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Newly opened in November, the Chelsea Drugstore has been on my radar and to do list for quite some time. Entering on a Friday night, the upstairs bar was packed, so my friend and I opted to go downstairs, which proved to have a better atmosphere. It certainly felt like we were underground, with the exposed red brick walls and low hanging lights.

The staff offered warm smiles and my friend and I immediately asked for the cocktail menu. Despite a positive first impression, it all took a turn when I actually tried the drinks. My first drink was the For Rita, which had a rum base. If anything, it was entertaining to watch it being made. It was topped with a lime, which served as a miniature bowl for a shot of Havana 3 year rum, with pomegranate seeds swimming in it. Unexpectedly, the top of the lime got set on fire. I was lightly instructed to wait until it went out, and then tip the rum into my drink. It tasted very fiery and zesty with a strange bite to it. I was bemused and entertained by its creation, but ultimately disappointed by its taste. My friend went for the Raimunda, which had Illegal Mezcal, Olmeca Blanco, Aperol and Grapefruit, and was garnished with a jalapeno. It was spicy, smoky and the grapefruit bitters made it tart.

My second round was the Cnuas, with a Jameson base, which the Chelsea Drugstore describes as malty, seasonal and creamy. With Pistachio syrup and an overwhelming amount of nutmeg, it tasted like Christmas, but not in a good way. Taking a break from this, I tried my friend’s new drink, the Fay Ray. While deciding that I also wasn’t mad about this, I had a minor revelation. Somehow, despite their different spirits and ingredients, all the drinks we had tried managed to taste the same. They were all overly spicy and tart, with an unwelcome aftertaste. Upon returning home, and eating a bag of salt and vinegar crisps, my friend realised that all the drinks tasted like smoky vinegar, which echoed my sentiments exactly.

All of the cocktails are priced highly at 11.50 or 12.50. If you’re not looking for cocktails, they do have a fair selection of beers and wines. However, with the Market Bar in such close proximity, you’d be better off going there to get your money’s worth.