The Vintage House

The Vintage House has sold single malts from the same shopfront at 42 Old Compton Street since the 1940s, and remains the best-known whisky shop in Soho. Behind its window is a family business that now stocks more than 1,300 whiskies, from everyday bottles to rare and exclusive bottlings, with a dedicated Malt Whisky Room given over entirely to the good stuff.

The shop is run by owner Malcolm Mullin, who has kept a front-row seat on the neighbourhood for close to forty years. Under him The Vintage House has grown from a whisky specialist into a broader merchant, carrying Armagnacs dating back as far as 1879, plus wine, port, sherry, brandy, gin and liqueurs, and one of the largest selections of Habanos cigars in central London.

What to expect from this whisky shop in Soho

The range rewards browsing. It runs from affordable everyday drams to collectors' bottlings you will struggle to find elsewhere, and the staff are used to steering both beginners and serious enthusiasts. The cigar humidor and the deep spirits shelves make it as much a destination for a gift or a special occasion as for a bottle to take home.

More than whisky

The breadth is part of the appeal. Beyond the whisky wall you will find vintage Armagnacs, fortified wines and a spirits list that covers most of what a well-stocked cellar needs, along with the Habanos cigars the shop is known for. It sits among other Old Compton Street institutions, and you can find its neighbour Gerry's Wines & Spirits and the wider Soho wine merchants in our directory.

How a visit works

The Vintage House trades as a shop rather than a bar, so you come to buy and to browse rather than to drink in. It keeps long retail hours and welcomes questions, whether you are after a first single malt or a rare bottling. Its current range and tasting notes are on its official site.