Bourbon Bars Abroad

If you’ve traveled anywhere in the last decade or so, chances are you’ve found a whiskey bar with hundreds of offerings of all styles. These whiskey libraries are gaining in popularity all over the world, and they give both local and traveling consumers an opportunity to try bourbons they likely wouldn’t have access to otherwise.

Some of my favorites when I’m visiting family in England are Bar Swift Soho, The Lexington (which gives a nod to Kentucky, the birthplace of bourbon), Artesian, The Connaught Bar, and the all-encompassing Bull in a China Shop.

Some of these whiskey bars are more casual and low-key, while others incorporate immaculate décor that suggests a more upscale feel. Even Architectural Digest wrote about some of these more lavish establishments a couple of years back.

When I’m traveling, I’ve encountered the gamut of whiskey bars, and each one is unique in its own way. But they all have one thing in common: They share the love of whiskey. Whether you’re there alone or with friends or family, you can take a seat at the bar and talk whiskey to anyone from the bartender to the person sitting next to you.

If you find yourself in Paris, be sure to stop by the Golden Promise, a hidden whiskey gem located underground. If you’re in Ireland, check out The Shelbourne Bar in Cork, which not only has great Irish coffees but also an extensive offering of whiskeys from around the world — and pages of flight options for you to start.

In Japan, I spent some time at the Bar Zoetrope and Bar Benfiddich in Tokyo to dip my toe into the Japanese whisky category, and I found a great selection of bourbons at Bar Cordon Noir in Kyoto.

I could go on and on with whiskey bars all over the world — and I haven’t even mentioned my favorites in Scotland, Australia, Switzerland, Mexico or Canada yet. But the point is, bourbon is appreciated and coveted far and wide, and no matter where you are, chances are you can find a place that serves it just how you like it.