The Whiskey Jar - Manchester

After enjoying a delightful dinner at Superstore, we decided to grab a few drinks at The Whisky Jar. Located next to El Capo on Tariff St in the NQ, this bar, along with its neighboring establishments, is housed in an old mill, giving it charming wooden and brick features. Although the main bar and seating area is on the smaller side, we were fortunate that it wasn't too crowded when we visited on a Saturday and were able to find a cozy sofa to unwind on. There is also a livelier and busier basement area, providing a space that caters to a variety of preferences. While the drink menu primarily focuses on whisky, which isn't really my cup of tea, there were some delicious cocktails available as well. I opted for the Cookie Jar, a light and creamy cocktail served with a cookie – right up my alley! The bar also hosts live music events occasionally and an open mic night every Tuesday starting at 7.30pm, which I may have to check out in the future.

The restaurant offers a wide variety of whiskies including scotch, Irish, bourbon, Japanese, and more. The staff is very knowledgeable and on one occasion, a bartender recommended the Octomore, which is known as the smokiest whiskey in the world, because I enjoy smoky whiskies. There are ample comfortable sofas available to sit on while enjoying your whiskey. The restaurant also hosts monthly whiskey tastings and an open mic night every Tuesday.

I have visited this restaurant several times and had to leave without being served due to the crowded bar. However, on a recent visit on a Saturday night, I arrived earlier and was able to secure a seat in a booth. As the name suggests, this place specializes in whisky with over 250 different types available. If you're a whisky lover, this is the place for you, as they offer everything from Jack Daniels to pricier options. The knowledgeable staff can make great recommendations, so don't hesitate to ask. We started with a Jack Daniels honey whisky and then asked for suggestions based on different countries. We tried a smoky Indian whisky, a spicy Dutch whisky, and a Spanish honey whisky, ultimately choosing the Dutch option which was excellent. The atmosphere is dark and bustling, especially on weekends, with limited seating options. I would recommend visiting during a less busy time to have the opportunity to truly enjoy the experience of choosing your whisky.

This place was recommended by a friend and boy oh boy was I pleased we went. We arrived on a Sunday evening and were welcomed into a dimly lit bar. There were plenty of comfy couches, as well as tall tables and on one side there looked to be a place for where the dj normally plays. There are many cocktail options and there's even a note in the menu to say they'll make you something to order if they aren't too busy. We ordered straight off of the menu; a cookie jar and a spiked lemonade. The place wasn't busy so we were able to see them being made and talk to the bar tenders who were very friendly. If you're really into learning more about whiskey then they even organise whiskey tasting events. The playlist in this place was perfect if you grew up in the 90s pulp, blur and the smiths. I was truly in my element.

Opened recently on the less frequented side of Northern Quarter, Tariff Street (The other end of Hilton Street) and thank god for that because this area desperately needed some good pubs! This side of NQ was mainly dominated by Lammars, Lolas and Port Street Beer house but now all these have competitions from the newbies like Kosmonaught, The Whiskey Jar and Takk! This is a true Northern Quarter bar and you know it the minute you walk in because of the whole feel of the place! The lights are dim, the couches are vintage, wooden flooring and some nice blues music playing in the background! There are live bands here too playing some funky rock and roll and pop in a jazz and blues style (loved it). The food was surprisingly good, I had a chicken and herbs pie (6 pounds) and it was definitely much more than something that filled my stomach! They have a good selection of beers and ofcourse Whiskey (come on, look at the name). Verdict: Good place and a nice addition to the NQ bar scene!