Most people know Fiena for coffee, pasta and spritzes. Behind the bar, though, there's a short but serious list of spirits, from Japanese whisky to aged tequila. Here's a guide to what we pour at Fiena, our family-run Italian cafe, bar and restaurant at 4 Medway Court, Judd Street, London WC1H 9QX, near King's Cross St Pancras.
Japanese whisky
We pour two Japanese whiskies, both from Suntory:
- Suntory Yamazaki comes from the Yamazaki distillery in Osaka Prefecture, which opened in 1923 as Japan's first commercial whisky distillery.
- Suntory Hibiki is a blended whisky. The name means "resonance" or "echo", and it was introduced in 1989.
Background from Wikipedia's pages on the Yamazaki distillery and Hibiki.
Scotch, Irish and American whiskey
The whiskey list runs from easy-drinking favourites to single malts for sipping: Jameson, Jack Daniel's, Monkey Shoulder, Johnnie Walker Black Label, Glenmorangie Lasanta 12, Balvenie 12 and Dalmore 15. Lasanta is one of Glenmorangie's wood-finish whiskies, named in the range alongside Quinta Ruban and Nectar d'Or.
Bourbon
Maker's Mark, Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve and Bulleit Rye. Buffalo Trace comes from a distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, that claims to be the oldest continuously operating distillery in the United States.
Tequila and mezcal
A bigger agave list than you might expect: Patron Silver and Reposado, Casamigos Blanco, Reposado and Añejo, Don Julio Reposado, and Casamigos Mezcal. Tequila is a type of mezcal made only from blue agave, while mezcal can be made from many kinds of agave and usually has a smoky flavour. On a tequila list, blanco means unaged (or rested for under two months), reposado has spent at least two months in oak, and añejo at least a year.
Whisky in a cocktail
If you'd rather have your bourbon mixed, two classics on our drinks menu use Buffalo Trace:
- Old fashioned: Buffalo Trace bourbon, Angostura bitters and gomme syrup. It's one of the earliest cocktails: the recipe dates to the early 1800s, and the name to the 1880s.
- Whiskey sour: Buffalo Trace, fresh lemon and gomme syrup, with a vegan foam.
Tequila fans can go for a Margarita on Tequila Ocho, classic or spicy. Every cocktail is made with a 50ml spirit measure. See our post on cocktails at Fiena for the full list.
Also behind the bar
- Gin: Beefeater, Beefeater Pink, Hendricks, Monkey 47, Gin Mare and Dara Gin.
- Rum: Bacardi, Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, Havana Club 7 Year Old, Eminente and Ron Santiago.
- Vodka: Ketel One, Grey Goose, Belvedere, Stolichnaya and Beluga Noble.
- Brandy: Hennessy, Courvoisier VS and XO, Metaxa and Remy Martin.
Spirits are served in 25ml measures.
What guests say
Leni's review didn't waste words: Amazing drinks, amazing food, amazing music!
(Leni, Google review) R C agreed: The drinks were also really good.
(R C, Google review) Yasmeen noted that the cocktails were delicious
(Yasmeen H., Google review).
Good to know
- When: alcoholic drinks are served from 10:30 until close, 22:00 Monday to Saturday and 21:00 on Sunday.
- Food with it: the main menu runs from midday, with sharing starters that go well with a drink.
- Booking: tables for up to eight can be booked online. Walk-ins are welcome whenever we have space.
- Address: 4 Medway Court, Judd St, London WC1H 9QX. Phone 020 4618 6314.
Pull up a stool and ask what's open. Book a table or walk in at 4 Medway Court, Judd Street.