"Sampling your way through a variety of whiskey or bourbon is the obvious choice at a place called Barrel Proof. But the cocktails, like a spritz with Sicilian blanc vermouth and an American-made peach amaro, are equally worth your time. This Germantown bar is one of those all-purpose hangouts where you’ll see couples from out of town trying a new bourbon, or people dropping off their Publix birthday cake for a celebration later. We’ve even come here just to eat a great burger with dijonaise, fried chicken sandwich with carrot and cabbage slaw, or some loaded hot fries with bulgogi brisket, kimchi, and sambal mayo. We could eat a basket of those crispy potatoes every day during Happy Hour like clockwork." - bailey freeman, ann walczak