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Indulge Your Inner Whisky Snob at These 13 Twin Cities Bars

Where to drink the best whiskey and bourbon in the Twin Cities

by Eater Staff Updated
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by Eater Staff Updated
Shutterstock/minicase

Whether it's bourbon, Scotch, rye, Japanese, or beyond, in your cup, this libation is always a warming, comforting sipping option. It's a spirit worth getting to know intimately. Perhaps Mark Twain said it best, "Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough."

Did we miss your favorite whisky bar? Who has the best brown bible in town in your opinion? Take to the comments and let us know.

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Marvel Bar

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One of the perpetually impressive bars in Minneapolis, just check out its Japanese whisky offerings, Islay Scotches, and that particular bourbon from Frankfurt, Kentucky that people swoon over.

50 2nd Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 206-3929
(612) 206-3929
Marvel Bar Instagram

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Spoon and Stable

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Gavin Kaysen’s North Loop restaurant does everything it does exceedingly well, that includes its top notch bar program. Ask for the Captain’s List and don’t be afraid to splurge on something outstanding.

211 N 1st St, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 224-9850
(612) 224-9850
Eater Scene: Spoon and Stable Tacos at 10:30 pm Saturday Katie Cannon/Eater Twin Cities

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Gori Gori Peku - Japanese Whisky Bar

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This hidden bar above Kado No Mise in the North Loop is tiny, but the selection is the most serious array of Japanese whiskeys in Minneapolis.

33 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 338-1515
(612) 338-1515
Low light on the drinkers, spotlight on the whiskey
Gori Gori Peku/Facebook

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Butcher & the Boar

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Since opening, Butcher & the Boar has been known for its vast bourbon selection and drink list that leans heavy on the brown stuff.

1121 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 238-8888
(612) 238-8888
Katie Cannon

Also featured in:

Constantine

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The sexy downstairs cocktail-focused Constantine in the Hotel Ivy has whiskey selections like none other. There’s even a whiskey chapel available for private party rentals.

1115 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 886-1297
(612) 886-1297
Constantine

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The Nova Wine Bar and Restaurant

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Yes, this spot is not at all in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, or even in Minnesota for cripes sake but it is just a 20 minute drive from the saintly city. The family-owned wine bar restaurant not only has some of the best wine offerings and beers on tap, but the hidden gem also has pours of bourbon that rivals Chicago including E.H. Taylor and Buffalo Trace antique collection.

236 Coulee Rd, Hudson, WI 54016
(715) 386-5333
(715) 386-5333
Nova Wine Bar

Dark Horse Bar & Eatery

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Dark Horse has a fantastic beer selection but they've got a really cool whiskey wall. Dark Horse chooses its whiskey selection on a global level, just like its food offerings. Order something from the top shelf to see the bartender climb the library ladder or just get the shot of the day. It will be Powers Irish Whiskey. Every single day.

250 7th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 313-7960
(651) 313-7960
Dark Horse Facebook

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Handsome Hog

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Newly minted Top Chef contestant Justin Sutherland’s contemporary, Southern restaurant has about 100 different options on the "brown bible" and find offering such as Old Rip 10 and George T. Stagg (although upon last visit to the Hog, they were out of both of those offerings).

225 6th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 651-6516
(651) 651-6516
Katie Cannon

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Morrissey's Irish Pub

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Step into Morrissey's and take a gander at Paulie's whiskey list which is likely the largest on Lake Street. The Irish pub offers up roughly 160 different options of whiskey, Scotch, and bourbon and claims to be the largest seller of Greenore in the country.

913 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 232-1312
(612) 232-1312
Morrissey's Irish Pub

Merlins Rest

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This Lake Street neighborhood charmer doesn't have a whiskey list, it has a whisky/whiskey/scotch bible.

3601 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 216-2419
(612) 216-2419
Merlin's Rest

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The Happy Gnome

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The Happy Gnome is well known as the best craft beer bar in the state, but they've also got a baller whiskey portfolio. Their current whiskey list has over 250 selections, from rare bourbons and ryes to aged single malts from Scotland and Ireland. Can't decide? Get a flight.

498 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 287-2018
(651) 287-2018
Happy Gnome Yelp

Also featured in:

WA Frost & Company

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There's something very classic and cool about ordering a glass of dark liquor on the rocks or neat a this St. Paul institution. The Cathedral Hill restaurant and bar is celebrating its 40th anniversary and has a long whiskey list plus six flights to choose from.

374 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 224-5715
(651) 224-5715
Lucy Hawthorne

Also featured in:

Volstead House

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Volsetad House in Eagan, not to be confused with Volstead's Emporium in Minneapolis, has one of the largest whiskey lists in the 'burbs. Scoff at the suburban joint nestled among hotels but the whiskey list fills the two pages of the menu with a variety of whisk(e)y options spanning the globe. If that’s too much to take in, check out any one of the eight whiskey flights.

1278 Lone Oak Rd, Eagan, MN 55121
Volstead Facebook

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Marvel Bar

50 2nd Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401

One of the perpetually impressive bars in Minneapolis, just check out its Japanese whisky offerings, Islay Scotches, and that particular bourbon from Frankfurt, Kentucky that people swoon over.

50 2nd Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 206-3929
(612) 206-3929
Marvel Bar Instagram

Spoon and Stable

211 N 1st St, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Gavin Kaysen’s North Loop restaurant does everything it does exceedingly well, that includes its top notch bar program. Ask for the Captain’s List and don’t be afraid to splurge on something outstanding.

211 N 1st St, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 224-9850
(612) 224-9850
Eater Scene: Spoon and Stable Tacos at 10:30 pm Saturday Katie Cannon/Eater Twin Cities

Gori Gori Peku - Japanese Whisky Bar

33 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401

This hidden bar above Kado No Mise in the North Loop is tiny, but the selection is the most serious array of Japanese whiskeys in Minneapolis.

33 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 338-1515
(612) 338-1515
Low light on the drinkers, spotlight on the whiskey
Gori Gori Peku/Facebook

Butcher & the Boar

1121 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Since opening, Butcher & the Boar has been known for its vast bourbon selection and drink list that leans heavy on the brown stuff.

1121 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 238-8888
(612) 238-8888
Katie Cannon

Constantine

1115 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55403

The sexy downstairs cocktail-focused Constantine in the Hotel Ivy has whiskey selections like none other. There’s even a whiskey chapel available for private party rentals.

1115 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 886-1297
(612) 886-1297
Constantine

The Nova Wine Bar and Restaurant

236 Coulee Rd, Hudson, WI 54016

Yes, this spot is not at all in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, or even in Minnesota for cripes sake but it is just a 20 minute drive from the saintly city. The family-owned wine bar restaurant not only has some of the best wine offerings and beers on tap, but the hidden gem also has pours of bourbon that rivals Chicago including E.H. Taylor and Buffalo Trace antique collection.

236 Coulee Rd, Hudson, WI 54016
(715) 386-5333
(715) 386-5333
Nova Wine Bar

Dark Horse Bar & Eatery

250 7th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101

Dark Horse has a fantastic beer selection but they've got a really cool whiskey wall. Dark Horse chooses its whiskey selection on a global level, just like its food offerings. Order something from the top shelf to see the bartender climb the library ladder or just get the shot of the day. It will be Powers Irish Whiskey. Every single day.

250 7th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 313-7960
(651) 313-7960
Dark Horse Facebook

Handsome Hog

225 6th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101

Newly minted Top Chef contestant Justin Sutherland’s contemporary, Southern restaurant has about 100 different options on the "brown bible" and find offering such as Old Rip 10 and George T. Stagg (although upon last visit to the Hog, they were out of both of those offerings).

225 6th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 651-6516
(651) 651-6516
Katie Cannon

Morrissey's Irish Pub

913 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Step into Morrissey's and take a gander at Paulie's whiskey list which is likely the largest on Lake Street. The Irish pub offers up roughly 160 different options of whiskey, Scotch, and bourbon and claims to be the largest seller of Greenore in the country.

913 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 232-1312
(612) 232-1312
Morrissey's Irish Pub

Merlins Rest

3601 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406

This Lake Street neighborhood charmer doesn't have a whiskey list, it has a whisky/whiskey/scotch bible.

3601 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 216-2419
(612) 216-2419
Merlin's Rest

The Happy Gnome

498 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102

The Happy Gnome is well known as the best craft beer bar in the state, but they've also got a baller whiskey portfolio. Their current whiskey list has over 250 selections, from rare bourbons and ryes to aged single malts from Scotland and Ireland. Can't decide? Get a flight.

498 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 287-2018
(651) 287-2018
Happy Gnome Yelp

WA Frost & Company

374 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102

There's something very classic and cool about ordering a glass of dark liquor on the rocks or neat a this St. Paul institution. The Cathedral Hill restaurant and bar is celebrating its 40th anniversary and has a long whiskey list plus six flights to choose from.

374 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 224-5715
(651) 224-5715
Lucy Hawthorne

Volstead House

1278 Lone Oak Rd, Eagan, MN 55121

Volsetad House in Eagan, not to be confused with Volstead's Emporium in Minneapolis, has one of the largest whiskey lists in the 'burbs. Scoff at the suburban joint nestled among hotels but the whiskey list fills the two pages of the menu with a variety of whisk(e)y options spanning the globe. If that’s too much to take in, check out any one of the eight whiskey flights.

1278 Lone Oak Rd, Eagan, MN 55121
Volstead Facebook

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