Your favourite Bourbon bar Version 2 >

[Stones]

My favorite is still the Seelbach iHotel n Louisville. The places oozes history and the bartenders are not only knowledgable but can mix a righteous mamnhattan.

Wow, i just browsed it online, it looks impressive and as you say, historical and full of character. I viewed their gallery and found this image with some knob and EC12 in the background.

[Stones]

I think that's a VW10yr just above the EC12 too.

[MrAtomic]

Well,

I was recently referred by sb.com's own Sku to an excellent bar in Santa Monica. It's called the Daily Pint, and if you're in the Los Angeles area, I'd recommend a trip. In addition to some great bourbons (multiple Van Winkles, Baker's, EC12, and others), the bar boasts a remarkable selection of single malt whiskey -- independent bottlings of Rosebank, Port Ellen, and other hard-to-find pours. I'm not much of a beer drinker, but I did recognize a number of interesting Belgian and Belgian-style beers on tap and in bottles. The atmosphere is . . . somber. My girlfriend likened it to hanging out in someone's basement, but with well over 100 whiskey bottles behind the counter (I lost count), I like to think that the management is just focused on liquor, rather than the drapes. The service was surly but competent, so no complaints.

[Special Reserve]

My favorite sports/happy hour bar had Blanton's, Eagle Rare 10yr, and Buffalo Trace today. Previously they usually had just Markers or Woodford.

Still $2.50 or $2.75 for a 23oz good quality beer during Happy Hour is hard to beat.

Around here, the bourbon selection in bars is usually poor.

Additionally, the hiring party has a great eye, so as we say at the bar, inexpensive good beer, low priced great appetizers, and there's added value in the bartenders.

[Jono]

I really enjoyed Serafini in Frankfort, KY.

[libertybar]

My favorite is still the Seelbach iHotel n Louisville. The places oozes history and the bartenders are not only knowledgable but can mix a righteous mamnhattan.

And, besides a Manhattan, I imagine that they also make the wonderful Seelbach Cocktail. I first read about this cocktail in Imbibe Magazine last month in a great story written by Seattle's own Jamie Boudreau, of Spirits and Cocktails fame. He did the cover story about his travels around Bourbon County, and he included that cocktail in the article.

Here it is for anyone interested:

SEELBACH COCKTAIL

1 oz bourbon
½ oz Cointreau
7 dashes Angostura bitters
7 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
stir all briefly over ice
strain into a Champagne glass
top with Champagne
garnish with a lemon twist

The first time I had that cocktail, it was at the Teardrop Lounge in Portland, Oregon. I was happily amazed to see that 14 dashes of bitters results in such a tasty drink.

While we're talking about bars - I would like to give a shout-out to Teardrop. They make over 60 of their own bitters, tinctures, liqueurs and mixers. Outstanding. They are way ahead of the trend where bars will create their own cocktail ingredients. Sure - a lot of bars do that, but I am unaware of any that do this on the scale of Teardrop.

And, since we're still talking about bars, I am happily living in Seattle, Washington where we have a number of great bars that have outstanding whiskey.

To start off - if you're in Seattle, you must stop by Zig Zag. Zig Zag is simply an outstanding bar, one of America's best - and they have very envious whiskey and almost unmatched cocktail lists.

Another great whiskey bar in Seattle is Vessel. They have less whiskey than Zig Zag, but what they have is outstanding. The fellow that wrote the Whiskey Trail article in Imbibe, Jamie Boudreau, is the bartender that opened and developed the bar's reputation - a reputation that the current bartenders are keeping alive.

Lastly, when in Seattle - I'd of course have to suggest Liberty. We're a classic cocktail bar that loves American Whiskey. We have over 35 bourbons at any one time (that's a lot for us Left Coasters), 20 ryes and whole bunch of the harder classifyables.

In case you're interested, here's a rye cocktail to try out that we came up with:

BARDSTOWN COCKTAIL

1.75 oz Rittenhouse 100proof Rye
1oz Laird's Applejack
½ oz Cointreau
2 dashes Angostaura’s bitters
2 dashes Orange bitters
Add over ice in mixing glass, stir.
strain into a coktail glass
Garnish with orange twist

I'm looking forward to travelling and being able to visit many of the bars listed here. Until then, see you at Liberty.

[Attila]

Brown Sugar in Ebisu. It only has about 15 bourbons, but its my go to place!

[spun_cookie]

Wow, i just browsed it online, it looks impressive and as you say, historical and full of character. I viewed their gallery and found this image with some knob and EC12 in the background.

Why are they drinking a glass of white wine and a glass of coke at a Whiskey Bar in Louisville?

[camduncan]

Mine is definately Byblos Bar in Brisbane. Great Mediterranean food and an awesome bourbon selection (I'd argue it's the best in Australia)

http://www.byblosbar.com.au/bar/

and the drinks menu:

http://www.byblosbar.com.au/bar/images/drinks_menu.pdf

[Stones]

Why are they drinking a glass of white wine and a glass of coke at a Whiskey Bar in Louisville?

Lets imagine the gent has a tall bourbon and coke and the lady has a mint julip.