If you’re traveling to a new city and want to find a good whisky bar, start here. If you’ve discovered one that isn’t on the list, let us know about it and we’ll add it.
NORTH AMERICA
- Jack Rose Dining Saloon (Washington, DC)
- Brandy Library (New York City)
- Reserve 101 (Houston)
- The Flatiron Room (New York City)
- Keens Steakhouse (New York City)
- Monk’s Cafe (Philadelphia)
- Old Seelbach Bar (Louisville)
- The Feathers (Toronto)
- Bourbon’s Bistro (Louisville)
- Jockey Silks (Louisville)
- Bar & Books (New York)
- The Dam Pub (Thornbury, Ontario)
- Delilah’s (Chicago)
- Proof on Main (Louisville)
- The Century (Dayton, Ohio)
- Seven Grand (Los Angeles, San Diego, Austin, Denver)
- Mac McGee Irish Pub (Decatur, Georgia)
- The Scottish Arms (St. Louis)
- The Daily Pint (Santa Monica, California)
- Bourbon (Washington, DC)
- Nihon (San Francisco)
- Highlands (New York City)
- West End Tavern (Boulder, Colorado)
- One Barrel Bar (New York City)
- Pint’s Pub (Denver)
- Benjamin Steak House (New York City)
- Paddy’s (Portland, Oregon)
- The Franklin (Philadelphia)
- MacNiven’s (Indianapolis)
- Dive Bar (New York City)
- Anvil Bar & Refuge (Houston)
- Poison Girl (Houston)
- Caledonia Scottish Pub (New York City)
- The Lunar Rogue (Fredericton, New Brunswick)
- Amherst Coffee (Amherst, Massachusetts)
- American Whiskey (New York City)
- Trinity Hall (Dallas)
- Piper’s Pub (Pittsburgh)
- Local Whiskey (State College, Pennsylvania)
- Village Whiskey (Philadelphia)
- Boyd’s Jig & Reel Pub (Knoxville, Tennessee)
- Multnomah Whiskey Library (Portland)
- The Half Barrel Bar & Kitchen (Rochester, Minnesota)
- Lloyd (Philadelphia)
- The Ball & Biscuit (Indianapolis)
- The Dam Pub (Thornbury, Ontario)
- Cascades Whiskey Bar at the Stanley Hotel (Estes Park, Colorado)
- Bourbon (Columbia, South Carolina)
- Rough Draught Whiskey Bar (College Station, Texas)
- Bar 1919 (San Antonio, Texas)
- Barnett’s Public House (Waco, Texas)
- Whiskey Bear (Lexington, Kentucky)
- Silver Dollar (Louisville, Kentucky)
- The Churchill (Victoria, British Columbia)
- The Whiskey House (San Diego, California)
- The Speakeasy at Quintana’s Barber & Dream Spa (Cleveland, Ohio)
- Death & Taxes (Reno, Nevada)
SCOTLAND
- Bon Accord (Glasgow)
- The Pot Still (Glasgow)
- The Highlander Inn (Speyside)
- Craigellachie Hotel (Speyside)
- The Grill (Aberdeen)
- The Mash Tun (Aberlour, Speyside)
- Whiski Bar & Restaurant (Edinburgh)
- The Fiddler’s Inn (Drumnadrochit)
- Dornoch Castle Hotel (Dornoch)
- Oran Mor (Glasgow)
- Duffie’s at the Lochide Inn (Islay)
- The Caley Bar (Edinburgh)
- The Bon Vivant (Edinburgh)
- Lynnfield Hotel & Restaurant (Orkney)
- Bramble Bar (Edinburgh)
- CASC (Aberdeen)
- The Malt Room (Inverness)
IRELAND
- The Brian Boru (Dublin)
- Dingle Whiskey Bar (Dublin)
- Dick Mack’s Pub (Dingle)
- The Long Hall Pub (Dublin)
ENGLAND
- Athenaeum Hotel Whisky Bar (London)
- Mizuwari at Bincho (London)
- John Bull Inn (Alnwick, Northumbria)
EUROPE
- Harry’s New York Bar (Paris)
- Bar & Books (Prague)
- Wallace Bar (Lyon, France)
- Villa Konthor (Limburg, Germany)
- Rubens Bar-Bistro (The Hague)
- Whisky Cafe L&B (Amsterdam)
- Akkurat (Stockholm)
- Saddle & Sabre (Stockholm)
- Dom Whisky (Jastrzębia Góra, Poland)
- King & Mouse Whisky Bar & Shop (Vilnius, Lithuania)
- J.D. William’s Whisky Bar (Amsterdam)
- Whiskeria (Prague)
- La Whiskeria (Barcelona)
ASIA-PACIFIC
- Malt Vault (Singapore)
- Bar High Society (Tokyo)
- Zoetrope (Shinjuku, Japan)
- Bar High Five (Tokyo)
- Malt Whisky Bar (Hong Kong)
We’re humbled and proud that WhiskyCast’s Mark Gillespie is the winner of the International Wine & Spirits Competition’s 2023 Spirits Communicator Trophy. Thanks to all of you for listening along with our sponsors. Without your support over the years, this wouldn’t have been possible and we are truly grateful!
Death Valley’s Little Brother in Waterloo, ON has closed as a result of COVID-19.
However, 21 Fir located at 100 King St. S, Waterloo, ON (21fir.com) is still open and doing well. They have a good whisky selection, covering single malts, bourbon, Japanese and Canadian whiskies. They also have great craft cocktails!
Thanks for the update!
Can I submit a new whisky bar in Inverness?
It’s the Malt Room, a speakeasy-style bar with a great selection of malts, mainly Scotch but also some Japanese whiskies, Bourbon, Rye and Irish whiskey.
https://www.themaltroom.co.uk/
Thanks, Alex…will check it out the next time I’m in Inverness!
Sorry to report that we’ve had to remove St. Andrews in New York City from the list. It was one of Manhattan’s best whisky bars, but closed on April 13, 2017.
I’d like to nominate MALT Whisky Bar (www.malt.com.hk) in Hong Kong.
The bar has quite a substantial whisky collection; by eye and leafing through the menu, it seemed to have over 100+ bottles. It is dominated by Scotch (~60%), Japanese (25%), Taiwanese (10%), rest of the world (5%).
On my most recent visit, I had two drams from Glenmorangie’s Private Edition range (Companta and Tùsail) and a great chat with Ted behind the bar. Our conversation was wide-ranging from Glenmorangie’s wine-finishes to independent bottlers to Japanese and Taiwanese whiskies.
The bar also do set whisky flights and whisky cocktails.
All in all, I’d have to say this bar is one of my favourites worldwide and I think worthy of a mention on this list (especially since there aren’t any existing HK recommendations!).
Thanks for the recommendation!
Mark, you should definitely add Canon, a fabulous whisky bar in Seattle. http://www.canonseattle.com/
Peter, Canon was on the list previously, but has been removed because we’ve heard about bad experiences people have had there in the past.
If you ever receive poor service or have problems at any of the bars on this list, please let us know immediately. We’ll remove bars from this list if there’s a consistent pattern of reported problems (or if we experience them personally).
I would like to recommend the ‘School House Kitchen & Libations’ in Arvada, CO as a fantastic whisky bar.
Its only 20mins from downtown Denver.
Its less than a year old but they already have over 1000 whiskies and growing, they hold frequent whisky tastings & events, the food is great and the staff really friendly.
http://schoolhousearvada.com
Thanks for the suggestion…will check it out next time I’m in the area!
I would like to recommend The Half Barrel Bar and Kitchen in Rochester, MN for the Great Whisky Bars list. They have at least 150 whiskies, and add new ones every week. They have about 30 whisky flights available, and the owner Chris is always looking for new and interesting bottles to add. Sit at the bar and talk to the bartenders – they’ll steer you in any direction you want to go: Scotch, Irish, Japanese, Bourbon – you name it. (And the food is good, too!)
While Rochester is a relatively small town, it is the birthplace of the Mayo Clinic, and host to a constant stream of visitors from all over the world.
http://www.thehalfbarrelbk.com/
Thanks! Consider it added…
Mark
My wife and I were in Kingston, ON for The Spirits of Kingston Whisky Festival on Feb 20 & 21. One of the events on the Friday afternoon was a “Walking Tour of Downtown Kingston” led by none other than Sir John A. MacDonald (first Prime Minister of Canada) himself. The tour (aka pub crawl) visited some of the historical sites in Kingston and six pubs for a wee dram in each. One of the more eclectic establishments was the Musiikki Cafe – a new cafe / whisky bar / music emporium. They are less than a year old, but have 40+ whiskies in the bar, and adding more each week.
If you happen to be in Kingston, ON, this is a neat place to stop by for a little nip.
Address: 73 Brock Street, Kingston, ON.
The website is just a placeholder – they use Facebook primarily.
https://www.facebook.com/musiikkicafe
Thanks for the recommendation, Tom!
Just started listening to the podcast, don’t know why I didn’t look for it earlier.
Teresa’s Next Door in Wayne, PA (about 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia) is fantastic. Philly Magazine just rated it the best whisk(e)y bar in Philadelphia. They do a great Thursday night tasting every week. Also has solid beer and great food.
Thanks! Have heard good things about Teresa’s, but it’s a little far for me to go without a designated driver… 😉
Ha definitely understand how that goes. The SEPTA “Mainline” actually stops right in Wayne from downtown, but then of course you have to get into downtown Philadelphia first. Or maybe once self-driving cars come out that’ll make it easier.
Hi Mark,
A great small bar to add to the list in Seattle, WA. The Flat Iron Grill is a fine dining restaurant with a fantastic little whiskey bar in Issaquah (in Greater Seattle) that has over 1000 bottles of whisky and whiskey to try. Kyle the bartender / part-owner is a big american whiskey fan and will spend the time to educate you on the finer points of whiskey. He has all kinds of whiskey but specializes in american.
http://www.theflatirongrill.com/
The other’s worth mentioning in Seattle include
FX McCory http://www.fxmcrorys.com/thebar.php
McCleods http://www.macleodsballard.com/Macleods.html
The Bookstore
http://www.bookstorebar.com/
Slainte!
Thanks for the suggestions! Was at McRory’s many years ago…but haven’t been there for a long time.
Another whisky pub in Toronto,ON, Canada to add to your list:
The Caledonian
http://www.thecaledonian.ca/
(They hosted Ardbog Day events on May 31 / June 1)
Tom Fahey
Thanks, Tom…will check it out the next time I’m in Toronto!
Providence, RI – New Harvest Coffee & Spirits
Small local coffee roaster. Coffee shop doubles as a whisky bar, with selections ranging from modestly-priced small batch bourbons to higher-end single malts and rarities from around the globe. Located right downtown in the historic Arcade, the oldest indoor “mall” in America.
http://www.newharvestcoffee.com/coffee-spirits/location
Thanks for submitting it, Ben…we get through Providence on a regular basis and will try to stop by when we can…
Other North America notes …
1. Montreal PQ. CANADA.
Store: ‘State’ Control. Limited legal self-import for tourists. Most stores have poor selection but SAQ Signature has fairly good list at luxury tax prices (posted online), 9-5 hours!
Complexe Des Ailes / Center Eaton, 677 Ste Catherine O, Montreal, QC H3B 3Y6,
(514) 282-9445 http://www.saq.com/
Bar: Whisky Cafe http://www.worldsbestbars.com/city/montreal/whisky-cafe-montreal.htm
separate cigar bar on premises.
150 single malts. Flights available
http://www.whiskycafe.com/en_menu.html
2. New Brunswick CANADA
The Lunar Rogue – Fredericton, NB
“The Local Traveler NS” @GillianWesleyNS (ex of @WhiskyAce video team) “Love whisky? This maritime pub has more than 420 to choose from, ranging from $4.50 – $139 per ounce”
http://thelocaltravelerns.com/2013/06/27/the-lunar-rogue-fredericton-nb/ … @fredtourism
3. RENO NEVADA USA
[Recon by/for my SciFi friends]
Store: Ben’s Fine Wine & Spirits (Lakeside)
3480 Lakeside Drive Reno, NV 89509. 775-825-0244
Bar: Whiskey Bar [google]
“with a prime spot on the west edge of downtown ..
specializes in, you guessed it, whiskey, along with crafted cocktails”
100 N Arlington Ave, Reno, NV 89501
the local Reno tasting club has a list of links including stores. http://www.singlemaltreno.com/commonlinks.html
4. SARATOGA NY USA
9 Maple Ave http://www.9mapleave.com
[Eponymous address]
150+ Single Malts, sorted by region on 6-step stairs on bar back. 40-seat jazz bar. Let us split a ‘pour’ into a pair of snifters for tasting. I’ll go back !
Boston USA bars – 3 – rumors
Bars with only one source, not field checked, but worth field checking.
Mooo
(ex Federalist XV, closed)
15 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108 (617) 670-2515 http://www.mooorestaurant.com
Phone call to bartender confirms they still have Federalist’s famed Scotch collection, what isn’t behind the bar is in storage.
Whiskey’s Food & Spirit [google]
885 Boylston Sts
[can they live up to the name? Needs field check!]
@Local_149 [google/yelp/twitter]
“in southie has (had?) A bottle of glenlivet 34.”
149 P St., South Boston, MA
Stanza dei Sigari [yelp/google]
“serves several single malts over 20 years old.”
http://www.stanzadeisigari.com/liquor_page1.html
Glenlivet Archive 21 & XXV; Mac 25/30. Bowmore 25.
Rowes Wharf [yelp]
“Rowes Wharf bar in the Boston Harbor Hotel has a *lot* of Scotch. They claim Boston’s largest selection, and I would not want to challenge them on that.” [multiple claimants!]
Doyle’s [yelp]
“Doyle’s, in JP has a great Scotch list, including many old single malts.”
“Extensive scotch board with some real gems. It’s a pretty canonical public house with the typical range of food and bev options for such (with actually a nice bump up in quality in the last couple years). Most of the customers are groups of families/friends breaking bread for sit-down meals.)”
Tip Tap Room [yelp]
“The Tip Tap Room on Beacon Hill has a good selection.”
PJ Ryans [yelp]
Teele Square, 239 Holland St, Somerville, MA 02143
selection of fine Irish whiskeys along the back bar.
Bar 10 at 10 Huntington [yelp]
Yelp reports that has a good single-malt list.
Hugh O’Neill’s, Malden [@noshwhiskyclub]
45 Pleasant St / Malden Center / Malden, MA 02148 / (781) 338-9977
= http://www.hughoneills.com/
is home for @noshwhiskyclub
= http://www.northshorewhiskyclub.blogspot.com/
Drink [@BostINNO Thrillist]
[i thought it was more craft cocktail?]
Russell House Tavern [@BostINNO Thrillist]
14 John F. Kennedy St., Harvard Square
Ward 8 [@BostINNO Thrillist]
90 N. Washington St., North End
The Hawthorne [@BostINNO Thrillist]
500 A Commonwealth Ave., Kenmore Square
Baseball warning applies !
Sweet Cheeks [@BostINNO Thrillist]
1381 Boylston St., Fenway
Baseball warning applies
Boston USA bars – 2 – unverified vi’trusted sources
Capital Grille in Burlington MA [ Via @ScotchNoob ]
“nice whiskies …Decent selection of whisky, but very high prices, including Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist”
Boston Harbor Hotel [ Via @ScotchNoob ]
also “decent selection”
The Last Hurrah Bar [multiple sources]
in (Omni) Parker House Hotel
Claims to have an exclusive house Blended (by Park Ave?) at an exclusive price. Heard good list otherwise.
Cafe Escadrille (Lexington) [friend]
wine list has 2 pages of single malts at its back, arranged by area
The Citizen Public House and Oyster Bar [mult.]
http://www.citizenpub.com/
1310 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02215 (617) 450-9000
has Macallan ice-baller?
Backside of Fenway park so avoid before/after games!
150 including single barrels per @onpointradio.
Run by @joyrichard
Saloon [multiple sources]
Davis Square, 255 Elm St. Somerville, MA 02144
Next to “foundry”. Big whisky list, they say, several unqualified reports, incl twitter.
Five Horses Tavern [multiple sources]
Davis Square, 400 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02144
“they have a whiskey wonderland at the end of the bar. “; “Five Horses in Davis Square has quite a few too.” — yelp
[now 2nd location in South End now per BostINNO]
Eastern Standard [multiple; Bourbon/American]
Kenmore square, avoid before/after Baseball.
American Craft in Brookline [multiple; Bourbon/American]
Hops ‘n’ Scotch in Brookline [lisded & window checked]
Single-malt Scotch list good; Compass Box, Buchanans 18 also.
Boston USA bar notes – 1 – field checked.
Federal Wine & Spirits (ask for Joe) is 1st priority visit in Boston, before bars.
CLOSED : Federalist at XV Beacon
CLOSED : Whiskey Park (all name no malt anyway)
Back Bay Social Club @BackBaySocial
new, has good bourbon/american back-bar and better than typical scotch. Bourbon 16+, Scotch 12 Singles incl Dalmore/Jura, 4+ blend; Irish 5 including Midleton VR, & Canadian.
City Bar (2 sites)
Back Bay/Lennox Hotel, 61 Exeter St Boston, MA 02199 (617) 536-5300
SoBo INNO Seaport/Westin Waterfront at BCEC
Yelp was impressed; has an ok list, but not serious research selection.
Dooleys, 77 Broad St, claims best irish whiskey list in Boston, that’s plausible! They stock full line and latest irish releases and limiteds. eg first Cu Culin (honey tofee spice) in Mass. Irish blend, all the basics plus reserves. Powers 12 Gold, CLONTARF RARE RESERVE, Jameson 12B/18B, Knappogue 12B. Irish Singles. Middleton 12. Redbreast. Connemara&Tyrconnel, Black Bush Bushmills and Bushmills 10,16. List 21y and last Bushmill 1608 (400 th anniversary ltd. Nuts and raisins). More on top shelf than in list!
Better than average Scotch list too, with amusing typos.
“Whiskey Priest”, Inno District / South Boston Seaport waterfront
150 Northern Ave Boston, MA 02210 (617) 426-8111
Impressive list of scotch and other whiskey.
But. But the bartender shook a ‘neat’ orders with ice before straining the chilled, diluted Dalwhinnie into a glass, and reportedly sometimes serves in disposable plastic. I now specify ‘warm neat in a snifter’.
It’s really a theme sports bar disguised as a fine whisky bar, but it’s still a good list.
M bar, Hotel Mandarin (Prudential/Hynes)
Selection of higher ages.
Macallan 12/15/18/25/30.
Glenlivet 12/13/?/21/xxv.
Glenmo.Oban.Hibiki ?17. Lagavulin 16.
Charles Hotel, Rialto bar.
Mac 12/18/25. Sometimes a single cask. Dalwhinnie. Cragganmore.
Balvenie 13&21. Oban, Scapa, Glenmox3,HP, Talisker.
M bar, Hotel Mandarin, with very old top shelf, closed summer of 2014.
Greetings –
A Dallas addition to your list would be Trinity Hall. They have been hosting a tasting most months since they started years ago and Marius is always finding something new and different.
http://trinityhall.tv/
Thanks, Matt…good suggestion!
Two good bars I have been to lately are Piper’s Pub in Pittsburgh, PA and Local Whiskey in State College, PA. Their web pages include their whisky menus, although I did find with Local Whiskey that they had some whiskies on their menu that were not listed on the web site.
Piper’s Pub – http://piperspub.com/
Local Whiskey – http://www.localwhiskeybar.com/
Piper’s Pub also regularly carries Premier League games, which is also great! Football schedules are on the site.
Thanks,
Paul
Unfortunately in all publications of the best whisky bars all authors always forget about Poland.
And I don’t know if You heard that we have here in a small town by the Baltic sea Whisky House, one of the biggest in Europe. As far as I remember this summer they had over 1500 bottles each available to try.Maybe it will be a good hint? 😉
http://www.dommwhisky.pl
Thanks for the suggestion! Since I haven’t visited Poland, I haven’t been able to visit the Whisky House. We depend on WhiskyCast community members to suggest good bars that they’re familiar with and are willing to recommend.
By the way, there’s a typo in the link above…the correct address is http://domwhisky.pl/
Yes, You’re right in both matters but maybe this will convince You to get to know Poland by Yourself. Have a nice weekend
hi Mark, love the podcast!
i have a couple of bars to mention … one is the Albanach in Edinburgh. good bar, excellent whisky, fantastic town.
the other bar is my favorite, mainly because i was fortunate to live near it for a few months. it’s the John Bull Inn in Alnwick (pronounced “annick”), Northumbria, England; about a 1/2 hour train ride north of Newcastle. The town is a summer tourist area on the coastal castle route, and the old market town vibe is very much alive. It is grounded by the Duke of Northumberland’s castle, one of the most beautiful and well preserved castles in England– the set to many movies, including the first two harry potter movies.
the John Bull Inn is a fantastic example of a British pub– no tv or jukebox, many friendly locals, a strong real ale and Belgian beer selection as well as 200 whiskies … all served neat by with a very small, kind and smart staff. there are many discontinued and mothballed treats to be found. the Bull is a tiny pub and is a hidden jewel.
http://www.john-bull-inn.co.uk/
thanks for the podcast,
Justin
St. Cloud, Minnesota
web site for Death Valley: http://www.dvlb.ca
tf
Thanks for the recommendations, Tom!
Hi Mark:
Suggesting two recommendations for addition to the whisky bar list:
The Dam Pub
Thornbury, ON
http://www.thedampub.ca
675 whiskies on their menu.
In-house Red Seal Chef.
Death Valley’s Little Brother Craft Espresso, Whisky & Bread
Waterloo, ON
Newly opened, but expanding the whisky selection
Tom Fahey
Elmira, ON
p.s. – The Academy of Spherical Arts website now notes that they had to close the doors Dec 31, 2012.