Raise a glass during Bourbon Heritage Month (or any month) at one of these bars featuring outstanding collections of America’s home-grown whiskey.
1. BARREL PROOF, NEW ORLEANS
Image: Rush Jagoe
This new-ish venture from the Sylvain team in NOLA’s Lower Garden District focuses on whiskey and beer. There’s no cocktail menu here, but the bartenders will make what you please.
2. CANON, SEATTLE
Image: Flickr
The “whiskey and bitters emporium” lays claim to the largest selection of American whiskey in the world. Plus, it’s beloved as a cocktail institution.
3. THE FRANKLIN ROOM, CHICAGO
With a subterranean speakeasy vibe and “turn-of-the-century-inspired” American tavern fare, this River North newcomer has a strong brown spirits list and equally strong cocktail chops.
4. HARD WATER, SAN FRANCISCO
From Charles Phan and the team behind Slanted Door, this Embarcadero spot is famed for its horseshoe-shaped bar and Southern seafood–heavy menu. Try the Bourbon Lift (Buffalo Trace bourbon, St. George NOLA coffee liqueur, orgeat, Straus organic cream, soda water).
5. JACK ROSE DINING SALOON, WASHINGTON, D.C.
The bar keeps count on its website of how many bottles of whiskey are on the shelves (2,225 last we checked), including a staggering backlist of bourbon. Don’t forget to text ahead for entry to the buzz-y basement speakeasy, Dram & Grain.
6. JULEP COCKTAIL CLUB, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
Look for the whiskey sign out front for this “cozy and convivial” spot, which offers nearly 100 bourbons, a list of Julep variations as well as a happy hour featuring 25-percent off all whiskey. A must-add to your itinerary for those headed to the Paris of the Plains cocktail festival (Sept. 10–13, 2015).
7. MAYSVILLE, NEW YORK
Though we’re still mourning the recent closure of Brooklyn’s Char No. 4, Manhattan offspring Maysville keeps the bourbon flowing, plus plenty of farm-to-table eats to soak it all up.
8. MULTNOMAH WHISKEY LIBRARY, PORTLAND, OREGON
Image: Dina Avila Photography
The 1,500 bottle options on the “library” shelves are just staggering. They’ve become known for refined tableside drinks service and lengthy waits, so plan ahead.
9. THE SILVER DOLLAR, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
Only Kentucky whiskey is carried in this laidback bar in the heart of bourbon country, including plenty of bourbon (of course) and some proprietary single-barrel offerings you can’t find anywhere else.
10. SOUTHERN EFFICIENCY, WASHINGTON, D.C.
Note the URL: whiskeyhome. That pretty much says it all. Because lauded bartender Derek Brown is one of the masterminds behind the operation, bourbon-soaked cocktails like the Mint Julep on tap are the way to go. - Read more at: http://scl.io/pDsebq2s#gs.HruDWXk
