As I walked up the stairs to the "hidden" Bar M, I found myself hoping that I had found a cool…read morelittle-crowded place that served amazing cocktails, and held a great ambiance that would make me return on a weekly basis. Think: Blind pig, with better music, more light, and more people.
Unfortunately, reality hit, as soon as I entered the place. Besides, an elderly married couple in the corner, the entire place was completely deserted - this was a Saturday night at 11:30 pm. The interior of the place had little uniqueness and felt more like a hotel bar or airport lounge. In short: sterile.
Now to the drinks, we ordered a Whiskey Sour and an Old-fashion which both looked great, but was soon disappointed and surprised by the flavor of our drinks. After asking, I figured out, that it was because they had used Southern Comfort as whiskey of the drinks. Now this being a whiskey bar, with a very impressive whiskey selection, using Southern Comfort which is a cheap liqueur and neither a whiskey nor a bourbon for that matter is a little disappointing. Especially, since something like an Old-fashioned main ingredient would be bourbon.
Now, perhaps, I'm being a bit harsh? And potentially so, but I would like to make the argument, that if you run a whiskey bar, and you charge the price tag and establishment as Bar M does, at the least be able to make an Old-fashion, and don't start using cheap substitutes. This would be pretty much unheard of anywhere else that would take their whiskey establishment seriously.
At the end, we took two sips, paid, and left. I would come back here for a night trying out their impressive whiskey selection, but please don't come here for the crowd, music, or the cocktails.