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Why You Should Be Drinking Whiskey at Dive Bars

I’m just going to come right out and say it: I love dive bars.

My line of work takes me to some very special bars, the kind with table side cocktail preparation and fancy glassware and ice programs that get written about in the New York Times. I like those bars too.

But when I’m off duty, so to speak, you’re much more likely to find me in the kind of place that serves tater tots and lets regulars bring their dogs than anywhere an attractive hostess is going to offer to check your coat.

image via Phillip Pessar/Flickr
image via Phillip Pessar/Flickr

They don’t get a lot of credit for it, but in my opinion, dive bars are one place you should definitely be drinking whiskey. Here’s why:

  1. The other options often disappoint. I live in Portland, which means even the diviest of the dives have at least a handful of decent craft brews on tap. But just because it’s on the list, that doesn’t mean you should drink it. Dirty tap lines and kegs that linger past their pull date can mean dive bar beer is often skunky and gross. And if you’re looking for a cocktail, you’re probably in the wrong place. Expect soft ice and those super-sweet, day-glo colored mixers you see next to the light bulbs and bottled water at the grocery store. Whiskey, though? Hard to screw that up.
  1. Many mass-market whiskeys are great. Even if there aren’t a ton of options to choose from, dives are basically guaranteed to have at least a handful of solid sippers. Buffalo Trace, Maker’s Mark, Wild Turkey, and George Dickel are all friendly faces to see on the back bar, and you can do a hell of a lot worse than Evan Williams in even the most upscale joints.
  1. The pours are generous. Dives might not have the biggest selection of bottles, but they make up for it with big-kid portions at bargain prices. Good luck getting a fancy-pants mixologist to free-pour you a three-ounce glass of Eagle Rare for $6.
  1. The atmosphere is just right. Go ahead, put that Johnny Cash song on the jukebox. Tip your bartender. Settle into your booth. Listen to the guys at the bar argue about sports, or local politics, or the best route to get from here to that town down the road. Enjoy your whiskey, and don’t worry. There’s plenty more where that came from.
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