What's your favorite bourbon bar ?

[393foureyedfox]

I don't have a favorite bar for bourbon. Beer, but not bourbon. Just curious, any Cincy guys here know of decent bourbon bars in downtown Cincy? Going to a workshop at the Duke Energy Center.

I cant remember the name of it, but ask around. there is an old hotel on a street corner in downtown with an original art deco lounge and bar in the basement, and they had a really good selection. I went there with Mrs Fox a couple years ago on the recommendation of a friend that works in downtown Cincy, and remember it because it was the only time I had a barrel proof 4R and actually enjoyed it.

[FlounderinDC]

Jack Rose in DC has been my favorite. Great place. I checked out Bourbon in Adams Morgan as well...it was good, but not great. The waitress was awesome and gave me a Willett tasting for free but the place was loud as hell and there were some jerks in there.

Been to a few good bourbon places in Dallas....Blind Butcher was pretty good. There was a good bourbon and burgers place but it closed...can't remember the name.

The bar in the Omni Parker House in Boston has a pretty good bourbon selection as well now that I think about it.

[EvergladeSlim]

Went to Jack Rose the other night. Posted this on reddit:

Went for a few hours on Friday night and had an awesome time. Got to try some legends and shoot the shit with some fellow geeks. Here is the lineup I went with along with a few notes (all 1oz pours):

Started with a rye flight of Ritt21, Hirsch 21, and Ritt 23. The Ritts where far superior to the Hirsch to my palate. I'm sure if I had the Hirsch alone and not sbs with the Ritts it would have been exquisite, but next to the Ritts it didn't stand up. And the Ritt 23 was the clear winner here for me.

Next was AH Hirsch 16 gold foil. A truly complete bourbon. Wonderful nose, perfect texture, fantastic finish. Everything a bourbon should be. How a 92 proof bourbon can have a finish like that I will never know. All that being said - I'm glad I tried it - but I have better bourbons at home. The Hirsch is a classic and lacking in nothing but to me it is not worth what it would cost in $/trade to get a bottle of your own.

Next up was a flight of DC Willetts bourbons (13 being the oldest). All very good whiskies, none that lived up to they hype/secondary value. They did not have any wheaters in stock, and some of the older ones that I really wanted to try were not in stock either.

I then tried some dusty Old Taylor BiB from the 70s I believe. It was very good if not a bit hot for a 100 proofer.

Finally I ended the night with a 2000 Saz18 that was pre-vatting. It was distilled in 1981, so I'm not sure if it is even the same source as what is currently vatted (1984). Without doing a sbs with a current Saz18, I can tell you that it was very similar. I'm glad I tried it, but I'd say the current stuff is better. Then again my palate had taken a hit at this point so who knows.

I had initially planned on started the night off with a legendary Willett rye, but the prices kept me from doing that. Iron Fist and Velvet Glove were priced in the $140 range for a 1oz pour. I was going to go with Rathskeller Rye for $48 but they were all out. Everything worked out though and I am very happy with how the night went. If any body has any good info on the pre-vatting Saz18 that was distilled in 1981 I'd love to hear it. Thanks

Edit: also had some Bookers 25th prior to the Saz18 since my bottle at home is on its last legs.

[BFerguson]

Slim, I tip my hat to you, that's some night.

Bravo!

B

[EvergladeSlim]

Slim, I tip my hat to you, that's some night.

Bravo!

B

[dSculptor]

Definitely, my bar, or my friends bar, we both have far better selections than anything around these neck of the woods. Overall never really been a "bar" type of guy.

[fishnbowljoe]

Like a lot of members here, my bunker is pretty much better than any place I could go out to nearby. So, I usually do most of my drinking at home. Once in a while I'll drop by Vosgar's.

Favorite over all: Mine, "or Vosgar's :lol:"

Favorite local place: A place here called Franchesco's is a fairly decent bar/restaurant I visit one in a while.

Favorite other place: About the only other bourbon bar I've been to is Bourbon Bistro in Louisville. Nice place. Good food, and great a bourbon selection. I also have to add here that the folks I've been to the Bourbon Bistro with have more than made my visits there something special.

Cheers! Joe

[Lepisto]

Just curious, any Cincy guys here know of decent bourbon bars in downtown Cincy? Going to a workshop at the Duke Energy Center.

I like the Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar. It is just across the river in the Mainstrausse area of Covington. Any cab can get you there easily. It only has American whiskey, and is a small casual bar. The only non-whiskey they have is a few beers on taps, and whatever liquors/mixers they need to make a whiskey based cocktail. There is also a place called Wiseguys Lounge. It is a block or 2 north of the OKBB. It is on top of a great pizza place called Goodfellas. There is a new place closer to the Duke Energy Center called Horse and Barrel. Never been there. It is next to a bar called Nicholson's that has big scotch selection.

[Kyjd75]

Louisville has plenty of good bars. We usually prefer the hotel bars (Seelbach, Brown, 21C) as I have an absolute rule of never drinking and driving. The Seelbach is our favorite of the three, but all are great bourbon bars.

[393foureyedfox]

Iron Fist ...... were priced in the $140 range for a 1oz pour.

[mbroo5880i]

I like the Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar. It is just across the river in the Mainstrausse area of Covington. Any cab can get you there easily. It only has American whiskey, and is a small casual bar. The only non-whiskey they have is a few beers on taps, and whatever liquors/mixers they need to make a whiskey based cocktail. There is also a place called Wiseguys Lounge. It is a block or 2 north of the OKBB. It is on top of a great pizza place called Goodfellas. There is a new place closer to the Duke Energy Center called Horse and Barrel. Never been there. It is next to a bar called Nicholson's that has big scotch selection.

[flahute]

I cant remember the name of it, but ask around. there is an old hotel on a street corner in downtown with an original art deco lounge and bar in the basement, and they had a really good selection. I went there with Mrs Fox a couple years ago on the recommendation of a friend that works in downtown Cincy, and remember it because it was the only time I had a barrel proof 4R and actually enjoyed it.

Current name of that hotel is the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza.

[ThirstyinOhio]

My favorite whiskey bar in Ohio is Lizardville. They have the best selection that I've seen here in this control state and never gouge on pricing. I was able to get pours of the BTAC for $11 and a flight of 15, 20, and 23 pappy was just over $20 I do believe.

[MTNBourbon]

There is a place in SLC called "Whiskey Street" that is suppose to have some really hard to get stuff. Might check it out someday. I really rather just have my own bottle and enjoy it the way I want to.

[Andre28]

I haven't been to many Bourbon bars in the US on my travels, but the one I think of the most is Delilahs in Chicago

[callmeox]

at least the place is named appropriately

Iron Fist and Velvet Glove are Willett barrel picks not the names of bars, but snark on bud. Who has time to read for comprehension when you post in damn near every thread?

[garbanzobean]

Iron Fist and Velvet Glove are Willett barrel picks not the names of bars, but snark on bud. Who has time to read for comprehension when you post in damn near every thread?

Uhh, not to speak for Doug, but I interpreted his post as relating to Jack Rose being a known extortionist/debt collector for Charles Becker's gambling parlor protection racket.

As in, $150 an ounce is an extortionately high price for an ounce of whiskey. Which I would generally agree with if I had any interest in trying any of the famous WFE bottlings that they stock. Then again, there are people who would probably pay twice that for the opportunity to try a truly limited edition product, so I'm glad they stock them.

Bottom line: if you do go to Jack Rose, you need to meet Harvey Fry and get him talking about his life and/or whiskey collection. He's led a crazy life.

[callmeox]

Claiming a parallel between extortion and purchasing a consumable luxury good is a hell of a stretch.

[HighInTheMtns]

There is a place in SLC called "Whiskey Street" that is suppose to have some really hard to get stuff. Might check it out someday. I really rather just have my own bottle and enjoy it the way I want to.

Whiskey Street isn't that awesome. They probably still have some 2014 BTAC left, some PHC 7 and 8, some OFBB, etc. They have a decent Scotch shelf. The menu is error-ridden, the bartenders are not well informed, the beer selection is getting worse, and the prices are high.

It's Utah, so they can't sell anything that's not sold by the state.

[CorvallisCracker]

Aside from the obvious "my house", fave would be Block 15, the most popular local brewpub. February of every year is "Bourbon Month" and he makes an effort to get in a selection of not-generally-available ones. This year it's:

Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 20 Year

Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15 Year

Elijah Craig Single Barrel 23 Year

Thomas H. Handy Rye

Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary

Michter’s Small Batch

Eagle Rare 17 Year

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2014

E.H. Taylor Single Barrel

Jefferson’s Small Batch

Temperance Trader

William Larue Weller Special Reserve

Elijah Craig Block 15 Barrel Pick

Four Roses Small Batch

I'm wanting to try the WTDA, the OFBB and the WLW, but still haven't gotten in there yet. Wife and I drove by Monday (9th) but there was a line (usually is after 4:30pm) and we just weren't in the mood. Place is too damn popular.

[MTNBourbon]

Whiskey Street isn't that awesome. They probably still have some 2014 BTAC left, some PHC 7 and 8, some OFBB, etc. They have a decent Scotch shelf. The menu is error-ridden, the bartenders are not well informed, the beer selection is getting worse, and the prices are high.

It's Utah, so they can't sell anything that's not sold by the state.

You got that right, lol I was told about it, so I went on-line looked at the menu and WOW never had alot of them, did not see a price list either. Thanks for the info.

[tanstaafl2]

Other than Tanstaafl's Ornamental Bar & Grill (:cool:) and establishments of other GBS members Atlanta seems a bit underserved in terms of a decent bourbon or even whiskey bar. There are scad's of good cocktail bars in town and many have a decent whiskey selection. Mac McGee's in Decatur maybe (never been to the Roswell version), at least in the past. There is a bar called the "Bourbon Bar" at the Intercontinental Hotel in Buckhead but I was never very impressed with it. Just seemed like another high end hotel bar with perhaps a slightly better whiskey selection than usual. And prices to match the location.

[BigRich]

Other than Tanstaafl's Ornamental Bar & Grill (:cool:) and establishments of other GBS members Atlanta seems a bit underserved in terms of a decent bourbon or even whiskey bar. There are scad's of good cocktail bars in town and many have a decent whiskey selection. Mac McGee's in Decatur maybe (never been to the Roswell version), at least in the past. There is a bar called the "Bourbon Bar" at the Intercontinental Hotel in Buckhead but I was never very impressed with it. Just seemed like another high end hotel bar with perhaps a slightly better whiskey selection than usual. And prices to match the location.

In Atlanta I would throw a nod toward Local Three.

Edited February 18, 2015 by BigRich

[flahute]

My favorite bourbon bar flies under the radar a bit. They don't have the most amazing collection in the city, but they do have some dusties. Most importantly, they have good prices. I'm not going to name it because in this town, it will be overrun by the weekend.

[smokinjoe]

My favorite bourbon bar flies under the radar a bit. They don't have the most amazing collection in the city, but they do have some dusties. Most importantly, they have good prices. I'm not going to name it because in this town, it will be overrun by the weekend.