The Whiskey House in San Diego looks small and unassuming from the outside. However, cross the threshold and a palace of fine, aged spirits opens up inside, with plush leather sofas and floor to ceiling whiskey throughout. It is a bit difficult to take everything in at first. The sheer volume of whiskies adorning the walls is initially overwhelming — “4,000 whiskies and counting,” which earned the Whiskey House a nod from the Guinness Book of World Records.
Prices are on the higher end, but not absurd given what’s available (and generally well-stocked), including many hard (or generally impossible) to find bottles, and the fact that the bar is in heart of downtown San Diego. Laid out in an extensive Whiskey Bible, whiskies range from banal to the truly incredible, to include a full offering of Pappy Van Winkle, Old Fitzgerald, and Michter’s expressions.
Plan ahead. The sizable collection is easily distracting. The Whiskey House Whiskey Bible is available online, and a quick look before hand will help alleviate the stress of having to make decisions on the spot.
Admittedly, for most, this is not the type of place you can spend the entire night carelessly working your way through rare Willet expressions (unless you’re on the company’s expense account entertaining clients, or looking for a splurge), but it is definitely the type of place to stop by, find a few special pours you wont find anywhere else, and enjoy. For those passionate about whiskey, the Whiskey House is an essential stop in San Diego.
