Cocktail connoisseurs, rejoice. Disrepute, the underground cocktail bar housed in the former Pinstripe Club, has unveiled Counterculture: A Brief History of a Scandal, a new (and delicious)cocktail menu inspired by the icons, outcasts, and provocateurs who shaped the 1960s.
The Pinstripe Club was once the scene of the infamous Profumo affair – a scandal that intertwined politics, sex, and celebrity and cemented Soho’s reputation as a playground for the unconventional. It was also often frequented by Hollywood stars like Audrey Hepburn and Peter O’Toole.
Decades later, Disrepute channels that same subversive energy, translating it into a series of cocktails that celebrate rebellion, glamour, and the art of defiance. Not only are the actual cocktails absolutely divine – they each celebrate a very important part of history.
So, what’s on the menu?
Counterculture is, first and foremost, a narrative. Each one of the twelve new drinks honours a different movement, figure, or moment from the era that redefined art, music, and identity. They are:
Femme Fatale – a tribute to the women who reshaped artistic and intellectual circles in early 20th-century Paris. Made with Fielden Rye, Evan Williams Bourbon, Amer Picon, salted banana, and coffee beans, it’s rich, aromatic, and self-assured.
Buddy’s Habit – a nod to Charles “Buddy” Bolden, the New Orleans cornetist often credited as the father of jazz. The mix – Whistlepig Piggyback Rye, Hennessy VS Cognac, Amaro Montenegro, Cajun spice, beurre noisette, and tobacco – smoky, layered and warm, evoking the improvisational pulse of early jazz.
Manifesto 05 – a creative combination of Altamura Vodka, raspberry eau de vie, Oloroso sherry, rhubarb, and custard (you heard that right). It’s a wink to the self-expression that defined the decade: bold and playful, yet beautifully constructed.
Starving, Hysterical, Naked – named after the closing lines of Allen Ginsberg’s Howl poem, this drink celebrates the Beat generation’s hunger for truth and transcendence. It’s about creative chaos – art made from urgency, emotion, and a need to be seen. It blends Ocho Blanco Tequila, Camazotz Wild Agricole Rum, caramelised pear, cacao, and Riesling.
The Hippie Trail – captures the spirit of the 1960s travellers who left Europe seeking freedom and enlightenment. With Bone Idyll London Dry Gin, Yaguara Cachaça, Timur berry, lime leaf, grapefruit, and a touch of CO₂, it’s bright, fresh, and adventurous.
A Pink Triangle – perhaps the menu’s most poignant creation, made with Mezcal Amáras Espadín, Sipel Aperitif, watermelon, and calamansi. It reclaims a symbol of persecution, the pink triangle worn by gay men in Nazi camps, and reimagines it as a mark of resilience and pride.
Biquette de Mauriac – this cocktail is by far the most distinctive, and its ingredients will tell you why. It’s made with Sassy Fine Calvados, Ardbeg Wee Beastie Scotch, Axia Dry Mastiha, lemon, beetroot, and clarified goat’s milk.
Domination and Submission – twin serves that play with duality. Domination mixes Moët & Chandon Rosé Champagne, two different rums, pineapple, and pink pepper. Submission has Quiquiriqui Mezcal, coconut water, and CO₂, adding softness and heat.
An Apple a Day – revisits the 19th-century temperance movement with irony. A blend of apple and caramel shrub, lapsang, walnut, allspice, and Franklin & Sons Ginger Ale, it’s a refreshing, gently spiced take on the idea of “virtue in moderation.”
The non-alcoholic options
Clear Mind is delicate and cerebral. It has yerba mate, lavender, chamomile, and vetiver – inspired by Enlightenment philosophy and the pursuit of clarity.
From the Roots draws on the Green Revolution. It combines Amaretto Adriatico 0%, toasted rice and miso orgeat, Lucky Saint Hazy IPA 0.5%, cream, and egg white. It’s smooth, nutty, and comforting.
In terms of price point, all the cocktails are around £16 each, with the non-alcoholic options around £13. You can see the full menu here.
The making of Counterculture
The team at Disrepute spent months refining balance and presentation for each cocktail, stripping away excess theatre in favour of subtler storytelling. The serves are understated, with elegant glassware and minimal garnishes, but the layers and flavour profile are (as you’ve seen!) anything but simple.
The flavours are there, but the magic is also in the atmosphere. Behind the low lighting and polished gold accents lies a sense of theatrical mischief. The music, the shadows, and the storytelling all work together to conjure the smoky jazz clubs, clandestine meetings, and after-hours rendezvous that once made Soho the beating heart of British bohemia.
Where to book
Disrepute is at 4 Kingly Street, Soho, just a short walk from Oxford Circus station. The bar is open Tuesday to Saturday, 5 pm – 1 am, welcoming both reservations and walk-ins, though weekends tend to book out quickly.
Tables can be reserved through disrepute.co.uk, and private hire and group bookings are also available. More info at @disreputebar.