New York Whiskey Bars

For a while there, Red Hook was the new "it" neighborhood. Then everyone realized it's a pain in the ass to get to. Trends aside, this boutique spirit dealer consistently … draws whiskey lovers from all over seeking a taste of the city's largest bourbon collection. I know LeNell's isn't actually a bar, but their frequent on-site tastings are close enough. [link]

If you're going for sheer quantity, there's really no better place in the city to get polluted on whiskey. d.b.a.'s menu includes nearly 150 single-malt scotches, over 40 … bourbons, and a load of Tennessean, Canadian, and Irish selections. The only downside is that the clientele boasts nearly as many variations on the designation "business casual." [link]

This semi-hidden nook inside a Japanese restaurant walks the line between police state and controlled sophistication. The place enforces a strict no-standing policy (show … up early to avoid waiting) and only allows parties of four or less. But once seated, the cozy parlor atmosphere and sweeping second story view provide the perfect setting to quietly swill eastern-inspired cocktails, sake, or nearly all regional variations of whiskey -- though the intimate decor seems best suited for Scotch. [link]

Part of Danny McDonald's darkly stained, Guinness-pouring empire (see also Swift Hibernian Lounge and Ulysses'), this well polished, professionally friendly pub can make … you long for the industrial grit and illegal artist lofts of a bygone SoHo. But no whiskey tour is complete without a drunken stumble through an Irish pub. So brace yourself for a sea of blue button downs and get ready to burn your innards -- and your wallets -- on one of the best Irish whiskey menus in the city. [link]

At Hudson Bar & Books, you'll find studded leather chairs, plumes of cigar smoke, and a stodgy leather-bound library along with a few burly tycoon types sucking … Glenlivet through yellowed mustaches. But in general the aristocratic airs at this former gentleman's club turned drinking parlor seem mostly for show, as a surprisingly unpretentious mix of locals throw back classic cocktails, bourbon, and lots and lots of scotch. [link]

Back when NYC was divided into wards, the Lower East Side earned the nickname "the whiskey ward" due to all the drinking establishments it housed. And with its candlelit … tables, abundance of wood, and collection of whiskey barrels, the Whiskey Ward has definitely captured the no-bullshit saloon atmosphere of a time when the LES wasn't littered with American Apparel ads. Sip from the lengthy list of scotches, bourbons, ryes, and Irish whiskeys (available in flights), or black out early with WW's shot-and-a-beer combos. [link]

Riding the outer limits of gentrification, this South Slope eatery is best known for ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. But a no-frills décor and lengthy bourbon selection … make Bar-BQ an ideal spot for whiskey drinking. And if not scared off by the live blues, stop by Monday nights 7-9 p.m. for a complimentary "bourbon of the week." [link]

It's easy to get distracted by the mounds of barbecued meat, John Deere tractor seats, and overall industrial meets backwoods milieu at Fette Sau (German for "fat pig"), … not to mention the scores of hipsters greasily indulging in the fact that it's no longer cool to be a vegetarian. But once accustomed to the surroundings at Williamsburg's hottest BBQ hole, peek behind the bar and witness the row of gleaming bottles filled with an impressive collection of Kentucky's finest. [link]