Jigger’s Noble Drugstore

Exterior during the day
The door only opens from the inside so you need to ring for service. From there you are led down some dark wooden stairs to a smartly appointed bar in the classic style.

Belgian Martinez
I started with a menu drink which was a twist on a drink I order often in Edinburgh – a Martinez. This version featured a local white spirit – essentially unaged whisky – called Belgian Owl, red vermouth and a chestnut liquer replacing the more usual maraschino. Infused with purple basil, it was an outstanding concoction that pleased me greatly.

Beautifully designed menu
To round things out, I let them make me something from Scotland, with a blood & sand made with smoky Finlaggan as its base. Without Cherry Heering to hand, they swapped in a cherry liquer from Copenhagen. It was a very good way to finish the evening.
The array of bitters behind the bar was impressive and upon asking it turned out that Ben and Sashana from the Edinburgh Food Studio had visited recently. A bottle of grasshopper extract seasoning was kept in pride of place to prove it.
So overall, Jigger’s is an excellent place. One of the chaps gave me a recommendation for lunch the next day at J.E.F so let’s see how that works out. When in Gent, you must make time for a visit to the bar as it’s a place full of charm and quality.
Address: Oudburg 16, 9000 Gent