On The Rocks

The drink I ended up with was well-​made, but it was a simple old fashioned because I couldn’t come up with anything more exciting because my group was made to feel pretty unwelcome from the start. In response to my friend asking for a menu, the bartender shouted «it’s an interactive bar.» I am cool with that (and go to lots of «we’re too cool for menus places»), but there was no follow-​up about how to proceed… My girlfriend, being more adventurous than my friend, said «OK — I’ll have a gin fizz.» The response was «can’t do a gin fizz» (again, no follow-​up, like, I don’t know, «BUT I can make you…»). Then, when my friend tried again he was met with an off-​putting «you gotta speak up,» which is kind of embarrassing in a tiny bar with everyone on top of you (which, again, is fine in NYC in general). All in all, we felt very unwelcome (even though I like the concept), drank our 1 drink quickly, and went to Pocket Bar around the corner, which is probably where I would start next time.

Group of us walked in looking for a cocktail on a Friday. Very small place even with the light crowd. There is no menu and you just «tell» the bartender what you would like which really creates issues when you have no idea what they have (since the place is very dark). They don’t run your card first before you tip, rather you write down a number and they run it all together which seemed very sketchy.
Overall, would avoid as the place is very crammed and there are more fun bars in the area.

Quaint & manly. No food. Too small. Apparently you can bring your food from outside. Bouncer was funny but wasn’t. A bit rude but I guess you can’t expect kindness in this town madness.

Came here on recommendation and was not disappointed. Great selection of whiskey/​whisky and the bartender (Tyler) had a clear passion for his craft. Highly recommend this place.

Any establishment with the full line of Glenmorangie whiskies down to the private edition — the Glenmorangie Milsean gets five stars in my book! Great bar, great atmospherics, and a whisk (e)y menu that is on point.

Great atmosphere. Met with friends from out of town showing them the midtown evening scene. I ordered myself a classic Gentleman Jack and my lady friend a Rye Manhattan. Will return again!

When you walk into a bar and look the bartender dead in the eyes and say I’m excited to be here, buttttt I don’t like whiskey, what else can you make me, and they blow all expectations out of the water, you’ve found a winner!
Obviously if you’re a whiskey fiend, this place is for you. If you’re trying to get your bearings in the whiskey world, this place is for you. If all you want is a hot toddy, this place is for you. And if you’re just looking for a place to drink, this place is for you.

I’ve been to this bar several times now and it never disappoints. I am a whisky fiend and this place has every whisky you can imagine. The bar tenders are also very friendly.

Absurdly cool vibes and a hyper knowledgeable bartender with spot on recommendations. I came here to unwind after a show, and ended up with a new favorite (Angel’s Envy Rye). To whomever said this place was closed, you’re wrong and should feel bad. I’ll be back next time I’m in town.

I’m not a Scotch or whiskey drinker but my husband wanted to try this place out. He loved it and said it had the best selections he had ever seen. The waitstaff were very friendly and helpful. It was a tight fit but a cozy place. I would have stayed longer if there were more drink selections for this non whiskey drinker. Cool place.

The only reason this place didn’t get 5 stars was for things beyond their control.
1. No Food, (though they welcome your bringing it from outside)
2. It’s very small… too small for even one table. (Though they do have a drinking shelf lining the walls.)
Otherwise this place is a gem! Josh, the bartender knows his drinks and you can say things like «give me the best rye you can for $ 10 or less» and POW! there it is in front of you. Other patrons will help you out if you need it. (In fact, this is one of the FRIENDLIEST little bars I’ve ever seen… except for THAT GIRL… and we won’t talk about her.)
Owner/​Manager Howie is in front: a bouncer/​maitre/​d’, joker. If you visit, you will meet him. The booze selection is incredible… as is the ambiance. Come sober and friendless. Leave buzzed and more social than a teen on instagram. –Drink Club NYC is a roving group of New York Drinkers… a different bar every week.

Great whiskey bar with a huge selection. Bartenders are super cool and very knowledgeable about their whiskeys. The interior is intimate and dimly lit. There is always a good rotation of people so it’s never too crowded. Check it out if you’re in the neighborhood.

This is a great bar in an otherwise fairly desolate stretch of Hell’s Kitchen. I may have missed it but it would’ve been helpful to see a list of all the different delicious brown liquors available and beautifully displayed.

You might just walk by this spot on 10^th Ave with out even noticing it but this is where you come to get away from the hustle and bustle of Times Square. For a quite drink and good conversation. Either with your buddy or with your girl. Sit in the front for good convo and in the back to be ignored. Best whiskey selection around bar non (see what I did there?). No TV vs here, this is not the spot for watching the game.

Great place! It’s a friendly, dark bar with more whiskey than any place I’ve ever visited before. The bar tender, Josh, introduced me to Elmer T. Lee bourbon and gave my friend and me perfect customer service. For that (and because got a great name), he’s got my undying gratitude. Can’t wait to visit again.

I am not a whiskey guy, but this place will certainly try to convert you. Visited this bar with a group while visiting NYC. The place is a nice dark refuge, that can be easily missed. While some reviews here give a poor rating for service, we certainly did not experience anything of the sort. Our bartender, Laura, was very friendly, engaging and helpful. They do seem to have an issue with keeping some product in stock but the bartender was able to suggest good alternatives.

My new favorite place. Everything you want in a great neighborhood bar, combined with some only-​in-​New-​York random run-​ins, and a great selection of whiskey, bourbon, and rye to boot. Super friendly and welcoming bar staff. Dimly lit. Charming, divey without being dirty, warm wood and small candles, great for telling your tales, sharing secrets, making friends, and not realizing that it’s become almost morning!

As weird as it may sound I’ve never seen a bar with so much liquor. Rather than your typical top shelf and bottom shelf this place had 4 top rows and 2 bottom rows. The bartender would literally need a ladder to take some of the bottles down. If your really into specialty liquor you will love this place! I was able to try a $ 45 glass of Bourbon. Don’t even ask me the difference because I wouldn’t know by just the taste but it was an experience I suppose. The drink menu will be given to you in a binder. The place is very dim and seating is very limited. You will hear the sounds of Sinatra as this is a very easy going place. If your looking to try something a tad bit different from the norm this would be your place. Great for 2 – 3 people max I wouldn’t come here with a group.

If you are a whiskey, scotch or rye connoisseur then this is the place for you! They have a truly incredible menu of whiskeys, with everything from basic, standard drinks starting at around $ 10 per glass up to super-​rare stuff like Pappy Van Winkle and 1967 Glenlivet, which will cost you a few hundred dollars for a taste.
The bartender was very knowledgeable and friendly, and the bar has a cool style that is a mix of Prohibition-​era, Rat Pack cool and modern chic. I will definitely be stopping back here next time I’m in NYC, and I recommend that you do the same!

At the risk of publicizing this hidden gem too much, I am writing a review. This place is a small, dark, but, literally, the best whiskey bar I’ve ever been to. It offers several hundred bottles containing various whiskeys, scotches, and bourbons (my personal favorite). If you aren’t sure what to try, the knowledgeable bartenders are willing and able to do so.
Like I said the place is a bit small, so if you show up at the wrong time, you may have trouble getting a seat. But if you can, you get to ogle at the wall of lovely brown liquid. Otherwise, you’re standing with your glass, which is a high quality whiskey glass with a solid rock in it (should you order your drink… eh… on the rocks…).

Love this place around the corner from my apartment. It is small, cozy whiskey bar for a few guests. The prices are reasonable. The bartender is a nice lad. The atmosphere is dark. There is a pizza place a few doors down, so you can get a bite when you are thoroughly sloshed. The area isn’t amazing, but the whiskey selection is fantastic. They had my favorite «Yamazaki» from Japan. That’s good enough for me.

I came here to pre-​game before going to the hell hole we know as «Pacha». I almost stayed here the whole night.
The lighting’s sparse, the bar’s comfy, the pours are generous, the bartenders are cool, there’s a ton of brown liquor to try, there’s a pyramid of bitters !!!, and generally the place is downright cool.

Pretty much a guys hang out. Some frat boy came in with a woman and said «hey baby this is a sausage fest»…but they stayed. Good but expensive whiskey and mixed drinks are the things to get here. Bartenders were nice and social and some of the local patrons had us laughing. If its a type of whiskey they have it or something like it. Overall a nice place to see in Hell’s Kitchen.
If the bartender rolls his eyes at you perhaps you should stop drinking or talking!

This place is really chill and serves a damn good drink. They specialize in whiskey, so if that’s your drink of choice, this is the place to be. I had a vodka and seltzer to start with, and then an Irish coffee, after which I was pretty tipsy. You definitely get what you pay for here. The atmosphere is really cozy but it can get crowded on weekends considering it’s a small space. It’s pretty quiet on a weeknight though. The bartender is very friendly and helpful if you’re not quite sure what to order (there are a LOT of options). Highly recommended.

They have a great looking selection of whiskey on their menu but it seems like they don’t actually have most of them available. I was excited to try this place but ended up disappointed .
I tried ordering 3 different bourbons from their list but each time the bartender just said «uh we don’t have that one». After the third attempt he said «wow you really know how to pick em — we don’t have that either «. I asked him to recommend a bourbon they did have and his reply was «why don’t you just pick something off the menu». Not the experience I was hoping for at a place claiming to be a «premium whiskey bar»
This place brags about having the best selection of whiskey in the city. For the prices they charge you would expect them to stock the bourbons on their menu or a least have a knowledgeable bartender that could help with a recommendation when they don’t have something. Or at the very least have a bartender that is not rude.
The bartender Is miserable, unhelpful and rude. The drinks are overpriced. The menu is work of fiction.

There are not many whiskey bars around and on the rock indeeds a whiskey heaven since it carries more then 200 kinds of whiskeys, ryes, bourbons, scotches. I myself a wine lover, however the fineness of mixology and the broadness of collections in this tiny «on the rock» blows my mind away. «Manhattan», «rusty nails“and «old fashion» were used to be three whiskey based drinks in my comfort zone. Coming to «on the rock» I start getting excited to discover the whole new world whiskeys.
Décor-​4/​5
The light can’t be dimmer than here. Love the ambience but have to read menu with my flashlight. Cozy little spot that I used to come here in those snowing nights to get little buzzed and watch the snow.
Service-​5/​5
I had my iPhone got stolen here last year 4^th or July. The waiter was very kind and sympathized me so all my drinks were on the house that night. When one door is closed and another is open? In alcohols we trust…
Drinks-​5/​5
This is a library to broaden your knowledge of whiskeys and it’s family. Period.
Lucky me I am just across street !!

This is a Tenth Avenue temple of mixology without the gimmicks you usually find at Manhattan bars that are serious about cocktails. The small space is dark and comfortable. There is alcohol along one wall and red bricks along the other. No food defiles this oasis of drink. The choice of high end booze is endless. In a place like this, I place myself in the bartender’s hands. In this case Jeff was knowledgeable, friendly and skillful in crafting my Manhattan from Buffalo Trace, orange bitters, and a liquor-​soaked cherry. Nice! I highly recommend it.
This is the place to go for whiskey in Hell’s Kitchen. Some famous (and now dead) person once said, «show me the way to the next whiskey bar» — This is it.
Don’t ask why.

I been wanting to try this place for awhile now since they carry over 200 whiskeys and I’m a huge bourbon fan. I came here after work with a really good friend who shares my bourbon interest. We got there exactly at 7 so we missed the happy hour specials :(
The place is small and cozy with a lot of bar stools. We sat down and were given a huge menu with all the selections. I couldn’t decide it felt like a kid at a candy store. The bartender help me choose Widow Jane which is a bourbon from BK and it was delicious, very smooth.
I will be back to try some others.

Come and brood during their superb half off happy hour (until 7pm?)
Wallet to Taste Ratio: 4:4 Regular priced cocktails go at $ 12 – 20
Ambiance: Small and dark. High chairs only. There’s a little alcove in the back you can snag for gatherings, but really this place isn’t great for groups larger than 4.
Drink: Extensive selection of whiskeys. Here, the whiskey choice makes the drink. They make an unconventional old fashioned with fruit pieces, which I really enjoy.
Service: I’d give 4 stars just for the happy hour, but the majority of the times I’ve come, I’ve had a very disaffected bartender. Though in his defense, he’s the only one tending the entire bar. Maybe it’s the whiskey attitude?
Still though, if you’re a lover of whiskey, pay homage.