Black Rock Shanghai is a whisky bar that carries more than 170 labels. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.

Cocktail Bar Black Rock Shanghai, A Citadel of Whisky

0 Shares
0
0
0

Black Rock is a cocktail bar that specializes in whisky. It’s not any ordinary whiskey bar, but rather a library, nay, a citadel dedicated to whisky that caters for novices and connoisseurs alike.

Black Rock is a cocktail bar that specializes in all things whisky.

The original Black Rock is located in Shoreditch, London. It opened in 2016 with the purpose of making whisky approachable. The Shanghai location, tucked in a secluded corner on Fumin Lu under the Yan’an Lu overpass, intends to continue that ethos. Making this possible is bar manager and partner Colin Tait (Shake, Heyday). He’s selected nearly 180 different whiskies for the bar, and fashioned signature cocktails and classy highballs.

Black Rock is a cocktail bar that specializes in all things whisky.

As for the space, the defining feature of Black Rock its centerpiece, a 1.5-ton table made from an Erima tree from Papua New Guinea. Inside are two rivers of drink, aging in the rare wood, topped up from one end and poured out from the other. This means the liquid is constantly evolving as it ages at different times—no one dram tastes the same. This even has a name: the solera system. It’s very cool.

Black Rock is a cocktail bar that specializes in all things whisky.

The space accommodates up to 50, seated at the communal tables, lounge areas, and a small semi-private room. That said, there isn’t a bar to rest your elbows on. There’s also patio seating outside, and Black Rock stocks cigars for those who like to indulge.

Black Rock is a cocktail bar that specializes in all things whisky. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence

There are a few ways to sample what Black Rock has to offer. Firstly, by perusing the shelves of whisky and selecting by the glass or bottle. They have quite the collection of rare whiskies, bottles of which could run up in the thousands. And if you’re a connoisseur, there’s ample choice for you to explore.

Black Rock is a cocktail bar that specializes in all things whisky. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence

Then there are cocktails and fancified highballs. These are all categorized into smoke, sweet, balance, spice, fruit, and fragrance.

Inside the table is the house whisky blend, recommended neat, and a Boulevadier, aging in American oak. Either of these are ¥98.

Black Rock is a cocktail bar that specializes in all things whisky. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence
Boulevadier
Black Rock is a cocktail bar that specializes in all things whisky. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence
Spice, Cocktail (¥98) – Dewars 8 year, Ginger of the Indies liqueur, rosemary chili honey, and lemon. Comparable to a whisky sour, minus the egg foam, gently spiced with ginger. It’ll wake you up, that’s for sure.
Black Rock is a cocktail bar that specializes in all things whisky. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence
(L) Smoke, Cocktail (¥98) – Ragtime Rye, Lagavulin 16 year, and marshmallow cordial. Ultra smooth, like an old fashioned.
(R) Balance, Cocktail (¥110) – Dalwhinnie 15 year and Blanc Vermouth, garnished with an olive. Like a 50-50 martini with a distinct saltiness. My favorite. Absolutely sessionable.
Black Rock is a cocktail bar that specializes in all things whisky. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence
(L) Smoke, Highball (¥98) – Talisker 10 year, Crème de Cassis, pastis, and soda water. The smokiness is subtle, which I appreciate. I’d trade in my usual highballs for this.
(R) Sweet, Highball (¥98) – Chivas 12 year, Banane du Bresil, Fever Tree Mediterranean tonic. Candy cane sweet, perhaps a gateway choice for novice whisky drinkers.

There’s also a snacks menu, courtesy of chef Danyi Gao (Shake, Bun Cha Cha). I feel that some bars overthink bar snacks instead of serving food that is simple and satisfying. And Black Rock has some excellent bar snacks, ones that will keep people around drinking for longer.

Black Rock is a cocktail bar that specializes in all things whisky. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence
Pont-l’Eveque Graindorge AOP (¥38), a soft, rich and creamy full-bodied cheese. There are about seven cheeses to choose from.
Black Rock is a cocktail bar that specializes in all things whisky. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence
Roasted Spicy Sausages (¥58) – Chinese cured sausages lightly spiced with Sichuan peppercorn and pearl onions. Addictive, as in, once you pop, you can’t stop.
Black Rock is a cocktail bar that specializes in all things whisky. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence
Meatballs (¥78) drenched in blue cheese and cream sauce. Simple, tasty, and filling.

Black Rock has a comfortable, chill vibe. It’s busy but not crowded. What did surprise me when I visited—and bear with me here on the stereotype—is that the crowd was mostly women. That was certainly refreshing to see and wasn’t my expectation when I walked in. Black Rock also has a great sound system—you can have a conversation without going hoarse.


Black Rock Shanghai
Address: 41 Fumin Lu, near Yan’an Xi Lu 富民路41号, 近延安西路
Tel: 52922109
Hours: Mon-Sun, 7pm-2am

0 Shares
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like