5 Great Whisky Bars in Dallas

Live large and think big at these Dallas whisky bars.

The post 5 Great Whisky Bars in Dallas appeared first on Whisky Advocate.

The whiskey scene in Dallas is like Texas itself—unpretentious, down-to-earth, and bold. Every neighborhood has a different feel that seeps into its bars. In Deep Ellum, you’ll find no-nonsense places that will likely have live music playing outside. In Uptown, expect a neighborhood bar feel with a mix of old Dallas money and fresh-out-of-college kids bonding over an Old Fashioned. From ultra-rare bottles to barbecue dinners cooked with whisky, each of these spots in Dallas offers a unique, whisky-filled experience.

Armoury DE

2714 Elm St.
armouryde.com

Tucked away in Dallas’s vibrant Deep Ellum neighborhood, Armoury DE is detectable only by the neon “A” above its doors. Its understated, approachable atmosphere is complemented by delicious Hungarian food and a diverse collection of 100-plus whiskies, including rare finds such as Parker’s Heritage Collection 8 year old rye ($40/1.5 oz.), Midleton Very Rare 2017 ($41/1.5 oz.), and Old Fitzgerald 13 year old Bottled in Bond ($45/1.5 oz.). “The type of drinker who comes in is looking for specific stuff, a little bit rarer,” says general manager Kelsey Hanshew. “So, we hit those different names they know, but [suggest] something that’s a little more special.” In addition to its whiskies, Armoury DE has an impressive cocktail program featuring its signature Bonnie and Clyde Smoked Old Fashioned made with bourbon, rye, chamomile demerara, smoked cedar, bitters, and a Laphroaig rinse.

Maple Landing

5855 Maple Ave.
themaplelanding.com

Whiskey and barbecue are a quintessential Texas combo, and Maple Landing provides the best of both worlds. Not only does it carry rare whiskeys such as the St. Patrick’s Day edition of Kentucky Owl ($66/1.5 oz.) and Elijah Craig 18 year old ($32/1.5 oz.), but it also incorporates them into their food, including its smoked barbecue sauce. “If we have a whisky dinner, we’ll utilize our whiskies and put them into the flavors to complement whatever whisky we choose,” says general manager Joe Elkington. Recently, the venue hosted a Blanton’s and Weller dinner, and another one in the planning stages will feature Japanese whisky paired with foods inspired by it.

The Standard Pour

2900 McKinney Ave.
tspdallas.com

Perhaps one of Texas’s most well-renowned whisky bars, The Standard Pour lives up to its reputation. The bar’s ever-changing collection of over 100 whiskies includes several bottles that are nearly impossible to find. Of course, they carry highly revered labels such as Pappy Van Winkle 23 year old ($300/1.5 oz.), but their true gems are labels like O.F.C. 1985 ($400/1.5 oz.) and Hibiki 21 year old ($185/1.5 oz.). Thanks to general manager Sean Taylor, The Standard Pour is first in line for many allocated whiskies. “There are no two ways about it, we have the best selection of bourbons and small-batch whiskeys in all of Dallas-Fort Worth,” owner Eddie Campbell says.

Whiskey Hatchet

2800 Canton St.
whiskeyhatchet.com

Throwing axes and drinking whiskey are probably two of the best ways to let off steam, and Whiskey Hatchet provides an exciting environment for both. Besides the axe-throwing aspect, the bar sets itself apart from other spots by carrying newer, lesser-known whiskies. “We aren’t looking for the crazy things that everybody knows by name,” general manager Jeff Picken says. “We’re trying to introduce a new brand or product to people.” Along with classics such as Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Very Fine Rare ($25/2 oz.), Whiskey Hatchet’s list also includes labels like Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel ($17/2 oz.) and Glenfiddich 30 year old ($100/2 oz.). The bar also hosts scotch tastings; chocolate, cheese, and whisky pairings; and even a bacon and bourbon tasting.

Whiskeys

835 Exposition Ave.
whiskeysdallas.com

Despite boasting a collection of about 600 bottles, the staff at Whiskeys is particular about what it chooses to serve at the bar. “We keep a folder with all the feedback of all the bourbons that we have in here,” owner Sean Smith says. “So, we handpick everything. We don’t just get it because it’s out. We go sample, and if it doesn’t meet our criteria, it doesn’t get on that back wall.” Along with rare whiskeys like William Larue Weller ($92/1.5 oz.), Sazerac 18 ($92/1.5 oz.), and Willett Purple Top ($65/1.5 oz.), they also offer private barrel picks, currently Sagamore Rye ($9/1.5 oz.). To help navigate the impressive number of options Whiskeys has to offer, every member of the all-female bar staff is Stave and Thief bourbon-certified, so they can point both novices and aficionados to something they’ll love.

The post 5 Great Whisky Bars in Dallas appeared first on Whisky Advocate.

Get Snowed-In at These Ski Country Whisky Bars

Aprés ski spots with standout whisky selections can be found at major resorts across the country.

The post Get Snowed-In at These Ski Country Whisky Bars appeared first on Whisky Advocate.

Whether you’re a skier or a snowboarder, or a laidback lodge dweller, there’s something that unites all of us: the après ski experience. While there are après ski spots aplenty that tout strong beer lists, finding one with a standout whisky selection is more of a challenge. But rest assured that such bars do exist, livening up major resorts across the country.

Whiskey All The Way

High West Saloon—Park City, Utah
Located at the base of the Quit’n Time ski run at Park City Resort, High West Saloon bills itself as the world’s first and only ski-in/ski-out gastro-distillery.

While beer and wine are available, the focus here is on whiskey—even the food is made to pair with High West drams and cocktails. The distillery’s four core whiskeys are available as individual pours or in a flight, and the cocktail menu is well worth exploring—kick back and enjoy some of the many drinks on offer, which include such specialized winter warmers as twists on the hot toddy, like the Glorietta Pass ($15) that blends High West Double Rye! with Jamaican rum, apple brandy, cardamaro, and earl grey tea, and riffs on Irish coffee.

Upscale Aprés

The Handle Bar—Jackson Hole, Wyo.
The Handle Bar—run by chef Michael Mina’s restaurant group—is located by the base of the slopes of Four Seasons Jackson Hole in Teton Village; the bar overlooks the Teton Mountains.

A list of over 50 whiskies, with pours like Yamazaki 12 year old ($32/2 oz.), WhistlePig 15 year old ($8/2 oz.), or Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23 year old ($95/2 oz.), includes wintry cocktails too. Warm up with the Honey Drip ($18), which mixes Wyoming Whiskey’s Small Batch bourbon with honey, ginger, and lemon.

Western Lore and Bourbon Galore

Silver City Mountain Saloon—Aspen, Colo.
Not quite ski-in, but Silver City touts an enviable easy-access location, being practically at the base of Aspen Mountain Ski Resort and its Little Nell lift.

Unbuckle your ski boots and sip on one of Silver City’s many bourbons, which range from familiar favorites like Buffalo Trace and Basil Hayden’s (both $13/2 oz.) to more esoteric names like Garrison Bros. Balmorhea ($29) and even rarefied finds like Van Winkle 12 year old Special Reserve ($85). While cocktails are available upon request, the real treat here is exploring whisky neat or on the rocks.

The Local Watering Hole

Clocktower Cellar—Mammoth Lakes, Calif.
Clocktower Cellar is located in the basement of the Alpenhof Lodge, which itself sits at the base of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. Warm up and enjoy the dive-bar vibe, bar games, the original décor, and Bavarian-style menu.

With over 170 whiskies to choose from, there’s something for everyone. When you’re fresh off the trails at Mammoth, warm up with a barrel-aged Manhattan ($9). Clocktower Cellar also offers a “whiskey of the week,” where the featured whiskey is only $5/2 oz. pour.

An East Coast Experience

The Whiskey Room—Burlington, Vt.
There are dozens of ski areas near Burlington, which makes the city an ideal central resting spot if you’re looking to hit more than one resort in a single trip. The Whiskey Room, situated right off Burlington’s famed Church Street, is a great place to end a day on the slopes.

Its menu includes signature cocktails and plenty of whisky. Splurge with a pour of A.H. Hirsch Reserve 16 year old bourbon ($300/2 oz.), cross the pond with Glenmorangie Pride ($700/2 oz.), or stay in-state with locally made drams.

The post Get Snowed-In at These Ski Country Whisky Bars appeared first on Whisky Advocate.

Embrace the Drink at These Golf Course Whisky Bars

From drives to drams and putts to pours, these five golf course bars have you covered after a day on the course.

The post Embrace the Drink at These Golf Course Whisky Bars appeared first on Whisky Advocate.

A bucket-list round of golf deserves an equally exceptional post-round pour. Yet, when it comes to whisky collections, America’s most exemplary golf resorts are not all created equal. Here’s a look at five esteemed golf clubs and resorts with exceptional whisky lists.

The Winery Bar at The American Club Resort—Kohler, Wis.

The Winery Bar doesn’t specialize in what its name suggests. Yes, you can order more than two dozen wines by the glass, and The Immigrant Restaurant, recipient of Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence, which is adjacent to the bar, offers an extensive wine list by the bottle. But when you’re seated in one of the 10 chairs at the bar, the headliner is whisky—with a collection of nearly 300.

“It’s such an exciting time to be a whisky drinker,” says managing bartender Peter Kalleward, who points specifically to a number of unique scotch offerings on the menu, among them selections from independent bottler That Boutique-y Whisky Company and some limited releases from Gordon & MacPhail, including a 21 year old single malt from Old Pulteney. In fact, scotch enthusiasts will revel in the opportunity to sip their way through expansive vertical tastings of Glenfiddich (12 bottles), Balvenie (16 bottles), and Macallan (17 bottles). Just know that some of those offerings—like Macallan 1985, two Glenfiddich 1975 Vintage Casks, and Balvenie 1973 David Stewart Collection—carry four-figure price tags per pour.

But you don’t need to drop serious coin at the bar to come away with an amazing experience. Kalleward loves talking whisky, whether discussing unheralded gems from Campbeltown or lesser-known Highland expressions that often redefine a patron’s perception of single malt scotch. “I like exposing people to these whiskies that they’ve never heard of,” he says. “It’s an awakening that’s incredible to watch.”

The National Tavern at Reyolds Lake Oconee

The National Tavern at Reynolds Lake Oconee—Greensboro, Ga.

At first glance, the Bourbon Reserves list at The National Tavern will make you think you’ve passed through a time warp. It’s a collection of desirable and elusive American whiskeys—a list that includes E.H. Taylor 18 year old Marriage, Blanton’s Gold, Elmer T. Lee 100th Anniversary, a full vertical selection of Pappy Van Winkle, and plenty more. Needless to say, bourbon enthusiasts are likely to be shocked to see so many rare whiskeys available at one bar.

Yes, the menu clearly states that the 34 whiskeys are limited, meaning some of those offerings won’t last long. Even so, patrons are certain to find something that will quicken their pulse, especially given the tavern’s prices. Generous three-ounce pours of Abraham Bowman 16 year old, William Larue Weller, and Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 year old cost $25, $35, and $65, respectively. Even Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23 year old will set you back only $100 for a pour.

“I always price products based on what I pay for them and not the secondary market,” says Oliver Wilcher, Reynolds Lake Oconee’s director of restaurant services. “We all have bucket lists in our lives, and for some people, getting to taste some of these hard-to-get allocated whiskeys is one of them. At the end of the day, it’s about the experience, and those are the good memories we want to build as much as possible.” The tavern is also a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence recipient.

The Oak Room at The Lodge and The River Bar at The Cloister at Sea Island Resort—Sea Island, Ga.

There are two primary resort hotels at Sea Island, The Cloister and The Lodge, and both offer exceptional whiskies. The Lodge’s Oak Room’s menu is more extensive, with 137 bottles, including Old Forester 150th Anniversary and Glenmorangie Grand Vintage 1997. The River Bar at The Cloister offers 89 bottles, but a handful of standout expressions, like Ardmore 30 year old, Glenfiddich 1978 Rare Collection, and Macallan Fine & Rare 1952, make it a top-notch spot for a dram.

When asked to single out a few significant bottles across the resort, lead bartender Nic Wallace points to three vintages of Macallan Fine & Rare—1950, 1952, and 1990. “These are snapshots in history,” he says.

The Oak Room at Seal Island Resort

Whether you’re selecting a tipple at The River Bar or in the Oak Room, make sure you ask if any off-menu bottles are available. “The minute we put some of these things on the menu they’re gone within a week,” Wallace says, alluding to Pappy Van Winkle and the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. “Some of these bottles don’t make the list just so that we can ensure that they can stick around for a few months.”

The Tap Room at Pebble Beach Golf Links—Pebble Beach, Calif.

There’s more than meets the eye at Pebble Beach when patrons glance at The Tap Room’s spirits menu. Sure, indulgent pours like Hakushu 18 year old and Bomberger’s Declaration (from Michter’s Legacy Series) jump off the page, but the more allocated whiskeys—yes, we’re talking about you, Pappy—are sometimes available, too. This also applies to whiskeys that are released throughout the year in limited capacity, such as Blanton’s, so be sure to inquire.

“When we get allocated items, especially if it’s a one-bottle allocation, it tends to not last very long once word gets out,” says Wendy Heilmann, the resort’s director of wine and spirits. “Some are so extremely popular that we go through an entire bottle in one evening.”

On the scotch whisky front, the resort recently received allocations of the latest Harmony Collection release from Macallan—Rich Cacao—and it plans to create a specialized truffle pairing to further elevate the experience. Yet, according to Heilmann, some of the most popular bottles at the bar are private barrel selections of Knob Creek and Maker’s Mark, both of which are utilized to create specialty cocktails that often serve as the exclamation points following a bucket-list round of golf. “You get a one-of-a-kind golf experience,” she says, “and a one-of-a-kind Manhattan in The Tap Room afterward.”

Tower Suite Bar at Wynn—Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nev.

Following a unique round at the Wynn Golf Club—the 6,722-yard course is discreetly tucked behind the Wynn and Encore towers right along The Strip—golfers can find equally enthralling whiskey options, provided they know where to look. Those who are seeking a noteworthy selection of bourbons and ryes should venture to the Tower Suite Bar, just a short walk from the pro shop.

The bar’s private collection is comprised of more than five dozen exemplary bottles, most of which are celebrated American expressions that can accommodate a wide range of budgets. Pours of Elmer T. Lee, E.H. Taylor Small Batch, High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram, and Old Fitzgerald 15 year old, among others, can be had for less than $60. Rarer whiskeys are also available for those willing to pony up. Two ounces of Michter’s 20 year old bourbon, for example, will set you back $295; while the same size pour of O.F.C. 1995 comes with a $650 price tag.

According to Wynn Las Vegas’s resident mixologist Mariena Mercer Boarini, the bar rarely exhausts its reserves. Such is the advantage of being a luxury resort in Las Vegas, though the bar’s tucked-away location also helps to explain how those bottles of sought-after whiskey stick around. “The Tower Suite Bar is definitely a hidden gem here at the resort,” she says. “It was designed to be an adventure-seeker’s bar for its whiskey program.”

Hit the Links in the World’s Greatest Whisky Cities

The post Embrace the Drink at These Golf Course Whisky Bars appeared first on Whisky Advocate.

Grab a Dram at One of These Lesser Known Louisville Bars

Branch out from mainstays like The Silver Dollar and Proof on Main by hitting up these Derby City watering holes.

The post Grab a Dram at One of These Lesser Known Louisville Bars appeared first on Whisky Advocate.

When talk turns to the country’s best bourbon bars, Louisville definitely shines—especially during Kentucky Derby week. While favorites like Proof on Main, The Silver Dollar, and Bourbon’s Bistro are sure bets, these recent arrivals are well worth a wager.

Hell or High Water

Hell or High Water is a speakeasy located beneath the bustle of Main St., a few blocks from Louisville’s Whiskey Row. Enter through a hidden door and descend the narrow staircase to a softly lit cellar enclave, splashed out with red velvet booth seating and art deco style.

While the bottle list is deep, cocktails are the best route. Menus are updated seasonally, and split between Hell (stronger, spirit-forward) and High Water (bright and refreshing). Recent offerings include Cardamum’s the Word, made with barrel-pick Russell’s Reserve bourbon, rum blanc, cardamom syrup, cardamom tincture, and black lemon ($15). On the lighter side, there is Pass the Torch, a rye-based cocktail with green chartreuse, lemon, marshmallow gel, and orange marmalade ($16). Reservations required.

Doc’s Bourbon Room

This temple of brown spirits opened in 2020 as an extension of Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar—the two are adjacent—aiming to offer the largest whisky selection in America. By the look of their nearly 60-page drinks list, complete with a coding system to help locate bottles, it appears they’ve succeeded.

With over 2,000 bottles on offer, there are pours for every taste and budget. You can zero in on a specific style or order a curated flight. Go vertical with a taste of every Angel’s Envy Cask Strength dating from 2012 or every pact of Blood Oath. Doc’s is also the place to sample those unicorns you’ve been chasing, such as a taste of Orphan Barrel Whoop and Holler 28 year old ($226/2 oz.) or E.H. Taylor Warehouse C Tornado Surviving ($1,500/2 oz.). There’s even a lager, brewed locally, exclusively for Doc’s, appropriately dubbed Whiskey Chaser.

Booth at a whiskey bar

Hell or High Water

The Bar at Fort Nelson

Located on the second floor of Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery, The Bar at Fort Nelson is a destination unto itself for classic and contemporary cocktails served with precision in a chic, cozy atmosphere.

On the classic side of the menu, try a Fort Nelson Crusta, made with Michter’s US*1 bourbon, yellow chartreuse, lemon, demerara, honey, and creole bitters ($14). Bar staff recently revamped the lineup of modern cocktails, including a Wake Up to Slow Down made with Michter’s rye, manzanilla sherry, pear, chamomile tea, and honey ($15). The complete Michter’s lineup is available—including a pour of Celebration Sour Mash—as are spirits from Michter’s sibling Chatham Imports.

North of Bourbon

Debuting a bar on New Year’s Eve is a bold move, but that trial by fire worked out for North of Bourbon, says co-owner Daniel Holyfield. He also owns a local flooring company and mill, and used reclaimed wood from a rickhouse for the floor, tables, and bar top. The booths are ensconced in enormous bourbon barrel replicas—made from charred white oak.

The bar stocks more than 300 bourbons, as well as a “dusty locker” with vintage bottles like an Old Crow 10 year old Chessmen decanter and Wild Turkey “Cheesy Gold Foil.” Cocktails include several riffs on an Old Fashioned and one made with Maker’s Mark, peanut orgeat, and cola—a play on peanuts in Coke, a Southern favorite.

The Wild Swann

The Grady Hotel opened last summer inside a historic Louisville building that once housed the Swann-Abram Hat Co.—a 1920s millinery known for making exquisite Derby hats. The hotel’s speakeasy-style cocktail bar, The Wild Swann, reflects that Prohibition-era aesthetic.

Cocktails are focused on classic flavors. Try The Grady Clay’s Old Fashioned, featuring Evan Williams single barrel bourbon with raw sugar and bitters ($14). A tidy yet well-curated list of about 50 American whiskeys includes Kentucky standouts like Willett 4 year old cask strength rye ($18/2 oz.), Peerless bourbon ($25/2 oz.), and Rabbit Hole Dareringer ($32/2 oz.).

The Whisky Lover’s Louisville Travel Guide

The post Grab a Dram at One of These Lesser Known Louisville Bars appeared first on Whisky Advocate.

Sip and Play at These Board Game Bars

At these board-game bars, you can enjoy your favorite dram while playing the tabletop.

The post Sip and Play at These Board Game Bars appeared first on Whisky Advocate.

Perhaps you’ve enjoyed a boozy board-game night at a friend’s home, but have you ever been to an entire bar dedicated to tabletop games? These four watering holes not only bring whisky and cocktails to the table, but also an impressive selection of board games. You can savor a bourbon on the rocks while playing Battleship, or sip a cocktail while immersed in a round of chess.

ST. LOUIS’S BOARD GAME HAVEN

Pieces, St. Louis
With between 900 and 1,000 board games, it’s nearly impossible to run out of options at Pieces. “This number fluctuates because we are constantly buying new games or pulling them off the shelves to repair and refurbish them,” says bar manager Theresa Schafer. Fan-favorite games include the strategy game Wingspan, and Medium, a party game, according to Schafer. Pieces carries 16 different whiskies, like Redemption rye ($7), Lagavulin 16 year old ($12), and a host of cocktails. Sip on a Jack and a Ginger ($7.50)—Jack Daniel’s whiskey, ginger beer, and lemon juice—which Schafer says is the bar’s most popular whiskey cocktail, while trying your hand at tile-placement game Ginnykub.

PLAY IN THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS

Hex&Co., New York City
Hex&Co. has locations in Manhattan’s Upper West and Upper East Side, and the latter serves liquor. The bar features a collection of over 1,000 rotating games, with more than 500 available to play at any given time, according to co-owner Greg May. Popular games include Settlers of Catan and Codenames, which you can play while sipping one of the bar’s 10 whiskies. Options include Aberlour 12 year old, Elijah Craig Small Batch, and Laphroaig 10 year old, priced from $9 to $11 a pour. Try Hex&Co.’s most popular whisky cocktail, the Back Room Deal ($14), which May describes as “Aberlour 12 year old and Noilly Pratt sweet vermouth, a dash of both Angostura bitters and Dashfire orange bitters, a touch of Laphroaig 10 year old, and a few drops of a saline solution to wake the whole thing up.” Sip this magical cocktail with a game to match it, Magic the Gathering.

GAMES AND COCKTAILS IN OHIO

Great Oaks Tavern, Wadsworth, Ohio
Great Oaks Tavern boasts over 600 board games, and that collection is constantly growing, according to co-owner Alex Nassos. “We do have some rare and out-of-print games, but the most popular will always be the classics,” Nassos adds. The bar has a whisky list of 13 rotating bottles, including Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection ($25) and Blackened ($8). Like the whiskies, the cocktails rotate seasonally, and have included such hits as a Black Tea Old Fashioned ($11), which consists of bourbon, black tea simple syrup, and lemon. Since classic games are the most popular at Great Oaks, go the classic route and enjoy a simple pour like Maker’s Mark ($8) and a game of Scrabble.

ALL OCCASION FUN IN PHILLY

Queen & Rook Café, Philadelphia
Boasting more than 1,300 board games, Queen & Rook is a fun spot for groups, families, and date nights. “[We have] everything from family games and classics, like Don’t Break the Ice, or chess, to modern games like Everdell or Wingspan,” says co-owner Edward Garcia. The bar also has around 20 whiskies, including Glenlivet 14 year old ($14) and Bulleit rye ($9). The cocktail menu features classics alongside special “Signature and Wizarding” cocktails. Garcia adds that Queen & Rook “will be adding events where people can learn about whisky and classic games in the next few months.” Bring a friend or a date and pair signature cocktail Aretha ($12)—Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition, applejack, Angostura bitters, and Bittermens Xocolatl bitters—with two-player game Onitama.

The post Sip and Play at These Board Game Bars appeared first on Whisky Advocate.

Drink Like a Movie Star at One of These Film-Famous Bars

From Los Angeles to Tokyo, these bars served as the set for some memorable movie moments.

The post Drink Like a Movie Star at One of These Film-Famous Bars appeared first on Whisky Advocate.

Quentin Tarantino spent five days shooting the film “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” at the Musso & Frank Grill, enlisting bartender Kenneth “Sonny Bones” Donato who shook up at least 15 of his famous Whiskey Sours. Musso’s has been a favorite of the film industry ever since Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks raced to the bar on horseback, with the loser picking up the tab. But this Hollywood favorite is also popular with regular folk thirsty for a drink and a bit of cinematic nostalgia. Check out these other real-life bars that appear in famous movie scenes.

L Street Tavern in Boston

As seen in: “Good Will Hunting” (1997)
Troubled mathematics genius Matt Damon introduces his new girlfriend Minnie Driver to his pals (including Ben Affleck) at this now-famous Irish bar which proudly boasts its connection to the Oscar-winning film.
Potable: Irish whiskey with a pint of Guinness
Quotable: “I got her number. How do you like them apples?”—Will (Matt Damon)

Musso & Frank Grill in Los Angeles

As seen in: “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” (2019)
Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) enjoys one of Sonny’s Whiskey Sours while waiting to meet agent Marvin Schwarz (Al Pacino) at the famous Hollywood Boulevard watering hole.
Potable: Sonny’s Whiskey Sour, which combines bourbon, lemon, simple syrup, sweet and sour mix, and egg whites in an ice-filled cocktail tin.
Quotable: “When you come to the end of the line, with a buddy who is more than a brother and a little less than a wife, getting blind drunk together is really the only way to say farewell.”—Narrator (Kurt Russell)

The Formosa Café in Los Angeles

As seen in: “L.A. Confidential” (1997)
An iconic Hollywood establishment, the recently refurbished bar has appeared in numerous films, most notably this period noir where LAPD officer Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) mistakes Lana Turner for a lookalike prostitute.
Potable: Blood and Sand cocktail made with scotch, vermouth, cherry liqueur, and orange juice
Quotable: “I wouldn’t trade places with Edmund Exley right now for all the whiskey in Ireland.”—Captain Dudley Smith (James Cromwell)

21 Club in New York City

As seen in: “Wall Street” (1987)
A former Prohibition speakeasy, this indefinitely shuttered formal bar and restaurant was where Charlie Sheen and mentor Michael Douglas shared a power lunch.
Potable: ‘21’ Perfect Manhattan made with Maker’s Mark bourbon or Bulleit rye and sweet and dry vermouth
Quotable: “Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.”—Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas)

Maxim’s de Paris in Paris

As seen in: “Midnight in Paris” (2011)
This world-famous, art nouveau-styled bistro dates to 1893. In Woody Allen’s time-travel comedy, modern writer Owen Wilson visits Maxim’s in the 1920s with his new love, Marion Cotillard, and meets notable celebrities from that era.
Potable: Maxim’s de Paris Pure Malt Scotch
Quotable: “That Paris exists and anyone could choose to live anywhere else in the world will always be a mystery to me.”—Adriana (Marion Cotillard)

New York Bar in Tokyo

As seen in: “Lost in Translation” (2003)
Located on the 52nd floor of Tokyo’s Park Hyatt Hotel, this elegant bar was featured in Sofia Coppola’s drama about a world-weary actor (Bill Murray) who befriends bored newlywed Scarlett Johansson while filming a Suntory commercial. Sofia’s inspiration came from her father, Francis Ford Coppola, who once starred in a Suntory ad for filmmaker Akira Kurosawa.
Potable: Hibiki 17 year old
Quotable: “For relaxing times, make it Suntory time.”—Bob Harris (Bill Murray)

The post Drink Like a Movie Star at One of These Film-Famous Bars appeared first on Whisky Advocate.

13 Must Haves for the Perfect Bourbon Bar

When the Urban Bourbon Trail was created in Louisville, Ky., in 2008, member bars were required to list at least 50 bourbons. Is 2021, does 50 sound like too few to have at a dedicated bourbon bar? I don’t think so. Then what is the ideal number? And h…

When the Urban Bourbon Trail was created in Louisville, Ky., in 2008, member bars were required to list at least 50 bourbons. Is 2021, does 50 sound like too few to have at a dedicated bourbon bar? I don’t think so. Then what is the ideal number? And how much variety is required given age, brands, types, regions, distilleries and more? Would the self-appointed bourbon cognoscenti have enough to dispute and dissect with a mere 50? Here’s another question: Must it have proper glassware? And what about ice … and staff knowledge … even food choices? Where is the line drawn between approachable and pretentious, partial and professional? All good questions. Agreeing on answers to those questions may never happen, so let’s just start with what I think are at least 13 basic requirements for a dedicated bourbon bar. Let the disagreements begin!