Type of Bar: Rum
Damage: ££
Ideal for: Small Groups, Date
Yeah, I’m late to the Burlock party, sue me.
Until I got there and regretted not going earlier.
Burlock is London’s latest rum bar on Duke St Mayfair, and how gorgeous it is. In a basement, the ingenious lighting and décor evokes a secluded rum den in sunset Havana, up to a rather random hair station in one corner – with the occasional hairdresser for the customers!
Bizarre, yes, but we ain’t here for the hair, let’s get down to business.
The Rum-ember the Maine
A quick look at the crowd, and this is definitely Marylebone. The space is dark and romantic, definitely a good option for choice friends for a night cap.
Cosying up on an armchair underneath the lit blinds, we peruse the menu, and the Rum-ember the Maine catches my eye. Mezan XO rum, cherry brandy, Martini Rosso, IPA, Cornish Pastis (yes), and Embers. I asked the server to turn down the cherry brandy because I was expecting this to be a tad too sweet for me, but I wish I also asked for more pastis. A bit too much taking place here, and the much of the flavour gets drowned out. A hint of the pastis comes through in the liquorice linger after, but mangled sweetness dominate the heft of the palate.
The Canchanchara suffers similarly. White rum, lime and honey, but entirely too much honey. The result is sugar sweet.
Good old Rum Old Fashioned
The short and exceedingly sweet leaning menu meant we went off-menu and so glad we did!
A regular Daiquiri came off much better balanced and wonderfully tart, frosty and uplifting, exactly what the Hoodooist needed! Sometimes simpler is better.
Similarly, I wanted to relax after that effervescent cocktail, and wanted to see how Burlock handles a reliable classic.
A Rum Old Fashioned it is, asking for the rum menu it turns out the bar does not have one, which is one thing I wish was done – but wandering off to the bar, asked for Plantation XO Barbados 20th Anniversary.
Love, love, love this cocktail.
The spicy tropical fruit and banana wafts on the nose, hints of oak. Spice and coconut on the palate, velvety and luxurious. Caramel lingers after. Gorgeous.
We end a wonderful evening with doubles of Plantation Pineapple (easily the toast of 2016), with it’s ripe banana and pineapple flavours with a light spice. Relaxing into the folds of the couch, this was an evening well spent.
If I *had* to be more critical, really, all I’d say is the menu could use a bit more flavour variety, unique though it may be.
Service is spot on, booking is necessary. Burlock is a welcome addition to a bar scene in a year where London has lost many giants. The Hoodooist is optimistic once again.
Drinks: ***-****
Atmosphere: ****
Service: ****
Burlock
31 Duke St, Marylebone,
London W1U 1LG
Highball Hoodoo 