London’s oldest independent whisky specialist
London’s oldest independent whisky specialist
Founded in 1964
Milroy’s was founded in 1964 by John ‘Jack’ Milroy. We’re proud of our rich history, and we’re passionate about bringing incredible spirits to the drinks lovers of today.
John built Milroy’s from the ground up. With help from his brother Wallace, he bought our store at 3 Greek Street. Committed to offering exceptional value, he built a rich offering of the finest wines and spirits, offered at competitive prices. ‘Milroy’s Soho Wine Market’ soon became the go-to for spirits, wines and Champagne.
Single malts began to emerge in the 1960s and 1970s, and John was ahead of the trend. Glenfarclas and Glenfiddich were becoming widely available, alongside much-loved blended Scotch names. John made sure he had them all in stock. Before long, he had the largest selection of single malts available in London.
Milroy’s: Scotch and beyond
The family owned shop was growing in renown. John and the team even supplied No. 10 Downing Street! Word spread, and the two brothers were soon invited to tour Japan to discover the whisky industry there. On their trip they hosted a number of tastings – we still have customers today who remember the Japan events!
Once back in London, the two brothers set about spreading the good whisky word further. They started to bottle their own whisky expressions – something we still do today. Tastings and events became centre stage too. Many in the drinks industry now recall the two brothers in their shop, attended events, or even worked alongside them on the shop floor.
John continued to bottle whiskies, and Wallace wrote the Malt Whisky Almanac, a celebrated guide to whisky still in-print today. By the time they sold the business in 1993 they were known worldwide as the preeminent whisky experts of their day.
Milroy’s remained in safe hands. Mark Reynier, who went on to successfully open Islay’s Bruichladdich Distillery before founding Ireland’s Waterford Distillery, ran the business for some time.
Whisky specialists in the heart of London
Milroy’s of Soho became independent again in 2014. While we love our history, everything we do is focused on the modern wine and spirits drinker.
Our 3 Greek Street store is still a whisky lover’s treasure trove. The ground floor is filled to the brim with the most exciting whiskies, available to sip in the bar or buy to take away. The cellar has been transformed into The Vault cocktail bar, offering exciting yet unpretentious serves. Come on a Monday and you’ll even be treated to live jazz!
In 2019 we opened our East London outpost: Milroy’s of Spitalfields. The four-storey townhouse is a cathedral to great drinks. Our ground floor bar and shop brings the same energy as our Soho location. Underground, The Proofing Room offers delicious cocktails with a neighbourhood bar vibe. Upstairs, The Dram House private members club offers a private tasting room and an exclusive cigar terrace.
Today our customers can be found all around the world. We offer international shipping from our online shop, but we also know our neighbours by name. And our collectors know they can rely on us to help them source old and rare malts. We’ve kept up John Milroy’s tradition and offer our very own independently bottled whiskies, rums, Cognacs and more, too!
events calendar
Wherever you drink with us, you can be assured of a warm welcome. Check out our events calendar for upcoming tastings, and make a reservation for cocktails via The Vault or The Proofing Room. Or just pull up a bar stool in our whisky bars and enjoy a dram!
Our bottlings
Since 1964 we’ve been seeking out the finest spirits and bottling them as our own. Whether you’re looking for single malt whisky, blended Scotch, rum, Cognac or something more esoteric, we’ve got the independent bottling for that.
Our spirits experts are constantly on the look-out for the fascinating, the unusual and the downright delicious. Milroy’s bottlings offer all this and more – and always at an extraordinary price.
New in
Brand new spirits! This is the page to bookmark if you want to keep up-to-date with the latest whisky, gin, rum, agave spirits and Cognac releases. From old favourites to hot-off-the-bottling-line expressions, you can find them all here.
events & tastings
We’ve been hosting public, private and corporate tastings at our renowned London bars – and on the road – for almost 60 years. We are proud of our culture of knowledge. Our expert staff are highly passionate experts in their field – and they can’t wait to share their spirited wisdom with you.
Our tastings are intimate and friendly events, ranging from our ever-popular Introduction to Whisky sessions to immersive evenings dedicated to Old and Rare spirits. We also host cocktail nights, and welcome folks from across the industry to come and share their stories.
We encourage respectful debate and love to hear your whisky tales. There’s no better pairing than remarkable drams and great conversation. Check out our events calendar to see what’s coming up and book your seat.
Why not let us host your occasion? If you’re planning a whisky-related birthday, corporate event, or just want somewhere atmospheric to get together, get in contact. We’d be delighted to discuss your needs!
Collectors & the trade
We’ve been working closely with collectors, experts and the trade all around the world since we were founded in 1964. And we know that your needs and requirements can be very different.
Old, rare and collectable bottles
We’ve been buying and selling old whiskies, from vintage Macallan to Port Ellen, Karuizawa to Chichibu, for almost 60 years. We independently value, check and verify every single bottle, with our expert team boasting combined centuries of experience. We also offer the latest releases from the world’s leading distilleries and we’re able to secure even the scarcest allocations. If you’re looking for something specific to add to your collection, or you’d like us to help grow your portfolio, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.
Whisky broking
We’ve built up an expansive network of clients and fellow enthusiasts over the years. This, combined with our long history and established reputation, means we’re uniquely placed to find the right home for your whiskies at the very best price. We offer this without the publicity, fees, or time requirements of an auction. We’ll always offer free, discreet consultation and valuation, followed by a swift transaction should you wish to sell either one bottle or your whole collection. Reach out to find out more or book a consultation.
Customer reserves
We offer duty-paid and in-bond storage, all with comprehensive insurance, at our temperature controlled, state-of-the-art warehouses. Our customers take advantage of competitive rates and flexible international shipping.
Please get in touch for further information
