Drink a spirit that was first distilled a generation ago and you are sipping history. At the Pikey, owner Jared Meisler has assembled a collection of rare vintage whiskies dating back to the early 1900s — and the bar is pouring them by the glass.  

Meisler acquired the bottles from estate sales and auctions over the course of five years. They now sit proudly on the back bar ready to pour in single servings and even in cocktails. And they are surprisingly reasonably priced, at least when comparing the cost per shot versus what an actual bottle of this stuff might set you back if you managed to acquire it.  

For instance, the Lochaide 10 year, c. 1990 is $75 a pour, but the distillery is closed meaning that acquiring a bottle of this whisky is unlikely. And when a modern bottling of Johnnie Walker Black Label runs about $50, you can extrapolate what the cost of a 61-year old bottle might run. Suddenly, the $100 pour price doesn't seem so extreme.  

In terms of curating the list, Meisler explains,”We wanted the list to be approachable, and affordable for everyone to try. If they were expensive they end up just being decoration. We aren't making the traditional margins but we don’t just want [the bottles] to gather dust.”

You can enjoy a set flight of four whiskies, which might include Dallas Dhu (c.1978, a Highland single malt whisky aged 17 years in oak), Bruichladdich (c. 1994, 100-proof Islay single malt whisky), Four Roses (c. 1982, American blended whiskey), and Catto’s Gold (c. 1965, blended Scotch whisky.) The cost — $35.  

The Jack Daniels and Johnnie Walker offer intriguing comparisons of older bottlings, while the old versus new Wild Turkey offer an eye-opening, palate-educating lesson in how whiskey ages. The Wild Turkey 8 year old, c. 1963 at 101 proof tastes like salted caramel; while the modern bottling, also 101 proof is a solid bourbon, but lacks the complexity that comes from 52 years in the bottle.  

Bartenders around the country and the world have discovered how bottle-aging changes a cocktail. At the Pikey, you can sample first hand, how bottle-aging a spirit creates a distinct flavor profile,

How long will these whiskies be available?

“When they're gone, they're gone,” says general manager Eric Shani. “Come try it while we got it.”  

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