What makes a great whiskey bar? Sure, it’s the brown spirits selection behind the bar. But there’s a little more to it than that. Any whiskey enthusiast will tell you how important that really is. appreciate what you drink—and everyone has their own drinking rituals. Whether you sip single malt Scotch neat or prefer bourbon or rye shaken in an ice-cold cocktail, each whiskey should be approached on its own terms and treated with care. A great whiskey bar is defined not by how many rare bottles it stocks, but by how expertly it polishes its specialty whiskeys.
These bars vary greatly in atmosphere and specialties. Some are refined cocktail bars, others are punk bars. There are classic bourbon spots, as well as one exceptional, up-to-the-minute Japanese whiskey-focused establishment, and everything in between. In other words, there’s something for every type of whiskey enthusiast, no matter their budget or where they’re located in the U.S. (There’s even an option for those who want a delicious pizza to go with their drink.) The one common ingredient here is that they all share an intense passion for showcasing just how great whiskey can taste.
Related: The 20 Best Bourbons, Old Fashioned, Tasted and Reviewed
With the help of whiskey experts, from bartenders to cocktail historians, we’ve rounded up the best whiskey bars in the country right now. But one stands out as the best: Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Washington, D.C., should be on every whiskey drinker’s must-visit list.
A Look at the Best Whiskey Bars in America
- Best Overall Whiskey Bar: Jack Rose Dining Saloon (Washington, DC)
- Best Bourbon Bar: Bourbons Bistro (Louisville, KY)
- Best Bourbon Bar & Liquor Store: Neat Bourbon Bar & Bottle Shop (Louisville, KY)
- Best Punk Whiskey Bar: Johnny's Saloon (Huntington Beach, CA)
- Best Irish Whiskey Bar: Traghaven Whiskey Pub (Tivoli, NY)
- Best Japanese Whiskey Bar: Shinji's (New York, NY)
- Best Dive Whiskey Bar: Delilah's (Chicago, IL)
- Best Whiskey Cocktail Bar: CURE (New Orleans, LA)
- Best Looking Whiskey Bar: Canon (Seattle, WA)
Best Whiskey Bars
Best Overall Whiskey Bar: Jack Rose Dining Saloon (Washington, DC)
Courtesy Image
Listen to a serious whiskey enthusiast talk about their current favorite spot in the U.S., and it’s only a matter of time before you hear the name Jack Rose Dining Saloon uttered in a hushed tone, usually with a respectful tone. Winner of Tales of the Cocktail’s 2022 Spirited Awards’ World’s Best Spirits, the whiskey palace in America’s capital is a place where hyperbole is done right. An updated sign on its website lists the exact number of bottles of whiskey on the wall (2,687 as of this writing).
Opened in 2011 by owner and whiskey enthusiast Bill Thomas, the sprawling Dupont Circle neighborhood space includes a main dining room (with a concise, Southern-inspired food menu perfect for whiskey pairings), an outdoor terrace, a balcony room, a cellar, and even a tiki bar to suit any mood or drink. Pull up to the lounge with its library-like bottle display, chat with one of the impeccable waiters, and decide your poison. Or opt for a rotating flight of three whiskeys from Only at Jack Rose, highlighting their most interesting single barrels of the moment.
Best Bourbon Bar: Bourbons Bistro (Louisville, KY)
Courtesy Bourbons Bistro
Any conversation about the best bourbon bar should start and end in Kentucky. A short drive from Bourbon County, Louisville is home to a number of great bourbon-centric spots, but Bourbons Bistro, which opened in 2005, when America’s modern whiskey obsession began, is a particularly appealing one. It has an extensive bottle list, from the accessible Evan Williams Black Label to the not-so-accessible Pappy Van Winkle 20-year-old, which won best bar at the 2023 Whiskey Magazine Awards, and top-notch Southern fare like spicy fried oysters with Parmesan grits.
Best Bourbon Bar (Also a Liquor Store): Neat Bourbon Bar & Bottle Shop (Louisville, KY)
Courtesy of Neat Bourbon Bar & Bottle Shop
If you've ever wanted to sip your whiskey And grab a bottle to go, Neat awaits. Opened in 2021, it’s a modern, sophisticated bourbon bar with an old-school sensibility. The warmly lit space is adorned with red leather stools, wood-paneled walls, and a pressed tin ceiling like your grandfather might have designed. The enviable bourbons, too, highlight rare, beautiful past bottlings, including ones from bankrupt distilleries. Order the sought-after National Distillers 1972 Old Grand Dad Swing, then head to the shop to pick up a bottle of Wild Turkey 12 Year for your home or hotel room.
Best Punk Whiskey Bar (Also Serves Pizza): Johnny's Saloon (Huntington Beach, CA)
Courtesy of Johnny's Saloon
John Grondorf, owner of Los Angeles’s vibrant Tiny’s Hi-Dive, calls Johnny’s Saloon in nearby Orange County “a twisted Cheers, complete with hundreds of bottles of whiskey and amazing pizza in a punk-rock haunted house setting.” Get the Michter’s Small Batch bourbon and the I Wanna Be Sedated pie (pepperoni, sausage, bell peppers, ricotta and pecorino romano cheese, garlic powder), and you’ll find happiness, too.
Best Irish Whiskey Bar: Traghaven Whiskey Pub (Tivoli, NY)
Courtesy Traghaven Whiskey Pub
There are plenty of Guinness-swilling pubs in the U.S., but if you’re after Ireland’s best whiskey, you won’t find a more appealing spot than Traghaven, in the sleepy Hudson Valley town of Tivoli. This unpretentious but lively pub has the largest selection of Irish whiskey in the state. Choose from one of more than 150 bottles, then enjoy “a killer country pie,” says Cody Goldstein, founder of Muddling Memories, a Brooklyn-based hospitality group. “If that’s not enough to convince you to go, they have a lively hootenanny on Fridays.”
Best Japanese Whiskey Bar: Shinji's (New York, NY)
Courtesy of Shinji's
Japanese whisky has never been more popular, and with good reason: The country produces some of the most innovative, complex, and exciting whiskeys around. Opening in 2022, Shinji’s is an intimate, 26-seat bar next door to Michelin-starred omakase sushi restaurant Noda in New York’s Flatiron district. When reservations are impossible to score, it’s the ideal spot to browse the city’s largest selection of Japanese whiskey and grab a bite of that acclaimed cuisine: served hand-rolled at the table, chips with Royal Osetra caviar, or a “sandos” of Wagyu beef crushed between slices of hearty milk bread.
“Their focus on omotenashi, the Japanese concept of higher-level hospitality where the guest’s every need is anticipated, is one of the best in the country,” says Gardner Dunn, Suntory’s brand ambassador. He likes to grab anything new and seasonal. “The Jackie Treehorn, the Hibiki Harmony cocktail, is fun.”
Best Dive Whiskey Bar: Delilah's (Chicago, IL)
Courtesy of Delilah's
Charmingly unkempt rock 'n' roll bar Delilah's has been a Chicago institution since it opened in 1993, long before whiskey snobbery was a thing. It's still the city's most pleasant, unpretentious spot, and the perfect spot to sip Highland Park's precious 18-year-old Scotch. The whiskey list features more than 1,000 bottles, DJs frequently spin the Clash and the Replacements, and you can play Godzilla pinball.
Best Whiskey Cocktail Bar: CURE (New Orleans, LA)
Winner of the 2018 James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program, CURE has done much to put today’s pioneering New Orleans cocktail scene on the map. It’s the ideal place to order an unexpectedly heady contemporary concoction (put yourself in the hands of top-tier bartenders) or a subtle twist on a comforting classic like the Fancy Sazerac (Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye, Peychaud’s bitters, Nouvelle Orleans absinthe, lemon peel) in the sleek, minimalist space.
Best Looking Whiskey Bar: Canon (Seattle, WA)
Courtesy Canon
There’s no cooler place than Canon, a self-described “whiskey and bitters shop” that boasts America’s largest selection of spirits, with more than 4,000 spirits in a small, gorgeously appointed space in Capitol Hill. It’s good to honor its design with something old and unusual, equal parts colonial and contemporary, like the William Heavenhill Small Batch (served very slowly) or thoughtfully remixed, like one of the house’s riffs on the old fashioned (without ice, as originally intended). For a delightful experience, be sure to check out the adventurous food menu (the smoked duck breast in tea, the confit rabbit taquito, for example).
What Should You Order at a Whiskey Bar?
There’s no wrong way to enjoy whiskey (except, say, mixed with warm Sprite—please don’t do that). Most whiskey enthusiasts and bartenders will tell you to taste it neat to get the full flavor profile and complexity, and that’s a good way to start. After you’ve sniffed the whiskey in your glass and taken a sip (a Glencairn glass is preferred but not necessary), you can always add a splash of water or a few cubes of your choice. No judgment here.
Related: The Best Cheap Whiskeys of 2023 for a Great Time on a Budget
Ordering an old-fashioned will reliably test a bar’s cocktail-making abilities. A bad cocktail is terrible, but a great cocktail is sublime and brings out the nuances of the whiskey within. From there, any amount of experimentation is fair game—it’s a drink, after all, not heart surgery—as long as the results do the drink justice.
What We Look For In A Whiskey Bar
On our pick of the best whiskey bars (me and others) Men's Magazine editors) and our experts rated each bar based on how amazing a sip of straight whiskey can be there. An indescribable appreciation for the whiskey in question is also essential. That means a well-arranged, if not always extensive, menu of available whiskeys — though a few do. It also comes with top-notch service from attentive and attentive staff, creativity and execution in cocktails, clever design, and, of course, most importantly vibraphone.
If they’re cocktail bars, they need to be able to design both classic drinks (old fashioned, Manhattan, Sazerac) and their own creative creations. But no matter the type, the best whiskey bars should be about whiskey—tasting it, mixing it, learning about it—and what makes us enjoy it so much.
Why You Should Trust Me
I've been writing and editing about drinks, cocktails, and booze culture for over a decade. I've visited both upscale and hardcore bars from New York City to Miami, Chicago to Portland, OR.
To compile this list of the best whiskey bars, I consulted with a number of experts from across the whiskey world, including top bartenders, brand ambassadors, and historians. I researched the bars and relied on my own experiences at some of the venues to make my judgments. Diversity is the key. There are brand-new bars, long-standing venues, food joints (and places that only serve drinks), and a mix of every major region.