New-world whisky

04 : 07 : 2016 London : Bar : Whisky

London – Black Rock is a subterranean whisky bar designed to make the liquor more accessible.

  • Unlike in most bars, whiskies at Black Rock are ordered by flavour not provenance
  • The goal is to demystify whisky and make it a more understandable drinking exerperience
Black Rock, London. Photography by Addie Chin Black Rock, London. Photography by Addie Chin
Black Rock, London. Photography by Addie Chin Black Rock, London. Photography by Addie Chin
Black Rock, London. Photography by Addie Chin Black Rock, London. Photography by Addie Chin
Black Rock, London. Photography by Addie Chin Black Rock, London. Photography by Addie Chin
Black Rock, London. Photography by Addie Chin Black Rock, London. Photography by Addie Chin

Black Rock, founded by Tom Aske and Tristan Stephenson, the duo behind Worship Street Whistling Shop, has more than 250 whiskies available, but they don’t sit behind the bar as you might expect. Instead, they are stored in cabinets with labels such as Balance or Fragrance.

This method of organising the whisky moves away from the traditional sorting by region or by brand, and enables whisky novices to approach the drink with something they understand: flavour. ‘If you are a [whisky novice] brand names don't mean anything,’ Aske tells LS:N Global. ‘People understand flavours that they like.’

The centrepiece of Black Rock is an 18-feet table made from 185-year old English oak. Two channels have been carved into the oak, lined with American and European oak and covered with a glass top. Drinkers can sip their whisky while the ageing process happens beneath their glass, in the channels where the Black Rock team ages whisky cocktails as well as their own house blend.

The Big Picture

Black Rock abandons tradition in favour of creating a drinking experience that focuses on discovery. For more on why consumers are favouring serendipity over predictability, see our Revelation Brands macrotrend.

Discover More Daily Signals
The North Face fuses ancient art with performance gear

Daily Signals

The North Face fuses ancient art with performance gear

As Lunar New Year approaches, The North Face is celebrating both the Year of the Horse and its 60th anniversary with a limited-edition collection t...
Fashion : Luxury : Sports
How AI is unlocking sleep as a predictive health tool

Daily Signals

How AI is unlocking sleep as a predictive health tool

Researchers at Stanford Medicine have developed SleepFM, the first AI model capable of predicting the risk of more than 100 diseases from just one ...
Health : Technology : AI
Stat: China records lowest birth rate since 1949

Daily Signals

Stat: China records lowest birth rate since 1949

China’s birth rate has fallen to its lowest level since 1949, despite renewed government efforts to encourage parenthood.
China : Statistic : Population
Why LYMA is putting clinical evidence at the centre of skin longevity

Daily Signals

Why LYMA is putting clinical evidence at the centre of skin longevity

Aesthetic technology brand LYMA has unveiled its new campaign, The Science of Youth, combining clinical research with a fresh educational content s...
Beauty : Science : Longevity
Foresight Friday: Fiona Harkin, director of foresight

Daily Signals

Foresight Friday: Fiona Harkin, director of foresight

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, director of foresight Fio...
Human Behaviour : Globalisation : New World Order
Stat: Car sales still depend on human interaction

Daily Signals

Stat: Car sales still depend on human interaction

Despite a major push from automakers and third-party platforms, only 7% of car buyers in the US complete their purchase entirely online, according ...
Mobility : Retail : Statistic
Stat: Five minutes of daily exercise could help millions of people live longer

Daily Signals

Stat: Five minutes of daily exercise could help millions of people live longer

According to a study by the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, an extra five minutes of daily exercise and 30 minutes less sitting could significa...
Health : Society : Statistic
Pentagram crafts human-centric identity to bring GEIUK gender data to life

Daily Signals

Pentagram crafts human-centric identity to bring GEIUK gender data to life

Independent design agency Pentagram has created a visual identity for GEIUK, the UK’s first tool to measure, map and monitor gender inequality at l...
Design : Data : Gender
Balenciaga signals deeper sport alignment with new range

Daily Signals

Balenciaga signals deeper sport alignment with new range

Luxury fashion house Balenciaga has partnered with the National Basketball Association (NBA) on an autumn 2026 capsule collection that brings baske...
Fashion : Luxury : Sport
Girlfans England puts female fans at the heart of football culture

Daily Signals

Girlfans England puts female fans at the heart of football culture

Built to challenge the sustained oversight of women in football fan media, Girlfans has launched its first national edition.
Sport : GIRLFANS : Football
You have 0 free Daily Signals remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN