Beyond just great selection, what puts this bar over the top are the bartenders. They are extremely knowledgeable about everything on the shelf. During my last visit the bartender was able to answer any question I had and even offered up some samples. Another great plus is that they have several different sizes of ice depending on the kind of drink you are having.

I will definitely be going back to this place. Of course it is not perfect. The main drawbacks I know of are: 1) Its not within walking distance from my house 2) My truck could barely fit in their tiny parking lot. They should realize that men who like to drink expensive bourbon also like to drive big trucks. But all in all it is a fantastic place to enjoy bourbon you can’t find just anywhere. I don’t know if it is the very best bourbon bar in Houston, but it is certainly in the discussion.

Royal Oak Bar and Grill
1318 Westheimer Rd.
Houston, TX 77006

Here is a more complete review of the place that is not focused on bourbon.

The Pour :
This may be the second most important criteria for evaluating a good bourbon bar. Are they stingy with their liquor? Fortunately, for The Remington, the answer is no. The serve the bourbon in a fairly standard highball glass, and fill consistently to the half inch mark. However, we found that when ordering either on the rocks or with water the amount of liquid in the glass was the same. In other words: Always order on the rocks and if you need water ask for a separate glass.

The Environment :
The Remington definitely caters to an older wealthy crowd. The valet area is a mix of German luxury sedans, Porches, and super exotics (i.e. Bentley’s, Rolls, and silly sports cars). Inside, you are going to see a great deal of wood and leather. It all smells of rich mahogany. There is only one main bar, but it stretches across the entire main room. On a Friday night it is full of rich men in their fifties and sixties, and a women of assorted ages (21-80+). There are also tables and couches away from the bar with plush seating that make for both a comfortable seat and good people watching. If you are lucky/unfortunate (depending upon your perspective) expect to see a great deal of making out and second base type relations. I suspect more than one room at the attached hotel has been booked over the years by the bar’s patrons.

The Final Verdict:
The Remington at the St. Regis is a great place to drink bourbon in Houston. On a weekend the crowd has a real energy to it, the pours are generous, and the selection is more than adequate. The only disappointment I had was with our waitress who had no idea what kind of bourbon they had and the glares our group consistently received all night from old men who seemed to be worried we would dance with their wives. I will simply consider that a compliment.

Bars with a human skeleton riding a motorcycle on top of their bar are a good place to drink bourbon.

Confirming the rule is the Twisted Spoke in Chicago. They bill themselves as the neighborhood “family biker bar” but it seems to be only for families with no kids in them…just the way we like our bars (“Really you brought your kid to a bar?”). Selection is no problem as there are 40-50 different choices and our waiter had decent recall. What really sets this place apart though is the uniqueness: a pressurized keg of bourbon on tap (Jim Beam when we were there), Saturday night porn screenings (we were not there for this but heard it is a good time to go), and a signature dish called “smut and eggs.” This place is not for everyone (particularly women seem to avoid it), but go any way (Wednesday is the best night to try bourbon since they are half price).

Location:
Chicago, Illinois

Address:

2348 Wisconsin Avenue

Washington, D.C.