Going south to go east

A short trip to the Baltic (Bar)

I am feeling slightly jaded today. It is my own fault. I went south of the river to go all eastern Europe.

I dashed in through ridiculously heavy April hailstones with some friends from the polar opposite worlds of investment management and boxing into the Baltic Bar and Restaurant.

Heavily Polish, from the staff to the food, this is a great spot just south of Blackfriars Bridge to sample the many different types of vodka on offer. Whilst the regional Polish food is very good it was the vodka we were keen on yesterday.

From a huge list from all over the Baltic and Nordic states it is possible to sample grain, rye, potato, wheat, spelt, barley and malt spirit vodkas.

Small shots, without mixers it is a journey of taste exploration around northern and eastern Europe. Just as with my other spirit of choice, Scotch malt whisky, there is a huge range and variety of tastes.

Huge glass jars also sit behind the bar with a big selection of vodkas the bar staff flavour with fruits and aromatics. From strawberry to cherry, from lemon to chilli.

It was a huge amount of fun to pass the evening away sampling and tasting and chatting it all through with the very knowledgeable and friendly Polish bar staff. They were only too willing to pass on tasting tips and make ever more suggestions. Well I guess they would wouldn’t they.

If you are ever down that way I recommend a quick, or maybe not so quick visit, to sample the warm welcome and even more warming vodkas.

Na zdrowie!