It is the epicenter of brown liquors.
Nowhere else in the universe will you find such a vast selection of whiskey, scotch and bourbon.
If you don’t believe it, just look up The Whiskey House in the Guinness Book of World Records, which vetted the establishment in 2018 and determined it had the largest retail inventory of the spirit compared to all other bars and restaurants anywhere on the planet.
Whiskey House’s selection has actually grown substantially since the Guinness reps conducted their painstaking label count. According to general manager Austin Swint, the record-breaking tally rang in at 2,400 different bottles back then. Today the number stands at 4,600.
There is a 75-page “whiskey bible” to help you grasp the dizzying selection.
It’s broken down by location, ranging in origins from American states to countries throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and even the Middle East. Visually the bottles steal the show in their copious display on illuminated shelves that loom over an elongated bar, as well as the dining and lounge areas.
Patrons can order 1.75-ounce pours directly from the bible or choose instead from a number of house-established tastings, which each give you a variety of five different whiskeys in 1.75-ounce pours.
The tastings start at $29, and they soar upwards to $699 when springing for the “money is no object” grouping of exclusive, limited-release brands.
In my first visit to The Whiskey House, on Third Avenue downtown, I lubricated my senses with a tasting of Scotch whiskeys from Scotland’s remote Highlands region.
There in the north, producers primarily use 100% malted barley in a non-complicated distilling process that results in bold, smokey flavors. I prefer it over the delicate versions of Scotch made in the Lowlands region, where whiskeys are typically double or triple-distilled.
But to these drama-seeking taste buds, they come across as too understated.
The lineup I had chosen ranged in ages from 10 to 15 years. And they paired swimmingly with a trio of house-made sausages served on a board with crostini, sauerkraut and mustard.
More recently, I dropped in for happy hour (4 to 7 p.m. daily), when the deals on food and drinks are pretty swell.
A classic whiskey sour ($8) using a smooth distillation from Benchmark set the stage for a traditional Scotch egg. Each item was only $8.
Whiskey sour. (Photo by Frank Sabatini Jr.)The boiled egg, encased in finely crumbled sausage, revealed a beautifully glossy medium-cooked yolk. Served on a bed of arugula, it’s one of the best Scotch eggs I’ve encountered outside of England, where I’ve eaten my fair share of them.
My appetite then led me to the $12 char-grilled pork chop, which is marinated in scotch, rosemary and garlic. Served with fries, it was juicy and superb.
I veered off the happy hour menu to couple the chop with a standard pour of 12-year-old Highland single-malt Scotch by Balblair for $16. Its flavor was gentle, a little fruity, but underwhelming enough to have me pick differently the next time, given the limitless options that always await here.
A scotch egg for your choosing. (Photo by Frank Sabatini Jr.)Other items for happy hour and from the regular dinner menu include a cheddar smash burger with grilled onions, Vietnamese-style chicken wings, a black bean burger, New York strip steak, fish and chips and more. A brunch menu is also available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
In approaching its 10-year anniversary in January, one of the virtues of The Whiskey House is that it sits a few short blocks outside the heavy bustle of the Gaslamp Quarter.
Combined with a loungy Manhattan-ish vibe, you realize upon entering that hidden gems really do exist within our urban core.
The Whiskey House also offers monthly “club” deals featuring guest distillers.
The July 16 event (from 6 to 9 p.m.) will spotlight Nevada-based Frey Ranch Farmers + Distillers. Five whiskeys from the brand will be up for tasting, along with sausages and steak sliders. The cost is $45 in advance and $55 on the day of – if space is available.
Tickets can be purchased through thewhiskeyhousesd.com.
Prices: Happy hour appetizers and plates, $3 to $18, beer, wine and cocktails, $5 to $9; dinner, appetizers, soups and salads, $7 to $22, entrees, $15 to $24; whiskey tastings (five half-ounce pours), $29 to $699.
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