W S.
Yelp
I understand the premise of this place. Extraordinary, high-end whiskies and scotches.
But I had a terrible experience here. I popped in with a companion (ok, it was a date), as another bar we wanted to go to around the corner was too full. Immediately the bartender starts talking a mile a minute when we walk in, explaining the place, and its theme, and then starts trying to upsell us on a flight of tasking whiskeys.
We're a bit taken aback and looking at each other and we ask what a flight cost. Since the flight is based on what he chooses for you apparently, there is no fixed cost. He starts bombarding us with questions about our taste preferences while pulling bottles off the shelf and, this is the important part, just rattling off prices, but talking super fast and not at all clearly. When we give our feedback on our preferences (I said, I prefer less smoky, more 'clean') he's like, what's your definition of clean? At this point, I'm already annoyed as hell. I get it man, you know a lot about whiskies. It's your job, good work. No need to come off like a condescending a-hole (like other reviewers have mentioned).
Meanwhile, it was pretty cold out, and we were still standing by the door with our jackets etc on and hadn't sat down. We should have just left (and this idiot bartender should have read the room). But we decide to get a drink. I just chose some Four Roses bottle he suggested since I recognised the brand, and she decided on a Japanese whiskey.
So here I'm going to get to the point. We each have 2 glasses of our respective drinks before deciding to go somewhere else. Total cost? $200. That's right. TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS. Did I also mention, there's no menu? So you can't peruse a list and prices? What kind of bar never has a menu? I tip $20 because screw this guy and this place. I am sorry, if you are going to not have a menu and sell us these overpriced drinks you need to be as clear as possible what each glass costs. I would have complained if I wasn't on a date.
So basically, prepare to get upsold and unclear answers on pricing and everything else. I would never come back here. I felt scammed. No, I was scammed. And honestly, what he chose for us was not special and sure as hell wasn't worth $50 a glass (also, tiny ass pours). I'd have taken a $10 glass of Maker's Mark.
Lastly, the ambiance sucks. It's garbage. Feels like a dive bar. One long bar, stools. A weird area in the back with stools, but lit, right by the bathroom and storage of things in the open. But one selling $30 to $XXXX glasses of whiskey. If I'm gonna spend $50 on a glass of whiskey, I want great lighting, a plush chair to sit in and a frigging half-full tumbler of that stuff. My date was nice enough to get the drinks at the next spot thank goodness as I think she knew what it all cost. Again, this place is a SCAM.