Scots distillery will recreate the era of Prohibition American with new Speakeasy

A Scots distillery firm is to celebrate the golden age of American whiskey by opening its own Speakeasy.

The Spice & Rye will be a vibrant Speakeasy cocktail bar and will open from 20–24 March, in Fitzrovia, London.

The creation of the spice-inspired, roaring 1920s-style temporary bar marks the release of Glenmorangie Spìos: the 9th release in the Highland single malt’s explorative Private Edition range.

Glenmorangie Spìos (Gaelic for ‘spice’ and pronounced ‘spee-oss’) is the first ever single malt scotch that has been entirely aged in American ex-rye whiskey casks and showcases Glenmorangie’s expertise and experimentation with different types of wood.

The Glenmorangie Spios Speakeasy Bar

Situated on Percy Street, Spice & Rye will celebrate rye whiskey’s heyday as the spirit of choice at the turn of the last century, taking visitors through a series of sensory spice and cocktail moments, whilst they are tucked away in the stunning Art-Deco style décor and furnishings.

Guests will enter the bar via an apothecary-style spice shop, where they will be greeted by a mysterious spice seller offering an array of exotic epicurean delights.

They will be invited to continue their journey by stepping through a hidden entrance in the shop to navigate their way through a secret passageway that will transport them into one of the most dynamic and exhilarating decades of the past.

Once ensconced inside the lively 1920s-style space, guests will be hosted by insightful bartenders telling entertaining tales, wisecracking hosts and a swinging jazz band elevating the atmosphere. At the bar, imbibers will be invited to choose from an array of delectable bespoke drinks, each one inspired by a time that made whisky cocktails so significant and using a selection of spices and unique flavours.

Glenmorangie Spìos, the Private Edition for 2018

Serves include:

• High & Rye: made with Glenmorangie The Original, ginger, pineapple, topped off with rye beer;
• Bloodstone: a twist on the classic Blood & Sand, made with coffee infused Glenmorangie The Quinta Ruban, Rubino and Cocchi Torino;
• Chapel St Sour: a blend of Glenmorange Nectar D’Or, Rinquinquin, lemon and toasted coriander seed.

For those wanting to explore Glenmorangie’s range of award-winning whiskies, tasting flights and drams will be available. These include whiskies finished in a range of bespoke casks: Sauternes (Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or), Sherry (Glenmorangie Lasanta) and Port (Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban) and, of course, the new Glenmorangie Spìos.

As the original whiskey used to create some of the world’s most renowned cocktails in the 1920s, American rye then fell out of favour as Scotch became more sought after. Now, as rye whiskey once again becomes one of the sought after dark spirits of the moment, Spice & Rye showcases the coming together of cultures: one of Scotland’s most celebrated single malts with arguably America’s most in vogue influential dark spirit.

Spice & Rye will open its doors at 14 Percy Street, Fitzrovia, London W1.

Guests are advised to pre-book online and reserve their space in the bar with one of the bespoke cocktails or a dram of Spìos HERE.