Jack Rose Dining Saloon

Night cap after Valentine's dinnerPlace was packed downstairs, so we went upstairs and found bar seatingDownstairs area looked super cool and inviting!Tiny bathroomsThere are 2 outdoor patio. The enclosed patio had a fireplace. Warm!Drinks were coolI did not like the Truffle mozarella balls

***4 1/2 stars***I'm an ambivalent skeptic when it comes to karma, etc., but it's hard not to believe the universe had a hand in this one. My top-tier chum who literally went to the school of hospitality and I were wandering south from the Adams Morgan neighborhood and she'd been given the assignment of finding one last stop on our day's adventures before heading back to the Airbnb. She saw the name of this establishment from across the street, started squealing Titanic quotes, and of course we came in. We're both big bourbon drinkers, so it was pretty unnerving to find out almost immediately that we'd accidentally picked the bar that literally had the largest selection of whiskey in the Western Hemisphere. There are coincidences and then there are coincidences. When you walk in, it feels like a boozy library - there are bottles of (presumably almost all) whiskey stretching from end to end, ceiling to ceiling. Think that iconic scene from Beauty and the Beast if Belle had been a drinker instead of a reader. It's quite something to take in. The bar was not crowded at all when we got there and we just plopped ourselves down on the nearest chairs and made ourselves comfortable.We respectfully disagreed on this point, but the bartender for me got pretty much top marks across the board. My chum thought she was robotic in her delivery, which WAS true early on, but she warmed up after a while and became much more personable. In her defense (which I immediately came to), she had a lot of information to convey and was very much in command of that knowledge. Because we probably have more refined bourbon palates than the average person at this point (though maybe not in terms of the clientele that comes in here intentionally), she used that in her sales pitch and got us some really impressive drinks. I now have an official bourbon I'm looking for going forward, which somehow wasn't the case before.We'd told her almost immediately that we'd had excellent bourbon at the Ritz a few nights earlier, the Angel's Envy. She not only was familiar with it - I don't think it's obscure - but described the three variations they had here, including the one I emotionally imprinted on, finished in sherry wine barrels, making it pretty fruit forward. It is pretty ridiculous how much money we spent on the Old Fashioned featuring that specific bourbon (I think it was honestly like $65, but it WAS a mini vacation), but it was literally the best one I've ever had. You really could tell how excellent this bourbon was. After we had that, my chum asked for a cheaper variation in the $20 range, and the bartender was immediately able to pivot on that front and gave us some detailed, informed recommendations. Really good, memorable stuff there.Honestly the only area and obvious need for improvement was the food options. These by definition are going to be boozier drinks, so I think you should have an arsenal of legit apps/entrees to sample and keep the night from getting too out of hand. We'd had a very big lunch a few hours earlier so there wasn't a red alarm, blaring need in that regard, but we did get some truffle fries to munch on. Eh. On the soggy side and the truffle seasoning barely saved them. These weren't explicitly referenced on the menu, which is a point worth making (my chum felt confident that with the amount we paid for that Angel's Envy cocktail she could get them to make anything, which turned out to be a pretty fair assessment). So the counter is they weren't prepared to make this at a high level but if that's the case, I just wouldn't make it all. It's going to be difficult for the food to match the bourbon, but it should be a closer race than this.Awesome stop; felt like the powers that be wanted us to get in here at some point.

If you like whiskey, this is your spot. Jack Rose boasts one of the largest whiskey selections in the world and is unmatched in DC. From vintage bourbons to the latest scotch release, chances are good that they have it. Jack Rose and their owner, Bill Thomas, put bourbon on the map in DC and is a pilgrimage for many bourbon lovers. Be sure to snag a barrel pick from the bottle shop. The venue is large with a main dining area, large bar, upstairs bar and private room, and downstairs speakeasy style tasting room and bottle shop. The food is creative and delicious with a southern flare but I always go for the whiskey and cocktails. The cocktail program is excellent and their bartenders are friendly and incredibly knowledgeable. It's also the perfect spot for a private event, from a small dinner to a large cocktail party. They also host excellent tasting events that are ticketed and open to the public. Excellent chance to beef up your whiskey knowledge, challenge your palate, and make new whiskey friends. The upstairs on weekend nights is definitely more of a younger bar crowd (that I've aged out of) but is always a good time. Plus they offer late night food! A trip to DC is certainly incomplete without a stop here for a least a dram or two.

Love it! We arrived early and they had a private event and they called to let me know, the service was great as well as the drinks and appetizers. I didn't feel like having dinner but I want to go back and try it just for the atmosphere. Thanks to the host Jack Rose for calling me and being the best!

If you could crawl inside the mind of Charles Bukowaki, Earnest Hemingway, or even Tyrion Lannister, a Narnia-esque world would unfold where the only snow would be fully formed ice cubes floating in an Eastern Sea of every kind of bourbon imaginable. The walls of Jack Rose scale vertically with glowing glass that peers down at you, curiously, and entices the thirsty onlookers who are overwhelmed in possibilities and frozen with indecision as their liver shudders and mind wonders how this Fort Knox of whiskey on the rocks will send you off on an adventure that neither you, nor your companions, or even the great Bukowski could have foretold. Visit Jack Rose often, for the night is too short for imbibing even a single percent of their collection of combustibles. You don't need to eat. Sleeping is something that can be put off for later. "Bourbon.... That one!" You should respond, pointing, ready, happy, and welcomed by those who will go one this journey with you.

Went here at recommendation of a friend. Cool bar with over 3000 whiskies. Bartender was friendly and helpful. Just had drinks although they do serve food. Would like to visit again to try more whiskies and cocktails when we visit DC again.

If you are a big bourbon and whiskey drinker you will want to go here. The ambiance of over 2400 bottles of whiskey and bourbon is insane. The flights that they have with the option. You can't loose. But it's hard choices. The store downstairs where they do private tastings is amazing. The whole room is jaw dropping. The service was excellent. I can't wait to go back for happy hour or just a group of friends who value whiskey and bourbon. It is definitely a hidden gem for sure.

I stopped by yesterday night with some friends for dinner. We were drawn as one of us is a big whiskey fan. The second we walked in the restaurant we were all impressed- it's a beautiful, cool, sophisticated place and the walls lined with bottles are very impressive. We all loved watching the bartenders slide the ladders around and climb up to the ceiling to get specific bottles. It was a quieter night, but the service was fast and our server was very nice and knowledgeable. Our whiskey loving friend got the house cocktail, a Jack Rose, which was dangerously good. We ordered a variety of dishes, from burgers to the ham and biscuits to a beet salad. The food was fancy and very delicious, but still a good deal for the price. I would love to come back and spend time upstairs, or splash out and take the time to order a tasting flight. Overall we all enjoyed our time at Jack Rose!

I absolutely loved this bar. It wasn't just the fact they had an obscene number of whiskies, it was how the visit transformed my attitude towards peated scotch, which I wasn't a fan of before this visit. The bartender who served me asked what I wanted and I gave him what I thought was a near impossible task: I told him I wanted to appreciate peated scotch, but I didn't have a history of of liking it. He suggested I get an exploration flight and he asked me what I liked: Spicy Ryes. He smiled, came back with three bottles and took me to school - turns out I like peat when supported by a rounded sweetness - like the kind that can be provided by resting in a sherry cask. I left a better person. Thank you!

I truly love this place. The ambiance is delightful, and the customer service is consistently excellent. The food and drinks are always of high quality. The atmosphere is welcoming and elegant, making it the perfect spot for any occasion, whether it's a casual dinner or a special celebration. The staff is attentive and courteous, always ensuring that every visit is a pleasant experience. Whenever I have a negative experience at other American restaurants, I return to Jack Rose to recover from the disappointment. This establishment has become my go-to place for its reliable excellence and warm, inviting environment!