The DC Whiskey Walk

Had a pretty good time with a friend at the DC whiskey walk. The selection of whiskeys could have been better, but the fact that we got to explore some new bars around DuPont as part of the walk more than makes up for it. I especially loved the collection of beers on tap available at the «Board Room», and ended up sampling a couple. Also loved the food at Buffalo Billiards, yum.
Overall, great way to tingle your taste buds with 8 different brands of Irish whiskey, and try some new spots while you’re at it.

I’ve now attended two years in a row and it’s fantastic. Service can vary bar to bar, but they’re dealing with half-​drunk people all day. The whiskeys can also vary bar to bar, but you’re getting EIGHT whiskeys.
I thought the event was well-​organized. There was plenty of staff on hand to check folks in, and there seemed to be appropriate staffing at the bar as well.
I agree with the poster who said to eat or take the whole time. They give you ten hours for eight whiskeys, so you won’t get drunk if you pace yourself, but who really does that? We took a long time at Buffalo Billiards and got some food and bought a few beers too.
It’s also cool to go to a variety of bars I wouldn’t otherwise. James Hoban’s is one of my regular haunts, but the bars up near Black Jack are bars I don’t normally frequent.
Totally recommend. I won tickets both years, but even if you don’t, it’s a good cause — always a good charity to support.

I had a splendid time at the DC Whiskey Walk. Of course, by nature, the walk is more like a marathon. For next year, I’d definitely recommend that you PACE YOURSELF and order a water at every bar. We also stopped by CVS for gatorade and poptarts, which really helped.
Each bar was certainly different. I am appreciative that the organizers coordinated three different start points — judging by the humongous crowd at each bar, I seriously can’t imagine how it would be if we all started in one place and followed essentially the same path.
I agree with other reviewers, the bars and customer service were hit or miss. I especially enjoyed the customer service at Blackjack and Maddy’s. Less stellar customer service would have been Black Whiskey, Science Club, and Board Room.
All in all, I was so happy to support Becky’s Fund, which fights against domestic violence. Weather was phenomenal! I will say, there was definitely a sense of community between fellow whiskey walkers — everyone helped each other with directions and recommendations on food. Thanks, Unilocal,for an awesome event!

Thanks to Unilocal and Kimberly S., I won a pair of tickets to The DC Whiskey Walk! We got a free shot of Irish whiskey from 8 different bars around Logan Circle and Dupont Circle, all within walkable distance. What a great way to get everyone in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day!
Check-​in was in between 12pm and 3pm at Black Jack. The folks at check-​in were super friendly. The bartender at Black Jack was great and gave a little intro on the whiskey we were about to try. Both Black Jack and Black Whiskey were pretty empty when we got there, probably because it was still early at 2pm. I liked the environment and set-​up at both bars. However, once we got to the bars at Dupont Circle (Board Room, Buffalo Billards, Maddy’s, James Hoban’s, and Science Club), it just got way too packed, making it difficult to enjoy the whiskey. Attempting to order beer or food was a pain. The huge crowds may also have been contributed by folks doing The DC Leprechaun Pub Crawl, which was also happening at the same time.
Nevertheless, it was still a fun experience and a nice walk around Dupont. I’d have never thought I’d go bar hopping so early in the day! Plus, a portion of the proceeds goes to Becky’s Fund, an organization to fight domestic violence.

The DC Whiskey Walk was fun, and the participants definitely helped to get everyone into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit. People were nice, and having fun.
The bars selected varied greatly. Most were crowded (to be expected), but the way they treated us walkers was inconsistent. Some of the bars gave a nice glass of whiskey, and were welcoming with good food and drink specials, while others seemed VERY annoyed that we were even there in the first place. I find this confusing, because they already know we like whiskey, why deter us from returning to the bar ever… whatever!
It was a gorgeous day outside, and overall a fun time. I would do this walk again, but hope that the bars/​bartenders have a chat about how to treat people in the bar~

Very much fun! In general, you get to try a pretty good variety of whiskeys at a decent variety of bars (mostly Irish in some form or fashion, but a few that weren’t). If the «special» prices listed for the whiskey at each bar are to be believed, the ticket is an excellent deal — basically half-​price. Having the check-​in in the early afternoon and the bars participating until late in the evening allows for plenty of time to leisurely make your way from bar to bar. This was particularly good on a nice day, when taking your time outside and people-​watching in Dupont Circle were as enjoyable as trying the various whiskies and bars. Only one of the eight stops disappointed me (both the bar and the whiskey, and since the latter was served in a still-​soapy glass maybe it was mostly an issue with the bar), and it was easy to wander in and out of the participating bars. A few of the bouncers slowed the process with additional ID checks despite the Walk badges and «Over 21» wristbands, but it didn’t take significant time and there’s nothing wrong with being sure for their liability. Many of the bartenders were happy to talk about the whiskies and seemed to welcome the idea of the Walk, although a few seemed to see those on the Walk as freeloaders — pouring the whiskey quickly and leaving immediately, becoming at least a little friendly only if you eventually caught their attention and ordered something more. Food specials were uneven — some bigger than others, some tastier than others — but were mostly some form of appetizer. Most of the bars also had decent-​sized menus, even those not normally open mid-​day on a Saturday. I look forward to doing this again!