Whiskey Walkabout: Whiskey and Politics Visits Barrel 23 Jan 24

I originally called it “Barrel whiskey bar”, but upon checking their website, the term ‘whiskey bar’ wasn’t explicitly mentioned.  Their menu says, “Scratch Kitchen + Whiskey”.  That’s good enough for me.  Needless to say, Barrel offers an extensive selection of whiskey, complemented by a stellar reputation for its food.

They have  a happy hour with enticing deals, including six-dollar house bourbon and rye, IPAs/lagers, seven-dollar wines, and nine-dollar classics like the old fashioned or manhattan, along with rum punch.

Situated just a block away from the Eastern Market Metro Station, accessible via the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines, Barrel is conveniently located.  Typical of any big city, parking looks challenging.  The Metro, bus, or cab/ride share are your best bet.  I was unfamiliar with that part of DC and was really impressed.  It was a relatively mild January evening.  There were many people out and about.  I look forward to returning to the Eastern Market section in the future.  

I must admit that the task of interviewing somebody is new to me.  I didn’t have my phone set to record and I took notes when I could while talking to folks there.  I’ll paraphrase the best I can.  I’d been emailing Matt, the Barrel manager, for some time.  This website idea started during the Christmas season so I was unable to visit until mid January which is just as well.  I wanted to see the place outside of the holiday rush.  

I arrived close to seven pm.  There was a medium-sized crowd but conversation was still easy.  Anthony and Andy took care of us that night.  Matt was also available.  The staff, knowledgeable and attentive, struck a nice balance without being intrusive.  I had a nice conversation with one of the patrons.  Robin, a legal assistant, said she takes the bus past Barrel when she goes to and from work.  She stops in regularly to enjoy some whiskey.  I enjoyed chatting with her and she spoke highly of Barrel.  

Starting with a Manhattan, my go-to cocktail for comparing venues, I was pleased with Barrel’s rendition.  I recommend their Manhattan.  The whiskey menu, affectionately referred to as ‘the bible,’ is a beautiful leather-bound book listing their extensive whiskey collection.  After my Manhattan, I consulted the bible again and decided on an IW Harper, 15 year old.  Harper is one of my favorite bourbons.  I haven’t had it in a while – as delicious as I remembered.  Robin recommended the New Riff bourbon.  I never had anything from New Riff.   I wanted a rye so I decided to go with their rye instead – excellent.  I’ll enjoy that one again.  Then it was time for a journey to Scotland.  It was my first time enjoying Glenglassaugh.  A very nice scotch.  You can’t go wrong there.  At that point, I was pretty much done but Anthony mentioned ‘Campfire’.  I’ve read about High West’s Campfire but never considered it.  Well, the night was still young and thought, “Let’s give it a shot.”  Wow.  Really different.  It’s smokey, but not peaty.  I’m now searching for a bottle of High West Campfire. 

Distinguishing between a whiskey bar and a bar with a decent whiskey selection, Barrel places a genuine emphasis on brown spirits. I asked Matt about his criteria for a whiskey bar, and like many enthusiasts, he emphasized the balance between price and value.  You’ll often hear, ‘It’s a good drink, but it’s not worth the price.’  I thought the prices at Barrel were pretty reasonable considering it’s urban location.

Every neighborhood deserves a quality pub, and Eastern Market is fortunate to have Barrel. As their ten-year anniversary approaches in April, I recommend keeping an eye on their website for planned commemorative events — I certainly plan on attending more than a few.

What a great evening.  I had so much fun.  I’ll see you there.