Sponsored Listings:
By Becky Mahan, Editor
Bluegrass Tavern (Kentucky)
by: Travel + Leisure – Courtesy: Gogobot
No less than 230 types of bourbon line the shelves of this stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, which is in the company of Bulleit and Woodford Reserve. And true to what discerning whiskey fans the world over would expect of a Lexington bar, the bartenders are knowledgeable and skilled enough at their craft to select the perfect, often vintage, bottle to suit any patron.
Bar High Five (Tokyo)
by: Kent Wang flickr – Courtesy: Gogobot
In place of a menu, the staff at Bar High Five will ask you a series of questions about your personal tastes and flavor preferences to figure out what you want to order (even if you didn’t know that’s what you wanted.) Oh, did we mention that they love Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve…and if you order it, they’ll carve ice diamonds to commemorate the glass. Bottoms up, ladies and gents.
Flatiron Room (NYC)
– Courtesy: Gogobot
This swanky Manhattan lounge offers 500 types of whiskey and bourbon, including the rarest of vintages. Patrons can entertain themselves with live jazz music and celebrity-watching, or even book a private day-long whiskey class in their upstairs “classroom.”
The Athanaeum (London)
by: ctj71081 flickr – Courtesy: Gogobot
Plush red velvet sofas invite patrons at this 5-star hotel bar, while whiskey guru Ivo Silva leads them through the 400 varieites of Scottish, Irish, American, Japanese, and even Welsh whiskeys – some of which are not available anywher else in the world.
Seven Grand (Los Angeles)
by: Sam Howzit flickr – Courtesy: Gogobot
Not only an extraordinarily popular whiskey destination, Seven Grand is also a speakeasy, music venue, and as of 2015, a museum showcasing classic American cocktails. Choose (or have the bartender do it for you) from over 400 varieties of whiskey, bourbon, and rye, or try your luck at snagging one of only 18 seats in the “hidden” Bar Jackalope (complete with a light switch call button.) Whiskey enthusiasts will definitely want to get in – Bar Jackalope carries the exclusive Pappy Van Winkle.
Whiskycafe L&B (Amsterdam)
by: Joshua Rappeneker flickr – Courtesy: Gogobot
Whiskycafe is for the whiskey “puritans,” meaning if you’re looking for dancing or thumping music, you best look elsewhere. Peruse a giant old encylopedia of 1,400 worldly whiskey varieties – if you’re good and confused, the bar staff are more than happy (and capable) of stepping in. Oh, and you can order spicy smoked sausage or warm bread with herb butter to help soak up your drink.
Canon (Seattle)
by: Travel + Leisure – Courtesy: Gogobot
Canon isn’t just a bar – it’s a whiskey library, with the biggest selection of American whiskey in the Western Hemisphere. Order a glass neat, then channel your inner Hemingway and dive into a dusty old leather-bound book while you sip.
Baxter Inn (Sydney)
by: Nico Kaiser flickr – Courtesy: Gogobot
Old-school Baxter Inn is tucked away in the basement of an unmarked alleyway in Sydney, perfectly reminiscent of Prohibition-era speakeasies – but it’s so worth the quest to find it. Aside from the uber cool ambience, you can choose from nearly 200 varieties of whiskey or attend a tasting in the “dunnage” cellar to learn about the best whiskeys around the world.
The Pot Still (Glasgow)
by: goodiesfirst flickr – Courtesy: Gogobot
We’d be remiss if we didn’t include the Motherland of Whiskey, Scotland herself. The Pot Still carries about 300 varieties (mostly, but not all, from Scotland) and is the go-to bar among whiskey lovers. True to its reputation, the venue is simple and cozy, comprised of a no-nonsense bar, old, worn wooden benches, and the same locals every evening.
Dick Macks Pub (Ireland)
by: Dan Nevill flickr – Courtesy: Gogobot
This family-owned bar has been in business since 1899, and was named Best Whiskey Bar in Ireland — so, it’s kind of the real deal. Guests can sample any Scotch or Irish whiskey (not just Jameson), but the inventory is always changing according to word of mouth advice on the latest and greatest varieties. Of course, you can order an old-fashioned classic as well.
Source: gogobot.com