New Bar Spy - The Duchess of Dalston

The Duchess of Dalston is a stylish East London bar knocking up potent cocktails with a local edge. From the team behind some of the capital's most sought-after drinking spots, ahem, Callooh Callay and Little Bat, this beauty is combining award-winning mixology skills with a strong community ethos to create a regularly changing collection of signature concoctions. 

So what's the gist? The Kingsland Road haunt is making its quirky tipples using ingredients sourced from neighbouring artisans and businesses, as well as from herbs grown in its own rooftop garden. What's more, to make sure sips are in keeping with the season - and to keep punters on their toes - menus are updated every fortnight. Expect the likes of Summer of Joy; a mix of tequila and sake with Bermondsey honey, jam and soda, or a heady serve of whiskey, vermouth, discarded banana rum and cacao, known as a St. Mark's.