On the Rocks

Address: 696 10th Avenue, New York, NY , 10019, United States
Tel: +1 212-247-2055
Door: Open door
Style: Cocktail bar

Review

This quiet, sleek tiny Hell's Kitchen bar boasts that it carries more than 210 different whiskeys. They have a huge beer selection as well, but this place definitely epitomizes "whiskey bar." The gigantic selection - all the way up to Pappy Van Winkle 23-year-old at $85/shot -- and knowledgeable staff do this bar credit. There's no formal cocktail list, but the bartenders will happily whip you up a classic. Our bartender Dave told us that 90 per cent of his patrons want either single-malt Scotch, or Old-Fashioneds or Manhattans.

My Sazerac made with Jim Beam rye (I'd originally ordered Redemption, but they were out of all the ryes on the menu save for the Beam) was well-proportioned but loaded up with three big Kold-Draft ice cubes, to my surprise. An Elijah Craig Old-Fashioned was fruity and sweet, and a Basil Hayden Manhattan was smoky, viscous, and went down easily. A slug of Penderyn, Welsh whisky was a novel finish. If you're into brown spirits or want to try a particular dram on for size before springing for a full bottle, this is the place to go. Like a younger sibling to Tribeca's Brandy Library, in Midtown Manhattan.