Megan L.
Yelp
+ AWESOME prices. Pours start at $5. Very affordable bar
+ Diverse selection of whiskey, scotch, bourbon, etc.
+ Sample before you choose a full pour
+ Full bar (other than whiskey)
+ Schlafly & other beers for non-whiskey drinkers
The Whiskey Ring opened on Cherokee street just last month in December 2013. It's a few doors down from the Fortune Teller Bar and across the street from open-late waffler, Melt. The ambience is dark without many frills, but thoughtfully decorated. Tufted dark green/blue leather-esque booth seating, ample bar space, and plenty of room to stand around to mingle. It's a small and intimate bar, with 2-3 bartenders on staff at a time. We were taken care of by Miles and (Jason?) on the Friday night we came.
You can get tastes of everything in shot glasses before you commit to a full pour, which starts at just $5. Their whiskey selection is displayed on paper menus 3 or 4 pages long and there is a short whiskey-based cocktail list. Think Old Fashioned, Sazerac, Manhattan, Kentucky Mule, etc. My bf complained of the Old Fashioned containing too much ice, but otherwise was a solid choice. I liked the Kentucky Mule, made with ginger beer and bourbon.
This is a super affordable bar that doesn't skimp on quality or quantity - the bartenders take really good care of you, are knowledgeable about their whiskeys, and creative to boot. My girlfriend ordered a White Russian and since they didn't have milk, they made her a "Cafe Au Lait Russian" with Bailey's. I purchased 7 drinks (a mix of cocktails, beers, and whiskey pours) on my tab and my total came out to be only $46. I don't remember the last time I bought that many drinks and spent less than $50. Also eco-friendly here - they use the Square to swipe credit cards through their iPad. Makes tipping a cinch too. Receipts are emailed to you and not printed.
Adding this bar to my repertoire of affordable, non-Library Annex drinking holes to frequent.