The Whiskey Ward
The outside of The Whiskey Ward may give the impression that there's an underwhelming experience waiting for you on the inside. And yes, your initial step in the door may momentarily reinforce that belief. Typical bar decor -- the bar itself, several places to sit and one television peering over a stand alone pool table. But Whiskey Ward's mellow, unassuming vibe has a way of making you feel right at home. The composed, serene atmosphere was perfectly counterbalanced by boisterous hip-hop classics from Kanye to Too $hort played at the perfect volume, incentivizing you to get comfortable and stay a while. And a quick glance behind the bar ties it all together and reminds you what you came for -- a whiskey oasis.
Now, for anyone still trying to discover what type of whiskey they prefer or someone who just enjoys exploring the vast range of tastes whiskey has to offer, this is the spot you'd want to slide into. It's one of the best, if not thee best, places I've been to for whiskey flights -- three 1oz. pours of any whiskey they have behind the bar. The most important part is that aside from the bank account depleting Pappy, these pours are extremely wallet friendly so you're able to try some great stuff without going broke. On this go around I went with Jefferson's OCEAN Wheated Recipe, Four Roses Barrel Strength and Peerless Rye, each very different from the other. The wheated Jefferson's had an incredibly soft scent that smelled like caramel and oatmeal cookies. It's delicious and one of the best wheaters I've tried. The Four Roses Barrel Strength was an unbelievably easy bourbon to sip considering it clocks in at over 120 proof. And the Peerless Rye was probably the most intriguing of the bunch. As you can imagine, that barrel proof rye whiskey was bursting with flavor and has since been added to my shopping list.
Whiskey Ward is quickly becoming one of my favorite hangouts to drink and talk whiskey. The knowledgeable bartenders, seemingly endless selection and dope music make it a great place to enjoy almost any whiskey you'd want without the stench of pretentiousness in the air. You can freely ask questions and talk about what you're drinking or what you should try without being side eyed by someone appalled that you aren't aware of the mash bill of the whiskey in your glass. You should definitely give this place a go -- maybe you'll see me sitting in front of my next flight.
