Where To Find The Best Whiskey Joints In Town

I never used to be a big whiskey drinker, but I realized the error of my ways when National Finals Rodeo came to town and the spirit flooded Las Vegas. Crown Royal, Jack Daniels, Johnny Walker and Jameson are ever-present when the cowboys come to town every winter, but there are even more spots to enjoy your favorite Irish alcohol when you're visiting Sin City. Here are some of the best:

Freakin' Frog's 2nd floor, Whisky Attic
The second floor of the Freakin' Frog is a space specifically dedicated to this amber-colored spirit. They host the largest collection of whiskey in America with over 1,000 varietals from Scotland, Ireland, India, Wales, Canada, Belgium, Germany and the good-ol' USA. You can't just wander into the bar and expect to peruse the attic, though, as reservations are required for the Whisky Attic experience. They say it makes a great space for private parties, tasting experiences and meetings, so just be sure to 'CC' us on any meeting invites you host here now because you found out about them (no PowerPoints, only whiskey please).

Rí Rá Irish Pub
This entire pub was constructed in Ireland and then shipped to Vegas. That right there is enough to inspire a shot of whiskey, so you've got 140 of them to choose from. Fifteen of them are exclusive to Rí Rá, which is located inside Mandalay Bay. If you're looking to take part in the fun here, might as well make it from October 1 through the 16 or 17, during which time Rí Rá will be attempting to break the Guinness World Record for longest bout of live music. That's right, for over 16 days there will be live music for 24 hours a day with acts straight from Ireland (more on that in our next blog).

McMullan's Irish Pub
I first met McMullan's Irish Pub when my delightfully intellectual friends and I decided to brain-beat some other locals at their trivia night on Tuesdays. Honestly, we lingered near the bottom of the roster most of the night because there are some seriously fun smartie pants hanging out here, but we had an amazing time drinking their whiskeys. Also, don't miss out on ordering some of their classic Irish cuisine! They've mastered good food to soak up your whiskey-capades, trust me.

Double Helix Wine & Whiskey
This is an old standby for a good quick drink if you're near Town Square. Double Helix specializes in two things: Wine & Whiskey, thus the name of their lounge. Treat yourself to flights of whiskey tastings that are perfectly curated by their staff so you can find out just what kind of whiskey you're into, if this is your first time venturing into the space.

Craftsteak
Tom Colicchio's Craftsteak is situated right in MGM Grand's restaurant row and has been a long standing expert in the whiskey arena. They have more than 200 bourbon & Scotch labels on the menu, so pulling up a chair right in their lounge area is a good call. The whiskeys featured here range from Classic American to bottles that were distilled in the 1930s. Talk about getting better with age!