Black Whiskey

Located on the second floor of a building you might miss Black Whiskey walking by. But you're well rewarded if you take time to walk up the stairs. Inside is a large, open space with a pool table on one side and a well stocked bar on the other. The bartenders are friendly in a rough about the edges way. The bar offers pizza - which I'm pretty sure are frozen - but are cooked in a convection oven and come out surprisingly tasty. Perfect place to hang out with friends or after work.

Went here for the first time last night and didn’t have a great experience… -Way too many bodies (difficult to even walk a few steps forward) -Cocktails were awful—the rum and coke I got was undrinkable and tasted like rubbing alcohol -The DJ only played two artists the whole night -The bartender messed up my order (charging me double for drinks) and got aggressive when I asked for a refund -The pool table is in the midst of the dance floor and you are constantly being hit with the pool sticks Cool concept for a bar but between the music, low quality cocktails & amount of people allowed in, I wouldn’t recommend it.

I am very disappointed as I came on a vacation from Utah to visit my family and we went to try the food and the view. But only to be stop by your Hostess because we had our grandson and newborn baby with us. The lady told us that it was only 21 and up allowed. And the place was nearly empty I saw only 2 other customers. I wish they would have a sign online or in the entrance. I guess you are not a family friendly restaurant. Good now I know and the next time iwon't bother. I will also tell my friends back home that have children not bother . Disappointed grandma!

It’s a cute small dive bar, they have some nice affordable cocktails, very chill.

Black Whiskey is an incredible whiskey bar for both enthusiasts and newcomers. Anthony, the bar manager, is kind and well-informed about whiskey. For whiskey hobbyists, you are not going to find a better deal on whiskey. All pours are min 2 oz (plus a tad extra). The prices are rare whiskey are highly competitive. BTAC pours at $50. New releases everywhere at reasonable prices. This is the perfect place to try before you buy, or just to try bottles that you may never have the chance to buy at MSRP.

My first time visiting black whiskey I had the worst experience ever. The bartender/ owner Mark was extremely drunk and put a broken glass to his neck after taking a shot with a patron. I made a harmless comment stating “ Don’t do it they really need you here.” He asked me to repeat myself so I did and then proceeded to YELL at the top of his lungs at me. I then tried to wait for the next bartender because of course I did not want to give him my money. The other bartender was extremely busy and couldn’t get to me. Mark then came over and asked what I would like. I told Mark I wanted 2 rail whiskey shots with a large rocks. I handed him $40 not knowing the price. He then gave me my drinks and did not return my change. I stood there waiting for awhile for him to acknowledge me and he never came back and he continued to over look me. I tried to grab his attention and he continued to ignore me. I asked one of the patrons to go grab my friend and she came over and he ignored her as well. She went to grab another patron a guy and he tried to get the guy to give me my money back and he still refused and tried to force me to get another round of drinks instead. I told him I was not interested and I would like my money back. He then proceeded to ignore me again. I walked away and a patron chased me down and gave me $20 out of his pocket. This guy seems to be very racist and has no respect for his patrons. I do not recommend anyone go here at all. STOP SUPPORTING BLACK WHISKEY UNTIL THEY GET RID OF MARK. He had no right to treat me that way at all and he stole my money. How can you run a business that way. I will never return.

They have completely poorly educated staff, they don't know how to serve customers. The last time I ordered a drink and the bartender made a mistake and his response was to kick me and my friends out of the place in a very rude way. Finally I calmly go to the good-for-nothing supervisor or whoever is guarding the entrance to explain and he was even ruder. I do not recommend it.

I was hesitant to go. In this bar but don’t let looks be deceiving. The liquor selection is great and mark the bartender is very knowledgeable about the liquor.

This place is a dive bar, but what made it a great dive bar was the service and attention Anthony paid to us. We rolled in and wanted to get some holiday drinks, since they were hosting the sippin' Santa pop-up. Drinks were good, not too sweet and sugary, which I made anthony promise me the drink wasn't. I adored the music that was playing and sung along to each song. Mix of rock/alternative/ska from the 90s through the late 00s. I was digging it so much that I asked Anthony what playlist this was and turns out it was his! He was kind enough to share it with me and now I've been passing it along to all my friends. This review is turning into more of a music review than a bar review, but I just wanted to say thank you Anthony! You have a great ear and your playlist just puts me in such a better mood. Can't wait to come back and visit again!

Their mussels are my go to ! HAPPY HOUR HERE IS ALWAYS A VIBE! Two pound of mussels for the low. You can't beat that! Go check them out . Won't regret

On Thursday night my friends and I decided to go to this establishment to have a few cocktails and we asked the bartender for 3 cocktails . he served us 4 I told him we are only three why should we wanted a 4 drink and he got mad about the situation and started treating us like we nothing he said I made it now you pay it so I said I don't needed it and he got crazy andisrespectful, costumer service is terrible at this place please stay away from this place is not worthy to give them business we basically got discriminated for being Latinos or gay, managers please do something about this bartender!

Outstanding selection and bar staff. The hand crafted cocktails and Christmas theme was awesome.

Odd place. The vibe reminded me of a midwestern dive bar with a high school student in the back playing their music too loud. However, drinks were good, and their whiskey selection is extensive.

A friend mentioned this place so I added to my itinerary in DC. Located upstairs, was a nice little dive joint with a great Whiskey selection! Bartender Justin was very helpful and knowledgeable so I asked him to make a couple of suggestions and they were both spot on! (See pics). Crowd was friendly and unassuming. Started chatting with a local guy at the bar and talked about bourbon and rye until I had to leave! Reasonable prices for 2 oz pours I felt and the atmosphere was casual and relaxing! I don't believe they had any food but a great menu for drinking your dinner. The kind of place that would turn into a regular stop if I lived in DC. Thanks Black Whiskey for a great evening and solid suggestions!

Really great selection of whiskeys and space at the bar. The bar staff are very knowledgeable, and friendly. However..... This place blasts ridiculously loud, crap music. I mean, REALLY loud. Look, Ive been to plenty of noisy bars in my time, and when I go to a club I expect loud, banging music. But this is a whiskey bar. I kinda expected this to be a place where people hang out, play pool (hence the pool table in the back) and have a conversation without literally having to SCREAM at one another. A friend of mine pulled out a decibel meter app on his phone; it was capping out at 98 DB. That is on par with a god damn jack hammer. I mean.... c'mon man, really? I would have liked to have talked my friends about the nuanced flavors in the 2 ounce pour of Talisker I had in my hand, but the chronic, bellowing boom box in this place just continued to throttle our ear drums to the point where we just looked each other and nodded. I cant say that I will go back there, I really cant. Least not without ear plugs. If you work at this bar, you will go deaf. Period.

Damn good drinks. And amazing employees and staff, service was on point and weekend ambiance is supper fun and loud, weekdays are more payed back and whiskey focused.

My first time visiting black whiskey I had the worst experience ever. The bartender/ owner Mark was extremely drunk and put a broken glass to his neck after taking a shot with a patron. I made a harmless comment stating " Don't do it they really need you here." He asked me to repeat myself so I did and then proceeded to YELL at the top of his lungs at me. I then tried to wait for the next bartender because of course I did not want to give him my money. The other bartender was extremely busy and couldn't get to me. Mark then came over and asked what I would like. I told Mark I wanted 2 rail whiskey shots with a large rocks. I handed him $40 not knowing the price. He then gave me my drinks and did not return my change. I stood there waiting for awhile for him to acknowledge me and he never came back and he continued to over look me. I tried to grab his attention and he continued to ignore me. I asked one of the patrons to go grab my friend and she came over and he ignored her as well. She went to grab another patron a guy and he tried to get the guy to give me my money back and he still refused and tried to force me to get another round of drinks instead. I told him I was not interested and I would like my money back. He then proceeded to ignore me again. I walked away and a patron chased me down and gave me $20 out of his pocket. This guy seems to be very racist and has no respect for his patrons. I do not recommend anyone go here at all. STOP SUPPORTING BLACK WHISKEY UNTIL THEY GET RID OF MARK. He had no right to treat me that way at all and he stole my money. How can you run a business that way. I will never return.

I didn't drink whiskey, however the service from the Bartender Chris, accommodated me with slicing me an orange, getting me a bag of chips & pouring a decent glass of wine. I was not out of place at Black Whiskey as the environment is socially welcomed & highly energetic. This upstairs Whiskey (Bouncer chucks all ID's) oasis offers a few tables to sit at, amongst the colorful bottles donning the walls with over 300 Whiskeys & 10 Beers on Tap. The menu is light with Pizza, Sandwiches, Pie & Snacks. You can sharpen your billiard skills on the free pool table while jamming to various genre of music playing. A happening bar amongst the 14th Street Corridor open seven days a week at 5P.

The place has a significant selection of whiskey. It's not a fancy place and there can be some questionable clientele, but that's what gives it it's charm.

Great selection and knowledgeable bartender. Highly recommend. A neighborhood bar very welcoming to all

Awesome bar! Great selection of whiskey and beer but honestly I mostly come here because the bartenders are amazing. If you're looking for a great experience look for Marc and Anthony those guys rock!!!

I love this place.. the staff are awesome. Drinks are amazing!! If you want to dance and have a great time after 10pm. I recommend it.

In D.C. for work and since I will be here a lot more often I set forth on finding a local pub to call my own and found Black Whiskey. It's small, dark but well stocked with whiskey and a really cool prohibition vibe. The bar takes up the majority of the space and sitting is ample at it but the rest of the place could use a little more. Bartenders are cool and from my experience knowledgeable about what's behind the bar as well as their specialty cocktails. During my visits it was never crowded to the point of being uncomfortable or loud enough for my friends and I not to hear each other. Only thing I wish they had was food I could have done with a few snacks while sipping on my Jameson Caskmates. Once it came time to close out my tap I was surprise at the very reasonable number I definitely thought it would be much higher because of the city and location but it was not. Will definitely be back.

Excellent Whiskey selection. The bartenders know their stuff and are great at providing suggestions for new bottles to try. The vibe is very chill and welcoming. Highly recommend.

This place is amazing. Great chill vibe, and a stunning selection of whiskey. The bartender jack is TOP TIER. I trust his judgement more than my own

I honestly cannot believe the audacity of this bartender. I ordered my drink and immediately he required a card before even making the drink. When I didn't have it immediately ready he went to the next group of men who also didn't have their card ready, he then yelled at them about how they should be ready right then to pay. Then we he finally came to our side of the bar my friend asked for a Moscow mule and he replied "we all want a Moscow mule, calm down" The. He came back and took their orders and snatched her card out of of her hand before she was done ordering. and they tried to add one more drink to their order and he said " you asked for two, you get two" and he said he already rung it up and won't change it. He also was the only bartender behind the bar. However if you don't have kindness or patience to work alone, don't open the bar for the night in the first place. Absolutely disgusted by this man's behavior

The bartender here is racist. He told two Black men, who were quietly standing around, to order something or leave. They immediately left without saying anything and then the bartender made a snide remark that they'd probably come back and shoot him. There was no reason to assume the men would come back and shoot him since they left immediately without protest so I can't help but think the only reason he thought that was because they were Black.

Not that great. I got a grapefruit and Kentucky mule, which were good cocktails. The service is poor - the bartenders refused to make solid recommendations on drinks and it's tough to get a drink. The layout is poor and there isn't much seating. Fun hidden bar, but a bit hyped up. Btw, they charge $1.50 for goldfish, Yes, they aren't free! If you want to go to a solid whiskey bar, go up the street to Jack Rose.

I've been coming here for three years and it's never a dull moment! I enjoy the drinks and conversations with Marc and Anthony! It's a great local and down to earth bar. Come out and hang out!

Whenever I have friends in town I always swing by black whiskey. Music is usually good, so that will give you a good dance opportunity without the bougie club vibe or prices. Can get crowded but bar is usually good with getting you drinks. Marc is great.

Arlington transplant bar. Boat shoes. Frat boys. Expensive whiskey. Not a place you'd go with a group. Impossible to order. Try Players Club next door or Black Jack 2 blocks up. Same dive atmosphere, better food, better crowd, cheaper drinks.

Love this place, great atmosphere, great music, from Zeppelin to wu tang clan to Sublime, great whiskey and beer combos, great pizza, and LOVE the pool table, glad they're back open again

The bar charged my card when I wasn't there three days later. Not a fan of that. Drink was okay.

Black Whiskey is one of those places where you want to be picked up and taken home or you want to people watch. If you don't fall in either of those categories then you are the unicorn of the bunch. I think I fall under the unicorn category since I am usually not here sober. I come here for the last stop of the night for their curated whiskey list. After a ton of drinks - you'd be surprised on how much whiskey I can consume. It has been a long time since I have gotten to that point, but nonetheless, I've been here and it has happened. Black Whiskey is an upstairs bar. It has a good mix of college age kids and mid 30 somethings usually in the later evenings. I can't say a ton about the da early evening crowd since I have not been here during that time. What I can say which is repeated in every other review is that they have a lot of different options for bourbon, beers, and whiskey. It's a real man's man kind of place that will put some hair on your chest if you have enough. Prices are considerable for the area of Logan Circle/14th Street. They know the kind of crowd they draw and likely won't remember much of the night once they leave.

Mark is rude. And told me the bar doesn't have to see me agains after I ordered a margarita with salt and brought it back with no salt. Which was my request and then kinda carried me. Crazy crazy.

A friend and I went in to escape the heat, calm and completely sober. Started playing a game of pool, and the bouncer comes over and says "you have to leave". I asked if we did something wrong and he said "the manager says if you don't buy a drink you can't play pool." I said that we would gladly purchase a drink, and he replied "no you gotta go" and escorted us out. My friend pointed out that we came in with our backpacks and were the only young black men in the bar at the time, so maybe we were mistaken for someone else. Not wanting to jump to that conclusion, in any case, it was quite obvious our service was not wanted there. The bar was nice though.

Gorgeous bar, well curated whiskey list, great happy hour specials, free pool...yet when I stepped in one random Wednesday night it was completely crickets in here. I prompted my bartender about her suggestions but was met with little enthusiasm. I ended up ordering a Pamplemousse which I enjoyed but did not really feel like staying since the service seemed so aloof and the atmosphere dead. Also, no food menu (at least at happy hour). No Kushi moto food truck on site either. Apparently Friday and Saturdays have an active nightlife scene that includes an 80's dance party. Overall, I'd give it a second chance and hopefully an encounter with the illusive whiskey god Jack.

I love this whiskey bar. Great top shelf bourbons (e.g. rip van winkle 10 for $45), and the bartenders are very helpful. If you want to try the must have bourbons without buying a whole bottle, this is the place!

May 2019. The decor of this place is like walking into the inside of a whiskey barrel. The bar and shelves have an "aged look" that compliments the name of the bar. This is a great place to go to be loud and social with friends. I ordered a Maker's Mark Old Fashioned. It was very good.

This is bar none the BEST whiskey bar in DC. Anything you can think of they have. I would like to think of myself as a whiskey connoisseur and they meet and exceed my expectations. Marc is a stud and knows what his customers are looking for. Fridays are crowded but worth it. Go on a weekday to get a first rate experience. I can't speak highly enough about this place. 10/10

Great, knowledgeable, friendly staff. Rare whiskeys. Always a good time. Can't wait to go back.

Horrible Experience! We stumbled upon this bar while looking for a last minute place to treat my friend to a drink on cinco de Mayo. The bartender/waiter appeared bothered as soon as we walked in and when we asked if they had any cinco drink specials he rudely told us "This is not a Mexican bar". We ordered two rounds of margs and hung around for about an hour before he let us know that they would be closing and we needed to close our tab. Ask I searched my purse I realized that I had left my credit card in my car which was parked around the corner. I let the gentleman know that I would be running to my car while my friend waited at the table. He immediately got super loud and told us that the doors were already locked and announced that he was "Calling the police if we didn't have any money to pay." I was stunned at this senseless and embarrassing accusation especially with the current political climate and it hit me then that he was obviously making this threat bc we are people of color. As the remaining patrons in the bar all turned their attention to our table, I asked to speak with a manager and he yelled "I am the manager!" in my face. My friend didn't have a card on him either so we tried asking someone he had recognized earlier at another table across from us if we could send them money via zelle or cash app to cover our tab which was only about $50, meanwhile the bartender was still yelling and being unreasonably obnoxious. I realized he was obviously under some influence so I ended up getting up and running to my car to get my card and as I was running back up to the bar my friend came out and said he was able to send the money to his acquaintance to cover the bill and all was fine now. As we were walking away in shock, the same bartender poked his head out of the door laughing and said "Are you ready to pay me now?" As my friend yelled "what do you mean, you know it's already been paid!" he laughed, yelled at my friend to "Get the f*** out of here nig*er!" and slammed the door. I have never experienced or witnessed such blatant disrespect at an establishment. The issue was very minor and could've easily been resolved in a decent manner. Obviously he wasn't at all concerned with there being any repercussions for his actions or his racist comments as he yelled it openly into the street! I am NEVER going back to that place and I'm going to tell all of my friends, especially those of color to stay FAR away from there.

Awesome spot for whiskey. My boyfriend and I sat at the bar and the bartenders were very friendly and knowledgeable. It's dark and a little loud inside of they have a DJ (which they did the night we went) but the vibe is great for either you and a friend or a group!

Black Whiskey before the crowds arrive is a pretty cool spot. The bartender was great - really good Old Fashioned's - and even mixed me up a different concoction, a twist on an Old Fashioned, when I had had enough of those. The pool table is open for play without any exchange of money or license or anything like that - however, beware, there are some lurkers who like to get on and run the table until they get booted off; not so cool. Overall though, great vibe, great drinks, great location.

I loved this bar! Bf and I came here for a few drinks after dinner and we couldn't have made a better choice! Ambience is super chill and intimate. Bar staff was super friendly, attentive, and informative of its whiskey selection. We didn't get a chance to try any of the food here but def smelled amazing!

Walk upstairs to a beautiful bar where you will be greeted by some enthusiastic and knowledgeable bartenders. They have many different types of whiskey, and the right person to help you find what you are looking for. The space is small, but it is well thought out...so you won't feel cramped. If you are a fan of whiskey sours, definitely order one! They make the best one I have had in DC so far! They have a pool table and offer free play which is rare around here. Currently they are remodeling their kitchen so they can't make any food. They have potato chips and goldfish crackers behind the bar...if you really need a quick snack. A bartender told me they hope to have the kitchen running by January, I will be back to try their food menu!

I stayed at a nearby hotel and passed this place a couple of times. Came here on a Saturday night, good size crowd and the ambience was exactly what I was looking for. Pool table, industrial rustic but a bit of dive. The bartenders were nice and recommended some sweet local options (I had the filibuster) the music was loud enough that if you wanted to bust a dance move, you can. The bar owner was super nice very hospitable and such a chill guy. They of course had an incredible section of whiskey and pappy van winkle 10 and 12 yr. (at he time) Will be back every time I'm in the area!!

An OUTSTANDING bourbon and whiskey. Small space upstairs, pool table, a few tables, nice bar, knowledgeable bar tender and a very well curated whiskey selection. They have beer, too, but who cares! Highly recommended for my bourbon appreciating friends when in DC. They have some food, but again: who cares? This is a whiskey bar and a good one.

Went to this bar with a few friends for a drink. The music was pretty good and there was space for dancing (might I add, there were a few funny/intense dancers breaking it down). The bar tenders were quick to acknowledge you and got your order as soon as they could. We were there a while and I decided to try the mushroom pizza because of the wonderful bread smell there. I'm not sure how they make this pizza but all that I can say is that it was delicious. I took this pizza to the high top tables and it was gone in just minutes!

A solid, upstairs bar spot on 14th street that has regular happy hour specials and a decent amount of space. They offer a small selection of food too - I think I saw some personal pan sized pizzas coming out toward the end of their happy hour. The bartenders are great and the drinks are well made. A great place to come with a small sized group!

Carol W and I returned to Black Whiskey shortly after it opened for the day on a Friday late afternoon/early evening to do further "research" on their cocktails. Jack, the bar's resident whiskey expert, wasn't on duty, but we still opted to stay. Carol had the Bitter Death, but it wasn't made the same way as mine was by Jack's hand on our previous visit...this time made with bourbon instead of rye and minus lime juice. It was still drinkable, if not still good, but it was a very different drink. I had what the bartender called the Final Word, a riff on the classic Last Word, made with rye instead of gin, Green Chartreuse, Luxardo, and lime juice. For my second round, I had the A la Louisianne, a spinoff of the classic Vieux Carré, minus the cognac. Both were enjoyable drinks, but given Carol's faux Bitter Death, I wondered if they had been made IAW the drink creator's recipe. To the point, Black Whiskey makes good drinks, but is inconsistent. To its credit, our bartenders on this particular visit were very personable and customer-oriented. Your mileage will certainly vary when Jack isn't behind the bar. It's a 5 star place when he's on duty, but closer to 3 when he's not.

Ladies, beware. I went to meet friends at Black Whiskey on my way home last Friday night since I live nearby. When I got there, this guy tried to grab me as I was moving past him, I think he thought I wouldn't notice because his back was to me but I was facing his back so I watched his hand reach back towards my crotch (he missed and grabbed my arm). Then later my friend got her butt grabbed when she was moving through people to go to the restroom at the other end of the bar and had to yell at the guy. It was like walking through a sexual harassment minefield. This is supposed to be a cool bar but it was super shady.

If you are looking for a dimly lit, all wood, total dive bar in DC then look no further! I love everything about this place - even the writing on the (unisex) bathroom walls. They have a plethora of whiskey (not a huge fan) but also have some good beers on tap ($2 off drafts during happy hour) as well. They dont serve real food here so dont come hungry. If you love 90s/early 2000s music, you will love the vibe here. They play music every night (DJ on the weekends) and mix up early 2000s pop music with 90s hip hop to make you reminisce about your high school/early college days. It gets really busy on weekend nights so I would recommend coming early so you can get a seat at the bar or one of the tall tables.

Came here with a group of friends when I was in town. They played great music from the early 2000's and we were loving it! The music is very loud, but even though the bar was super packed it didn't take long to get a good, strong drink. I will be back.

Cool interior upstairs. Downstairs looks like a gym hall party. They only accept cash in downstairs bar. Cool crowd. Bartenders seem to be as new on the job as the bar is in town. Do they at all know what they are doing? Took ages to get the mojito I ordered. And when I finally got it it was missing sugar. And breaking a glass in the icecontainer is not a very smart move is it? And whatever you do - if you are serious about your Guinness, do NOT order Guinness at this place before they learn how to pour and serve!! It is served in a jar skipping the "waiting" part. Ok, now to the impressing selection of whiskey, whisky, scotch, bourbon etc. I guess this is what you should have when going here - order whisky here. I have never seen so many unusual brands ever! If I was in my 25-something I guess this would be a favorite. The clientele is a bit on the hip side - and for any Swedes reading this: in Sweden this would be popular among "stekare". They accept AMEX.

I almost feel at home when I come to Black Whiskey. Its pretty much stepping into a bar in the Lower East Side or Brooklyn, but in DC. Epic mustache bartender, whiskey, and wood accents everywhere. Whats not to like? Drinks are quite good here. I've come a few times, first time for the Worn Magazine Issue 5 launch. They have a stage on the first floor for bands to play or a DJ, which both were around the first week. Happy hour is quite good here for Logan Circle as well. The old fashioned I had here was good as well. About $8 or $9 outside of happy hour with Bulliet IIRC. If I'm hanging out at Logan Circle than Black Whiskey is a solid bar.

It has a wall of whiskey. Met here with my friends around 8pm as a starting locale and stayed for a couple hours because we enjoyed the drinks so much. Bartenders are friendly. It was my birthday and they have me a free Irish Car Bomb cupcake. They have one pool table that a single group monopolized the whole night. Around 10:30 the place became very loud and packed. If you like whiskey you'll like this place, was good to go with friends.

Attempted to enter Black Whiskey on a Friday, but was denied entry. My partner has a service dog and the bouncer said that they do not allow dogs of any kind. I explained to him that the dog is a service dog protected under the ADA and she was wearing a vest as well. He insisted we could not enter without some form of ID for the dog (which is illegal to ask for under the ADA.). I asked to speak to the manager, Marc, but he was unavailable. Since our visit I've reached out to Marc 3 times without response in order to discuss the situation. I'd recommend taking your business to a bar that respects federal laws and accepts all people, regardless of their disabilities. Plenty of other spots on 14th offer that experience.