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LifeEpicurean.com wrote
Barrel 44: A Whiskey Bar Work In Progress
Thursday, October 16th, 2008
BY ANGEL JACKSON
For many Columbus residents, the grand opening of Barrel 44, a new whiskey bar in the Short North, was a much anticipated event, so it came as quite a surprise to discover the bar had opened, very much under the radar, without a Grand Opening, or much fanfare of any kind. This may be attributed to the long delay in opening, and early renovation problems the bar encountered, or perhaps its an indication that they would rather have time to work out the kinks prior to the City’s resident Bar Hoppers descending on their establishment. Regardless, I ventured out to Barrel 44 this weekend to sample one of Columbus’ few dedicated whiskey bars.
Barrel 44 is not a bad new spot, and in time could present a lot in the mid-range bar and upscale casual dining scene of the Short North, particularly in that area of the neighborhood. As it stands now, however, there is room for improvement, and it remains to be seen if Barrel 44 even aspires to be more than merely a quaint spot for a few drinks before moving on to another establishment. One hopes they do, and it certainly shows promise, but the proof is in the whiskey.
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I really do like this place, but unless they made big changes, I think this is totally off-base.
But now I want a drink.
I want a big, big drink.
I haven’t made it yet, but my friends went the other night and they really enjoyed it there!
I liked it too, I could see going there once or twice a month which is about 100% more visits than I give to 99.99% of businesses.
Well, I take issue with the article, suggesting that Wild Turkey and Jack Daniel’s may be off putting is way off-base. Jackl Daniel’s is only the best selling American whiskey in the world, and in the top 10 of spirits sold worldwide.
Wild Turkey has many varietals other than 101, that run the gamut from $20-$150 a bottle, so if the author wants to splurge, there is plenty of room.
To suggest that Bulleit Bourbon is special makes me think that the author may have went to a whisk(e)y tasting held by one company that only highlights their brands…both Jack Daniel’s and Wild Turkey have a legitimate history that dates back well over a 100 years whereas Bulleit has been around for less than 30.
Then again I am kind of a whiskey afficianado/drunkard :lol: …
Other than that I am looking forward to going to this place.
If they have Oban, then they have great taste in Scotch.
Yah, kind of an odd review — lumping Bulleit and JWB together, and then getting excited that they have Laphroaig but misspelling it… doesn’t inspire confidence.
I’m all about their concept. I do hope their staff can educate people about whisk(e)y as well as serve it, and I hope their Scotch selection becomes as impressive as their bourbon selection.
I posted my own little overview of Barrel 44 in the other thread when I visited shortly after its opening. The author addressed many of my own sentiments. I really feel if they could overcome the small kinks that need ironing out, Barrel 44 would be really cool. What pleased me most of all was the food. If they can get their cocktails up to par, I would probably stop in at least a few times a month. I love Whisk(e)y and I love Whiskey cocktails, particularly the classics. This place could easily become my zion when thirsting for either of the aforementioned.
Just curious, anyone know what gems are found on their Bourbon list?
I had a much clearer recollection, before I ordered a Bookers neat on a very empty stomach, was poured a surprisingly generous one by the pleasant and cheerful young woman behind the bar… and discovered that Bookers is 125 proof.
:)
So I definitely, definitely remember that they have Bookers.
I had a much clearer recollection, before I ordered a Bookers neat on a very empty stomach, was poured a surprisingly generous one by the pleasant and cheerful young woman behind the bar… and discovered that Bookers is 125 proof.
:)
So I definitely, definitely remember that they have Bookers.
Haha, well, it’s certainly a good one to remember.
As it currently stands, Booker’s is my favorite Bourbon. I either take mine with a splash or as an Old Fashioned.
I had a much clearer recollection, before I ordered a Bookers neat on a very empty stomach, was poured a surprisingly generous one by the pleasant and cheerful young woman behind the bar… and discovered that Bookers is 125 proof.
:)
So I definitely, definitely remember that they have Bookers.
Haha, well, it’s certainly a good one to remember.
As it currently stands, Booker’s is my favorite Bourbon. I either take mine with a splash or as an Old Fashioned. Have you tried Buffalo Trace? It is my favorite widley avilable bourbon. Three select casks (not single barrel) aged nine years with organic corn.
http://www.buffalotrace.com/
I had a much clearer recollection, before I ordered a Bookers neat on a very empty stomach, was poured a surprisingly generous one by the pleasant and cheerful young woman behind the bar… and discovered that Bookers is 125 proof.
:)
So I definitely, definitely remember that they have Bookers.
Haha, well, it’s certainly a good one to remember.
As it currently stands, Booker’s is my favorite Bourbon. I either take mine with a splash or as an Old Fashioned. Have you tried Buffalo Trace? It is my favorite widley avilable bourbon. Three select casks (not single barrel) aged nine years with organic corn.
http://www.buffalotrace.com/
+1 I like Buffalo Trace too!
Bookers is great, and at cask strength, it can handle the dilution that is unavoidable from ice.
Buffalo trace is a fine choice too as a good everyday bourbon. Very refreshing.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
By G.A. Benton
The night wasn’t going exactly as planned one week to the day into the brief existence of Barrel 44.
When I stepped in, the heat was stifling, and from somewhere in its nether regions, the bar had sprung a leak. This manifested itself in a distractingly large floor puddle that attracted my eyes just as that “Goo Goo Muck” song by the Cramps squeezed through the speakers. “Well, someone’s got a sense of humor,” I thought.
As I started settling in at a sleek and padded Ikea-like chair positioned at one of the few round tables in the small bar area, I noticed the staff was laboring hard to right their ship. Some saint had finally turned down the hellish heat and a bucket brigade got bilging on the burgeoning spillage.
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I had a much clearer recollection, before I ordered a Bookers neat on a very empty stomach, was poured a surprisingly generous one by the pleasant and cheerful young woman behind the bar… and discovered that Bookers is 125 proof.
:)
So I definitely, definitely remember that they have Bookers.
Haha, well, it’s certainly a good one to remember.
As it currently stands, Booker’s is my favorite Bourbon. I either take mine with a splash or as an Old Fashioned. Have you tried Buffalo Trace? It is my favorite widley avilable bourbon. Three select casks (not single barrel) aged nine years with organic corn.
http://www.buffalotrace.com/
You know, I’m privy to the lore but I’m yet to try. I’ve heard nothing but great things. Blanton’s was the latest on my list of new Bourbons to try. Really good stuff. I’ll be sure to put Buffalo Trace next.
I had a much clearer recollection, before I ordered a Bookers neat on a very empty stomach, was poured a surprisingly generous one by the pleasant and cheerful young woman behind the bar… and discovered that Bookers is 125 proof.
:)
So I definitely, definitely remember that they have Bookers.
Haha, well, it’s certainly a good one to remember.
As it currently stands, Booker’s is my favorite Bourbon. I either take mine with a splash or as an Old Fashioned. Have you tried Buffalo Trace? It is my favorite widley avilable bourbon. Three select casks (not single barrel) aged nine years with organic corn.
http://www.buffalotrace.com/
You know, I’m privy to the lore but I’m yet to try. I’ve heard nothing but great things. Blanton’s was the latest on my list of new Bourbons to try. Really good stuff. I’ll be sure to put Buffalo Trace next.
Well if you like Blanton’s you will like Buffalo Trace. They are made by the same people, Blanton’s has a different mashbill. Anything that comes from that Distillery is great, because they are different. Which brings me to my #1 complaint about the Beam products(including Bookers). If you order Jim Beam white label, you are getting the same thing that you get from any Beam product(except Basil Hayden’s, that has a higher rye content in the mash, abd Bakers which uses a different yeast strain)). But Jim Beam Black is the same just aged longer(8 years), Knob Creek is the same just aged longer (9 years) and at a higher proof, and Bookers is exactly the same as white label, just un cut with water. So in my estimation if you are drinking Bookers on ice, do yourself a favor and drink white label neat, and save yourself some money. :D
Except that the flavor is different.
Except that the flavor is different.
Do a direct comparison. White Label is the exact same thing as Bookers, it is just watered down to 80 proof. If you ask anyone who works for Beam, if there is a different recipe they will tell you no. And I am not saying there is anything wrong with Jim Beam Bourbon, it is a great American spirit.
Friday, October 24, 2008
BY NICK CHORDAS
The chill of fall meets a quick end inside Barrel 44, where the drinks — even when served in a frosted martini glass — warm visitors faster than a seat heater set on high.
Indeed, two strong manhattans after I entered the self-described “whiskey bar,” my backside was firmly rooted for the evening.
Opened this month, Barrel 44 aims to be a neighborhood-style dinner-and-drinks destination in the Short North.
On a recent visit, I sat at a high, round table with friends while patrons sporting all styles — from ball caps to camel’s-hair coats — lined the small but inviting bar.
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Except that the flavor is different. What’s that, even Rockmastermike is susceptible to marketing? No, I’ve toured all of the distillers and Buffalo Trace and its ilk are a step above.
4 to 7 p.m. weekdays: half off small plates, draft beers and cocktails
Beers on tap
Brooklyn Brown Ale, Elevator Heifer-wiezen, Jefferson’s Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout, Troegs DreamWeaver Wheat Ale and Victory HopDevil Ale
This is why I’ll be stopping back in soon.
I want to like this place, I really do. I just hope the initial kinks I personally experienced, and have heard from numerous others, get ironed out. Anyone been back within the last few days or so?
Except that the flavor is different.
Do a direct comparison. White Label is the exact same thing as Bookers, it is just watered down to 80 proof. If you ask anyone who works for Beam, if there is a different recipe they will tell you no. And I am not saying there is anything wrong with Jim Beam Bourbon, it is a great American spirit.
There’s much more to Bourbon than just the mash bill. The type of barrels, how long the inside had been charred, length of aging, exposure to seasonal changes in weather, etc. are all factors that affect the final taste. It’s almost as important as the recipe itself.
With that said, I’m sure there are similarities in taste due to the mashbill, but all of the smokiness, woodiness, and even vanilla topnotes come from the aging and char.
It’d be interesting to do a side by side tasting.