New York bourbon bars/stores

[unknown]

I'm heading into NY on Mar 31st for a few days of holidays with my girlfriend (also a bourbon drinker) and were trying to find a couple of places to pop into and check out some of the less commonly available ones.

We're from the Toronto/Canada area, so we get the joys inconsistent supply of quality bourbons (eg: Girlfriend's favourite: Eagle Rare 10y SB is no longer available and we just finished her last bottle last week).

In addition, we're trying to find somewhere that's got a decent selection of bourbons to attempt to bring back some with with us. :grin:

We're staying basically midtown manhattan, so subway line accessable would be nice.

[Gillman]

Best bourbon choice is LeNell's in Redhook, Brooklyn, see www.lenells.com. In the city mid-town, check out Park Avenue Liquors which is on Madison Ave. (not Park Ave.) in the 40's, and Sherry-Lehmann on Madison in the 60's.

In Lower Manhattan I like Warehouse Wines & Spirits which is I believe on Broadway around 6th. (Look it up in the phone book first, it is either on Broadway or one block over parallel). Below that on Broadway, on the east side, is Broadway Liquors in its new premises, quite outstanding selection.

I like all of them but Warehouse Wines (apart from LeNells) is a personal favourite. You might find e.g. ORVW 15 year old bourbon there, RR 100, stuff like that. Cool, 1950's-style store.

Gary

[barturtle]

If you're looking for a place to drink bourbon after you've done your shopping, I suggest d.b.a. They had a good choice last time I was there. I need a good excuse to visit New Orleans to check out their other location.

[unknown]

Thanks for the suggestions - Keep 'em coming! I knew of d.b.a. from my beer friends, but wasn't aware of the bourbon selection (yowsa).

I also just noticed that I miss a chance to go to the Whisky Live event on Wednesday. Ugh. The more I research, the more I miss.

[smokinjoe]

Thanks for the suggestions - Keep 'em coming! I knew of d.b.a. from my beer friends, but wasn't aware of the bourbon selection (yowsa).

I also just noticed that I miss a chance to go to the Whisky Live event on Wednesday. Ugh. The more I research, the more I miss.

Blissful ignorance is a terrible thing to waste....

JOE

[amlai]

For bars, I would also recommend the Brandy Libarary and Keen's Steakhouse. While neither one is well known for their bourbon selection, both have a very respectable selection of Bourbon. (The Brandy Library, while specializing in Brandy, they just seem to have everything and Keen's is better known for their 200 single malt Scotches.) Keen's is actually in midtown (36th & 6th). If you go to Keen's, I recommend sitting at their bar.

DBA's bourbon list:

http://www.drinkgoodstuff.com/ny/bourbon.asp

Brandy Library's Whiskey list:

http://www.brandylibrary.com/sections/menus/whiskeys.htm

Keen's list isn't online, but I'd have to guess there is around 20 varieties of American whiskey. Off the top of my head, of the not completely common varieties though not completely rare either, they have Basil, Baker's, Booker's, Knob Creek, George T. Stagg, Eagle Rare, Sazerac 18 Rye (unless they ran out), Rittenhouse 21 Rye. I believe they also have Elijah Craig, Blantons... and maybe Woodford Reserve. (I used to live across the St., so I'm fairly familiar with their stock.)

[Pappy's Friend]

If you're looking for a place to drink bourbon after you've done your shopping, I suggest d.b.a. They had a good choice last time I was there. I need a good excuse to visit New Orleans to check out their other location.

Thanks for the tip! I hadn't heard of d.b.a. in New Orleans, and I'm from there! I'll be in NOLA in May and will definitely check it out!

[tritioch]

If armed with the proper knowledge, Park Ave Liquors yeild a few surprises now and again. On the down side, the good stuff is hidden away and they are verry reluctant to divulge exactly wwhat is back there. LSS if you want a specific release of a bourbon, they do have some inventory going backwards.

[mwrenchd]

I'll echo the LeNell's suggestion. Hands-down the best between selection, atmosphere, and staff knowledge.

As far as bars, a new barbeque place just opened in north Brooklyn - Fette Sau. A very expansive selection for a restaurant/bar. It also happens to be across the street from one of the best specialty beer bars in the city, too - Spuyten Duyvil (same ownership).

[cowdery]

Another thing about LeNell's. You'll feel like you've gone to see an old friend, even if you've never met her before, and double if you mention SB.com.

[unknown]

Small followup to this thread:

Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it off-island to hit Lenell's (next time I swear!), but I was able to hit Warehouse Wines & Spirits and get a bunch of the ER10yo to cover the girlfriend/us for the next while. Plus I snagged a bottle of Vintage 17yo for myself to try out, can't wait to give it a try shortly.

As a side note, ER10 was $20us, rather than the $40cdn (~$35us) that it was up here in Canada!

We got considerably sidetracked with the numerous Irish pubs (and their insistence that Irish whiskey is better by forcing samples upon us) so wasn't able to find really good bourbon bars. Well, gives us something to try for next time!

Also that we walked by a place at 3rd Ave + 32nd St (google claims it's "L P Wines + Spirits") and noted through the window that there was a few nice bourbons in the shelves, so if you're local maybe check it out!

Thanks for all your suggestions!

[barturtle]

Your girlfriend lets you cover her in bourbon!!!

Does she have a sister?

[fussychicken]

Ironically enough I was also in the big red juicy apple this week, and had partially followed this thread. I hit up Keen's with some co-workers and then a couple of other stores the next day.

Keens: Great classy bar. Steak was very good, but not in my top 5 all time. There are better in NYC. As posted earlier, they have a very nice bourbon list. They had gold foil Hirsch, and since I was debating about whether or not to pony up for a bottle myself, this gave me a great chance to try it although not very cheaply. I got a nice pour for ~$22 and found it also to be good, but not exactly a wow. Unfortunately all the other bourbons on there also had a very hefty markup in price, so I didn't get anymore. Is DBA any cheaper?

I had some Blantons for the first at another bar the next night and found it to be more to my liking.

I liked Warehouse wine & Spirits. Astor was also very nice as well. Wasn't too impressed with the prices of Park Ave liquor.