Paul M.
Yelp
For those seeking the short story: best whiskey offering in LA.
Longer:
My story with The Double Barrel ("TDB") begins two evenings ago when, in a fit of producer-anxiety, I had to find a good after-party place near the Laemmle Music Hall for a film screening the next day (spoiler alert: that area's a food desert, in terms of walkability). I threw a hail-Mary and found my way to TDB. I'm so glad I did.
I was introduced to the dark leather establishment by Jackson, a knowledgable and polite gentleman with excellent recommendations. He tolerated my many questions as I worked out, aloud, what size of a group we may expect the following day. Could be 3, could be 8, probably not more than 10.
Now The Double Barrel is not a hyper casual bar. You do not stomp in and saddle up to the bartop and ask the barkeep for your favorite ale. This is a place that walks the line of being walk-in friendly and being an exclusive-feeling membership club.
This is a place where you reserve a bottle of Lagavulin in advance and bring in a friend you need to catch up with, or a client to talk shop with, beside a fire. But it's also a place where you've found you have a sudden hankering for a new whiskey you've never tried and you want a comfortable place to relax and enjoy yourself without having to make a reservation. It's a funny balancing act.
ALSO, side note: their service fee is included in your bill.
Back to the story: that evening I sampled the parmesan fries and the prawn entree, washed down with the (surprisingly enjoyable) 'Game of Thrones'-themed Oban -- all great. Jackson and the owner, Deep, graciously and without me able to provide any real advance notice, agreed to set aside an area in the front to accommodate around 8 folks for the next evening.
The next day, and without digressing too far from the subject of TDB, the screening went well beyond expectations. And now I was dealing with a flock of 30 folks moseying their way to TDB. Sheer panic. What have I done.
My fears were unfounded. Though completely crushed by the unexpected size of the party, Jackson and the sommelier Sam (also gracious, accommodating, smart) took us in and got to work. They were perfect and did the best that could be expected in the circumstances.
So my experience with TDB was superior on two fronts. On the one: excellent service and accommodation from the owner and the servers. On the other: the atmosphere, food, and drink were all optimal.
I've been to other whiskey-focused bars in Los Angeles, including heavy-hitters in the selection department like 7 Grand... The Double Barrel rivals or surpasses these places in terms of selection and the overall tasting experience.
A great experience with great folks. I look forward to my return!