Burnt Faith: inside Blackhorse Lane’s brandy house – and what to eat

After writing about Devil’s Botany, the UK’s first absinthe distillery and tasting room the other week (read it here), Burnt Faith was next on the list. Why? Because it’s doing exactly the same thing with brandy – albeit on a much larger scale.

Billing itself as the UK’s first dedicated Brandy House, it’s a spirited addition to the many boozy businesses of Blackhorse Road, and yet this repurposed warehouse, tucked away off Blackhorse Lane, is a little harder to find.

Still, climbing the stairs – the distillery itself is on the ground floor, and not open to visit in the evening – there’s a definite wow factor as you enter the industrial main room, pictured above. The bar is backlit, lined with bottles of brandy, while the best tables have a view right over the vast copper still below: it’s surprisingly dramatic. A slogan screams on the far wall – Brandy Without Boundaries – and you get the impression the owners are rightfully on a mission here to push a spirit that not many of us perhaps even consider on a night out.

The drinks menu showcases the classic cocktails with an innovative edge and local nod. Each is served with a neat pour of Burnt Faith’s signature Batch One to allow us to “appreciate the base spirit inside the drink,” the server tells us. This is a good move, rooting our experience back to the concept of the venue. Sipping the house spirit, it’s packed with fruit, a little caramel and even perhaps a touch of chocolate.

We opted for a classic cocktail tasting flight (£19) each, pictured above, so we could try four different takes on the spirit: a Burnt Negroni, Vieux Carre, Cacao Old Fashioned and a Sazerac. It’s an enjoyable way to taste the libations with brandy replacing, say, the gin in the negroni. Its smooth, sweet notes certainly dominate when it’s paired with other spirits, including, in the case of the Sazerac, a very heady combo of both rye whisky and Devil’s Botany absinthe (yikes). Make sure you sip the accompanying water, too.

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As the space filled, and thoughts turned to food, it was time to soak up the liquor with patties from Black Cactus, the BBQ residency. Our classic Fat Mac cheeseburger was a mighty half a pound of rib and brisket – served pink – and smoked from a dry-aged ex-dairy cow, with dill pickles onion, “big mac sauce” and a sesame brioche bun. A flavourbomb, it won out over our other choice, the Miso Hoggy which, despite adding smoked miso and bacon jam with truffle mayo, wasn’t quite as memorable. Zingy salsa verde slaw and salt and pepper fries? Also good.

My favourite cocktail, however, was the superlative Espresso Martini ordered after dinner – possibly the finest I can remember tasting – which paired Batch One brandy with a coffee liqueur and creme de cacao. Less successful was a twist on Cider and Black (which those of a certain age may remember imbibing), mixing a signature apple brandy with blackcurrant cordial and yuzu soda. Memories of alco-pops came flooding back.

But the overall verdict? Burnt Faith is a unique date-night venue just a short hop on the Overground, once again underlining the number of pioneering venues in our wider neighbourhood. As well as brandy tastings, there are superclubs, masterclasses and tours. It’s open Thursday-Sunday, 57 Sutherland Road E17 6BH, @burntfaith.

Thanks to Brandy House for hosting us on this occasion.

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