From bourbon masterclasses, to live music and classic cocktails, sophisticated Sibin Speakeasy offers it all.

Today we venture out to an area that I hardly ever visit, except perhaps for an odd trip to the National Gallery or the Coliseum. Although venturing is a wrong word here, since the area in question is right in the centre of London.

The culprit is the must visit in all London guides Trafalgar Square, going away from that just down the Whitehall and on the left is a well-hidden secluded bar. Located in Great Scotland Yard Hotel part of the Hyatt Group is Sibin Speakeasy.

However, it has speakeasy in the tittle for a reason, so don’t mistake the main hotel’s bar for Sibin. It looks stunning but that’s not Sibin. We almost made that mistake when we arrived.

Sibin is camouflaged away behind a wall, move the correct book on a bookshelf and the magic door opens leading to one of the best whisky collections I’ve seen.

Sibin, meaning unlicensed home-made whiskey in Gaelic, also later became a name for an illicit bar or club (shebeen) where alcoholic beverages were sold without a license.

To make these bars more discreet they were often hidden away in basements and didn’t look stylish. But unlike its close relations, Sibin is far from that. It’s a polished establishment with teal velvet seating, marble and dark wood.Above the bar Its ceiling is adorned with countless clear bottles creating a stunning display.  

The Sibin’s ideal guest is a whisky lover, or someone seeking a unique experience. The cocktails list is tempting, even to a non-whisky orientated customer.

It’s mostly hotel guests here today, as it’s quite a compact bar and bookings are highly recommended. We saw a few guests turned down due to capacity.

For our visit we share a few cocktails, two bar snacks: steak tartare and then prawns, followed by the whisky experience. I’m rather impressed by both of the snacks.

The steak tartare comes infused with essence of wood, on a bed of creamy wild mushrooms with sourdough crackers on a side.

It’s a stunning dish, fresh and full of umami flavour. The ingredients are perfectly put together, we give it a little mix to incorporate the creamy mushroom paste with the meat.

A few whole mushrooms add a great bite to the dish too. It’s only £12, which surprises us both. You can easily price it for £18 or even £20.

Having said that prawns are a bargain as well, priced at even less £11. It’s carabinero prawns on a sweet potato puree served in a seaweed tapioca cracker.

Carabinero is one of my favourite varieties, because of their unique sweetness and meaty texture. The prawns are marinated in preserved lemon allowin the flavour to flourish, while sweet potato adds an earthy note. It’s a very delicate and light dish.

It goes well with The Clandestine and A Shebeen cocktails. The Clandestine is light slightly golden drink thanks to a rich oaky Tromba Anejo with noticeable smokiness of Casamigos Mezcal Joven.

The elderflower and grapefruit add a refreshing yet complex finish. It’s the drink to sip on its own or with snacks.

While A Shebeen is a bold and sophisticated cocktail that brings together the warmth of Singelton 12 single malt whisky, with the delicate complexity of eau de vie, creating a velvet base.

A hint of Campari adds its distinct yet subtle bitter edge and pineapple rounds it up with its tropical finish.

In addition to Sibin’s special the cocktail list also has the classics such as Old Fashioned, Paperplane and Penicillin to name a few. As well as their signature whisky and bourbon book experience.

Each bourbon experience consists of three cocktails offering a deep insight into the history of the main spirit and processes and inspirations behind the making of the pairing.

Sibin Speakeasy is one of a kind. From a vast hard liquor collection to talented bartenders who can whip up any creation a guest desires. It’s also the bar to visit during colder months offering a sophisticated escape from the cold and Christmas chaos.   

Sibin Speakeasy, 3-5 Great Scotland Yard, London SW1A 2HN