whisk(e)y-soaked goodness as it happens.

 

Stick ‘Um Up – Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye | Bán Poitín | Fourpure Easy Peeler IPA | Banana | Citrus.

Kansas City – Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye | Pomegranate Sherbet | Umbrella Brewing Cider | Citrus | Club Soda.

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April Whisk(e)y Cocktails at TST

We had a brand new Whiskey Cocktails lineup down in Bethnal Green for April, last time out featuring Buffalo Trace’s iconic bourbon.

They have a strong claim to the title of oldest bourbon distillery in the world. Their Frankfort hub opened its doors all the way back in 1792, which means they’ve probably had enough time to learn a thing or two about making a pretty good whisky.

The result of their centuries of labour and refinement is a smooth, high-quality all-rounder with hints of vanilla, barrel char and spicy complexity.

We placed it firmly at the foundation of our two-strong cocktail list, as well as in our trademark ‘beer ‘n’ a bump’, available at £6.

Our daring duo were available all month long, 7 days a week, at £7.50 a pop. If you missed out, never fear – we’re welcoming another member of the bourbon royal family in the form of Jack Daniels to town in May.

Here’s a tantalising review of what we had on offer across April:

What’s The Story – Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Reisling Syrup, Fennel Salt, Citrus, Club Soda.

Red Dog – Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Ruby Port, Toasted Pineapple, Coconut, Lime, Umbrella Brewing Ginger Beer.

 

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Italian Stallion – Guest Cocktails – DSC

May 4th is more than a holiday for Star Wars fans.. it’s also the day where the sounds of rumbling hooves fill the air and plenty of bourbon fills punters’ glasses – the grand ol’ Kentucky Derby.

And our guest for this month is heavily inspired by the heady atmosphere, iconic scenes, and trademark Mint Julep tins of this most famous of American horse races – and also has an eye firmly trained on Mint Julep day which falls on 30th of this month.

To that end, we’ve put some Woodford Reserve Rye at the base of this libation – and topped it up with Italian twists a-plenty in the form of Amaro Montenegro and Chinotto Cordial, with Black Walnut Bitters and Club Soda to cap it all off nicely.

It’s available all month for £6.50 as per tradition. Have yourself a gander below:

Italian Stallion – Woodford Reserve Rye Whiskey, Amaro Montenegro, Chinotto Cordial, Black Walnut Bitters, Club Soda.

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Paddy’s Day 2019 @ TST

On 17th March we celebrated Irish Christmas for the fifth consecutive time here in Bethnal Green.

We spent the evening honouring the man who helped rid the motherland of snakes… and drinking a fair bit of the pure drop to boot.

We opened our doors at midday and spirits were immediately raised as high as our glasses thanks to live musical sounds courtesy of a traditional ceilidh band.

Come the evening our favourite shucker, Oyster Boy, was on hand once more to add some sustenance to the night ahead.

He was dishing out the Oysters for nothing, taking a break from his regular vending activities down Columbia Road, Broadway Market and Leyton Food Market, to bring a bit of East London tradition to the table.

On top of this, for this year’s celebrations we teamed up with the lads from Slane to create three whiskey-soaked cocktails – which included some of our favourite serves from times past.

Predictably, they all went down a treat and the pure drop was flowing like the Shannon come sundown.

Then came the main event, as none other than Suggs from Madness took to our decks with an eclectic rock ‘n’ roll set that kept spirits Himalayan ‘til the wee hours.

All in all, a great night full of good craic and plenty of good vibes.. resulting in more than one Monday morning hangover we’ll wager.

Hope to see you all down at The Sun next time round!

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March Whisk(e)y Cocktails at TST

Our new Whisk(e)y Cocktails initiative continued on into March, and last month we welcomed Taiwanese Whiskey producers, Kavalan, to Bethnal Green.

Established in 2005, Kavalan is Taiwan’s first whiskymaker and the nation’s only family-owned whisky distillery. Kavalan takes the old name of Yilan county where the distillery is located in northeastern Taiwan.

The pure water and fresh air make this part of the subtropical island the ideal environment for the production of whisky.

For our bespoke whiskey list, available at £7.50 a go, we shone the spotlight on their flagship Single Malt – lively, clean and floral with characteristic hints of mango juice on the finish.

Have a browse of our lineup below and see what you reckon:

Swede Manhattan – Kavalan Single Malt, Cocchi Torino, Angostura Amaro & Chestnut.

Yilan – Kavalan Single Malt, Suze, White Port & Lemon.

Tiki Taiwan – Kavalan Single Malt, Pineapple, Orgeat, Lime & Merlet Pear.

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I Can’t Think of A Name – Guest Cocktails – DSC

April’s guest cocktail is this rather mysterious fella, which we’ve decided to imaginatively call ‘I Can’t Think of A Name’.

Featuring a healthy dose of H by Hine at its foundation, this libation is then made up of a glug of Cocchi Americano, Suze, Creme de Menthe, Cherry Shrub, Club Soda, and some sharp citrus to cut through those strong, decadent notes.

It’s available all month for £6 as per tradition. Have yourself a gander below:

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Whisk(e)y Cocktails at TST

February saw us drop a brand-new initiative at The Sun Tavern. Whisk(e)y Wednesdays are no more – from now on we’re dropping a brand new Whisk(e)y Cocktail list every single month.

Not too long ago we figured: why let Wednesdays get all the whisk(e)y-soaked fun? So we’ve decided to share the love and open it up to the rest of the week.

So from now on, you’ll have a regularly-refreshed roster of whisk(e)y-based mixed drinks to get your lips around in Bethnal Green, available every single day at £7.50 a pop – with a different distillery under the spotlight each month.

Master Irish Whiskey blenders, the county Clare-based J.J. Corry, held the distinction of being the very first producers featured.

We featured their award-winning flagship liquid, The Gael, in each of our serves. The Gael is a blend of single malts (aged for 11, 15 and 26 years) with seven-year-old grain whiskey. The result is a fresh and juicy spirit with notes of citrus fruit and spice.

Take an admiring glance back at the mixed-drink goodness that awaited our guests in February:

The Gael – J.J. Corry | Banana | Cacao Blanc | Montenegro.

Cooraclare – J.J. Corry | Fino | Apple | Lemon | Macadamia Orgeat | Egg White.

Big J.J. – J.J. Corry | Suze | Vanilla Honey | Mandarin Sherbet | Lemon | Orange Blossom | Soda.

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DSC 5th Birthday & New Menu Launch

The new cocktail list at DSC, built with Spring 2019 in mind, is the 10th menu and is launched on 15th January, our 5th birthday. Double reason to celebrate!!

We have continued our tradition further with the new menu by sticking to what we love – classically inspired cocktails. Simple twists on very old classics.

This time around it has been a real team effort with all members of the outfit having input and equal platform to create a well rounded menu.

The main brief? To create banging, tasty and exquisite drinks with inspiration from their favourite classic serves.

Case in point – A Kick In The Head, inspired by the classic Silver Fizz. This is a tall fresh affair, with hints of spice from the Velvet Falernum. Bergamot adds vibrancy, while the splash of Cider adds depth to round it all off.

Gin | Italicus | Cocchi Americano | Velvet Falernum | Citrus | Umbrella Brewing Sparkling Cider

As well as some banging drinks, we’ll also have one of our resident DJs spinning out the soul and funk all evening long to keep those spirits high whilst it’s cold outside.

Free entry all night. Come meet the new arrivals.

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Review: International Poitín Day 2018

International Poitín Day – the 24 hours we set aside each year to honour the rebellious souls who kept the spirit alive through its forbidden dark days – returned for its fourth rendition on 18th November. 

First celebrated right here at The Sun Tavern, this year it expanded its reach far beyond the streets f Bethnal Green, across the Irish Sea, and into the finest drinking holes of Dublin, Belfast, Cork & Galway.

Cold Brew Irish Coffee – a bona-fide classic.

We ourselves hosted four Poitín brands at the forefront of the illicit spirit’s revival – Micil Poitín, Glendalough, Mad March Hare & Ban Poitín – who were all heavily featured on our £6 bespoke cocktail list for the eve.

And what a line-up it was: we had classics in the form of Cold Brew Irish Coffee, featuring a healthy glug of Ban Poitín, and our twisted take on the Bloody Mary – the Bloody Murphy, with Glendalough Poitín doing the legwork.

Forsaking Mary for Murphy

Besides this, we had the decidedly more contemporary Poitín Mule – made using a healthy measure of Mad March Hare Poitín, topped with alcoholic ginger beer courtesy of our mates over at Umbrella Brewing.

Nothing stubborn about this Mule.

And our offerings for the puritanical amongst us were the Plain & Simple – a measure of Micil Poitín and a good ol’ pint of stout – and straight-up Flight of Four, a shot from each brand, to get punters where they needed to go.

We also had a Poitín tasting earlier on in the day, absolutely free on a first-come first-serve basis. So you could say the pure drop was certainly flowing, and it went down a treat with our guests who damn near drank us dry.

Beer ‘n’ a Bump – the illicit chapter.

Beyond Bethnal Green, and beyond the Irish Sea, there were plenty more raucous celebrations for those passionate about Poitín. A big thanks to One Goose Entry in Belfast, Jimmy Rabbittee’s in Dublin, Micil Distillery & Oslo Bar in Galway, and Cask Cork in.. erm, Cork, for taking part and helping boost the profile of this most boozy of holidays.

So that’s another year gone by, and another day of Poitín appreciation under our collective belts. We had a cracking time raising a glass of the pure drop with ya all, and hope that you did to.

‘Til next year. Slainté.

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Review: Halloween Ripper Walks 2018

This Hallow’s Eve, for the second year running, Discount Suit Company joined forces with the award-winning London Walks for a celebration of the macabre, as well as mixed drinks, during one of our ghoulish Ripper walks.

Guests were greeted outside by their guide for the evening, Simon Whitehouse, as well as a liquor-heavy spiced hot punch to warm the cockles on a crisp October eve.

At Discount we’re located plumb in the middle of Saucy Jack’s hunting grounds of yesteryear, so it was only a short stroll until our guests were traversing the dimly-lit streets of Whitechapel and Spitalfields, learning about his gruesome crimes.

They also got a chance to hear about the lesser-known side to the grisly saga – discovering details of the frenetic investigation conducted by police as they struggled to apprehend him on extremely limited evidence.

Two separate walks were conducted on the night, and one more was conducted on 30th due to high demand. All attendees over the two nights returned back to the warmth of the Discount bar to be greeted by a choice between two carefully-curated serves: the red Rum-soaked Rum Ripper, and the jet-black Dark Moon.

Dark Moon – Gin | Fruit Wine | Lemon | Cassis Bitters.

Rum Ripper – Dark Rum | English Tea-infused Grenadine | Lime | Apple | Absinthe | Pimento Dram | Club Soda.

Afterwards, guests were invited to stay behind at the bar, sample some of our menu favourites and while away the rest of the evening with some newly-learned Ripper trivia.

If you missed out never fear! There’ll be plenty more. Watch this space, or sign up to our newsletter for the inside track on all future dates.

 

 

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Review: The Dead Rabbit Taproom Takeover – TST

The crew from serial ‘World’s Best Bar’ winners – The Dead Rabbit – crossed the pond from New York to Bethnal Green for one night only, to take over our taproom and kick off London Cocktail Week in serious style.

As soon as The Dead Rabbit sawdust went down at 6pm, the doors were swung open and the crowds started streaming in.

Cocktails were slung out by the dozen in trademark fashion all night long, and so too was the Dead Rabbit’s ubiquitous Guinness pints, which found itself onto our taps just for the occasion.

By the time 7pm rolled around, and the crowd had been warmed up a little, Genesis, Jessica & Anna got behind the stick to show us how it’s done in the Big Apple, serving out a three-serve-strong cocktail list curated by their fantastic beverage director Jillian Vose – all showcasing their brand new Dead Rabbit Irish Whiskey.

Among the stellar line-up was the Lone Oak, – a heady mix of Irish Whiskey, Green Chartreuse, Curry Leaf, Lemon & Bitters – the ever-so-smooth Sweet Talker, – featuring the same Whiskey base, Passionfruit, Peach, Lemon & Orange Bitters – a classic Whiskey Highball featuring ginger beer courtesy of our mates over at Umbrella Brewing, and of course their world-famous Irish Coffee to round things off.

It was a special evening for the Umbrella boys, as their latest label art collaboration with the famous bar was also unveiled on the night. The new-look bottles drew their inspiration from the iconic comic-book style of The Dead Rabbit’s famous menus, and the exploits of the eponymous Dead Rabbit protagonist within. Fittingly, it coincided with the release of their 6th – and final – rendition, so it was indeed a special and poignant occasion.

The Musical soundtrack was provided by Dublin’s finest – Arveene – who took to the decks with a NY-heavy DJ set.

Plenty of Ramones, LCD Soundsystem, Beastie Boys, and other crowd favourites graced our airwaves during the course of his turntables stint.

Meanwhile, The Dead Rabbit Irish Whiskey was flowing like The Liffey, The Hudson, and the Ol’ Thames combined a the crowds revelled the night away and stuck around right ’til the bitter end.

One hell of a night all round then, and it was an absolute pleasure as always to work with the Dead Rabbit crew. Looking forwards to next year, and many more collaborations to come. Sláinte!

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Review: LCW at The Sun Tavern

London Cocktail week is now in the rearview, but there was a veritable smorgasbord of cocktail-soaked mayhem to look back upon here at The Sun Tavern.

Starting from the top, then. We kicked off in style by hosting a Slane Sunday Session on the Sunday.

Three cocktails were on offer, all made with the unique, triple-casked blend, Slane Irish Whiskey, and patrons could also get stuck into our iconic Beer ‘n’ a Bump. The night was accompanied by live music from our residents, playing classics from legendary Slane Castle gigs – which kept the Cèilidh cheer alive until the wee hours!

Tuesday saw us keep spirits high, with three top ‘tenders from serial ‘World’s Best Bar’ winners The Dead Rabbit gracing our taps for one night only.

Once the sawdust was down, the whiskey flowed like the Linney, Hudson and Ol’ Thames combined. Guests were also treated special line up of cocktails – all featuring their new Dead Rabbit Irish Whiskey – curated by The Dead Rabbit’s wonderful beverages director Jillian Vose.

Special guest DJ Arveene soon followed, and took to the turntables to throw out the bangers ’til late.

As there were more than a couple of us nursing a bit of a hangover the following morning, we decided to team up with our mates at Bán Poitín to put on big Bartenders’ Breakfast. We had a restorative tasting of the notorious Irish liquid while tucking into some delicious sausage butties, and paired them with some beautifully sweet and peppery Poitín Bloody Marys for all our hairy dog needs.

Then on Thursday 4th, following on from the 50 Best Bar Awards the night before, we had three cocktail creations on offer showcasing the legendary triple-distilled Irish Whiskey, Tullamore. A traditional Irish Band soundtracked the early evening, all followed by a DJ set to welcome in Friday in jovial fashion.

To bring our jam-packed London Cocktail Week’s celebrations to a close, come Friday we hosted a ‘Women In Whiskey’ talk and tasting. Five female whiskey ambassadors and pioneers dropped by to discuss their roles and enlighten guests on the significant part women have played in the history of whiskey – while guests enjoyed a free tasting of their wares.

All in all, a fittingly celebratory week and a big thank you to the crew at The Dead Rabbit crew, Slane, Tullamore, Bán, and all you other lovely people who came by our doors and made it a smashing few days. Til next year, slainte!

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Review: DSC – London Cocktail Week 2018

London Cocktail Week returned to the capital once more for another rendition, bringing the capitals finest cocktail bars together to celebrate all things mixed drink-related.

And, as per tradition, at Discount we got straight into the spirit of things, hosting a series of events and showcasing a number of cocktail creations over the course of the week.

Kicking things off on 2nd October, we threw a gin-soaked Four Pillars party to celebrate all things juniper. Highlights included a bespoke cocktail list exclusive to the night, special guests, and DJs taking to our decks ’til the small hours.

Then, come Wednesday, Fernet Branca and Buffalo Trace were in the building for a pre-party to the ‘Best Bar Awards’ afterparty – and free shots were doled out by the dozen to some very lucky patrons. Cheers.

As if that wasn’t enough, on 4th October we hosted a special Buffalo Trace Antiques Collection Masterclass in the afternoon, which consisted of an in-depth tasting and talk with Drew Mayville – Buffalo Trace’s Master Blender.

He made the journey all the way across the pond to join us and give our guests an unparalleled insight into the art of whisky blending so a big thank you to him.

Finally, all month long we mixed up a proper guest cocktail to mark this month of mixed-drink appreciation. We dubbed it the ‘Lion’s Rein’, featuring Buffalo Trace, Pimento Dram, Amaro, Lime and Maple Syrup.

All in all, a fittingly alcohol-drenched week to look fondly back upon here at Discount. Hope to see as many of you here next time round!

 

Lion’s Rein – Buffalo Trace Bourbon | Pimento Dram | Amaro | Lime | Maple Syrup.

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Buffalo Trace Antiques Selection Masterclass

The 4th October sees us host a very special Buffalo Trace Antiques Collection Masterclass in the afternoon, which will involve an in-depth, 2-hour long tasting and talk with Drew Mayville – Buffalo Trace’s Master Blender.

He’ll be making the journey all the way across the pond to Spitalfields to join us. Whilst here, he will be using his expertise to give our guests an unparalleled insight into the art of whiskey blending, spilling some serious insider knowledge on the finer points of the liquids along the way.

Kicking off just after lunch time at 1:30pm, giving guests a chance to line their stomachs beforehand, they will sip on five of the finest bourbons from Buffalo Trace’s Kentucky-based distillery, all aged between 6 and 18 years for your enjoyment.

You’ll also learn a bit about the history of the stuff, what makes bourbon distinct from other whiskey categories, and the varying processes of each, as you go.

Tickets are £20 and available here.

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Review: Strawberry Hells Forever Party – TST

Camden Town Brewery’s summer seasonal – Strawberry Hells Forever, landed once more this July, and we decided to team up to celebrate, as part of our Takeover Tuesday initiative.

Every summer since 2015, the folks at Camden have journeyed to Cammas Hall Farm on the Hertfordshire/Essex border to plunder their ripened, red strawberries.

Once they’ve returned to NW5 with their haul, the strawberries are added to their famous Camden Hells, to deliver a cloudy straw-tinted brew, slightly tart on the entrance, developing into a well-rounded, refreshing finish that deserves a bit of celebration.

With a nod to Strawberry Fields Forever – the song behind the name, we played host to a big Beatles-themed blowout, to mark this year’s resurrection on 24th July.

From the get go at 6pm, there were healthy £3 pints of the Strawberry Hells to wet our guests’ whistles. On top of this there were a limited run of cans, exclusive to the night, that we flung out for free while they lasted.

Beer flowing and rock ‘n’ roll filling the air, the time came for the night’s centrepiece.. with Umbrella Radio’s John Robinson and his mates clambering onto the roof to serenade those in attendance with a few choice Beatles bangers – Apple Building-style.

Bethnal Green Road was well and truly shut down, and it certainly got the party started – even the Old Bill turned a blind eye, it seems.

Although this was a very tough act to follow, our resident DJs duly did and did not disappoint, with Beatles hit after Beatles hit – mixed in with some other non-specific favourites – being thrown off the turntables with aplomb.

Guests twisted, shouted, and worked it all out ’til the small hours, and a great time was had by all.

If you missed out then never fear. Take a peek at the video below and soak in some of that Beatles (and lager!) drenched atmosphere.

https://www.facebook.com/thesuntavernbg/videos/2024738977786477/

Let me take you down, ‘cos we’re going to…..

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Top Bananas – Guest Cocktails – DSC

September’s guest serve was this cool cucumber – which we call Top Bananas.

For the occasion we teamed up with multi-award winning Rum producers, The Real McCoy.

Their Rum is borne out of the story of Bill McCoy, the pioneer rum runner of the Prohibition era.

In January of 1920, McCoy was the first to fill a boat with alcohol in the Caribbean, sail it up to New York City, and legally act as a floating liquor store three miles off shore.

McCoy made a name for himself because he never adulterated the alcohol. While copy-cat rum runners would dilute their alcohol with wicked chemicals like turpentine, wood alcohol and prune juice, McCoy never did. The sullied products were nicknamed “Booze,” “Hooch” and “Rot Gut,” while McCoy’s quality spirits became known as “The Real McCoy.”

Featuring a decent measure of The Real stuff as its base, for our serve we added some Wray & Nephew, some special Banana Wine, fragrant Cinnamon Syrup & rounded it all off with a squeeze of Lime.

The perfect liquid accompaniment – and a reminder of warmer climes – as we entered the colder Autumn months.

Check him out in all his glory below:

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Review: New Cocktail List Launch – DSC

July 18th saw the release of our brand new summer-ready cocktail lineup here at Discount Suit Company, our 9th menu.

As always, we kept close to our ethos of classic style drinks using traditional methods. However we also put some focus on spirits which are oft overlooked – Oloroso, Bergamot Aperitif and Quinquina Aperitivo to name but a handful.

With summer at its height, there are plenty of crisp, fresh concoctions to keep patrons refreshed, not least Frida, Bar Manager, Oli Blom’s creation inspired by his recent stint at The Umbrella Project’s latest adventure, Tulum’s concept hotel Casa Pueblo.

Combining staples, like hibiscus, Mezcal, lime, and much more this mixed drink medley utilises some of the finest ingredients Mexico has to offer to whisk you off to the Gulf.

Our doors opened at 6pm, and attendees found their way to their bar where they tasted some choice samples from our new lineup.

Meanwhile, Umbrella Radio’s resident DJs took to our turntables and span out some series funk, soul and motown hits to provide a jovial soundtrack the night.

Good times were had by all, and a big thanks to everyone who came down to say hi. If you missed out, never fear, our new serves are here to stay for the duration of the summer so there’s plenty of time to introduce yourselves.

So without any further ado, here’s our shiny new list in all it’s glory. Which is your favourite?

 

Frida – Hibiscus Mezcal | Sweet Vermouth | Apricot | Lime.

The Frenchman – Cognac | Yellow Chartreuse | Quinqina Aperitif | Maraschino | Bogart’s Bitters.

Big Sandy – Bourbon | Kopi Jahe Syrup | Cardamom Bitters.

Vitruvius – White Rum | Bergamot Aperitivo | Campari | Lime.

Another Pisco Drink – Pisco | Madeira | Fermented Pineapple Syrup | Lime | Chuncho Bitters.

Woo Tang – Vodka | Suze | Peach | Sparkling Wine | Cranberry Cordial.

El Matador – Oloroso | Pedro Ximinéz | Cherry Bounce | Pink Grapefruit.

Running Through The Drambles – Blended Scotch Whisky |Raspberry & Pear Shrub | Rhubarb Club Soda.

One For All (sharer) – Somerset Cider Brandy | Sweet Vermouth | Spiced Pear Cordial | Umbrella Brewing Ginger Beer | Jerry Thomas Bitters.

 

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Review: New Cocktail List Launch – TST

Last month, we at The Sun Tavern dropped our all-new summer-ready cocktail list and had a good old-fashioned party to celebrate.

There were plenty of good vibes, good people, banging drinks, and a boatload of free Bánh mì to boot.

We also had the pleasure of welcoming through our doors Mr David Preshaah – founder and head spinner at our good mates, Hoxton Radio – who took to the turntables and threw out some non-specific rock ‘n’ roll goodness.

The real star of the show, however (sorry, David), was our cocktail list which was debuting on the night.

While our past menus have focussed on the indigenous spirits of the world, this list goes that one step further.

Drawing inspiration from the food and drink beloved of each country, the cocktails have been designed as true representations of each nation – using only indigenous ingredients where possible, while also keeping themselves accessible.

Furthermore, each cocktail has been christened with the name of revolutionary spirits from each of the nations on show, paying reverence to the likes of Italy’s Giuseppe Mazzini, Mexico’s Pancho Villa, Sakatomo Ryōma of Japan, and Ireland’s Patrick Pearse.

They certainly hit the spot, as each and every one went down a treat. So, without further ado, let’s introduce you to one another:

 

Mazzini – Campari | Amaro Nonino | Coffee Liqueur | Orange | Double Cream

Named in honour of the Italian revolutionary who spearheaded the reunification movement, Mazzini utilises only the finest Italian produce and we’re willing to wager it’ll be the closest thing to liquid tiramisu you’ll ever have tasted.

 

Muñoz – Apricot-Infused Pisco | Pinot Noir | Cinnamon | Balsamic Shrub

Next in the spotlight is this sight for sore eyes. Inspired by, and named after, the revolutionary spirit of Chilean general, engineer, politician and benefactor – Pedro Pablo Muñoz, the drink makes use of Chilean staples, Pinot Noir and Pisco.

 

Pearse – Irish Whiskey | Sweet Potato-Infused Poitín | Lime | Oat Stout Syrup.

Making our way back across the Atlantic to more familiar climes, this one’s for Patrick Pearse – teacher, barrister, poet, and one of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. Widely regarded as the embodiment of the rebellion, the finest Irish ingredients are used to make up his honorary libation.

 

Villa – Mezcal | Popped Blue Corn Tequila | Chilli Liquor | Tepache Syrup | Mole Bitters

Hailing from the Mexican Altiplano, and christened in the name of the revolutionary general who once roamed it’s plains, we bring you Villa – a fiery serve with more than a little punch. Pancho would be proud.

 

Ryōma – Japanese Whisky | Umeshu | Yuzu | Ansam | Shisho Leaf Cordial

Named in honour of the man who overthrew the Tokugawa Shogunate, but who also at the same time paradoxically engineered peace between the remaining warring prefectures, Ryōma is our sweet-sour tribute to what some may call a complex man.

 

Paine – Bourbon | Rock ‘n’ Rye | Cassis | Lemon | Chocolate Peanut Butter Doughnut Syrup

Next up we’re turning our attention to the States, and the Englishman whose pamphlets inspired the American Revolution which in turn threw out his compatriots – Thomas Paine. Sweet, deep, varied and rich – much like the American sub-continent he called home – this serve’s a tonic for most occasions.

 

Le Bas – Calvados | Cognac | Green Chartreuse | Picon | Beetroot & Fennel Cordial | Club Soda

Named after the French revolutionary Phillipe-François-Joseph Le Bas (you can see now why we just opted for ‘Le Bas’), this libation utilises the finest French produce we have to hand to create a fragrant, well-balanced, and eminently drinkable serve. Some in his day called ol’ Philippe cold – but that’s just how we like ’em at The Sun.

Come and grab your favourite while they’re chilly and the weather is hot.

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