Bourbon and Bourbon Cocktails on the Patio at Branchwater All Summer Long!

Last week I blogged one of my all time favorite patios to sit on in Seattle during the summer (the always amazing Westward) and this week I am continuing that trend by sharing another patio I adore with a completely different vibe! Bourbon lovers – this one’s for you!  Branchwater is Belltown’s speakeasy-esque Kentucky bourbon bar with an entrance in a back alley between 3rd and 4th Ave. that’s not super easy to find the first time (but you’ll be so glad you did!).  Brought to you by Amanda and Cory Chigbrow, the owners of beloved neighborhood Spanish restaurant, Pintxo, the concept of Branchwater comes with a very personal touch – Amanda’s family is from Morehead, Kentucky.

With over 100 different whiskeys, 80 different bourbons and a hidden patio tucked away in Belltown, Branchwater is your go to place for sipping this summer. The exposed brick, wrought iron furniture and massive wooden shutters and benches give it a definitively Belltown feel with a bit of a southern twang. Branchwater has extensive collections of both local, Japanese and Kentucky bourbons and whiskies and their knowledgeable bartenders are there to guide you every step of the way in your sipping selections! The OOLA Three Shores Black Label Whiskey pictured above was a very limited release that this local distillery has been sold out of for over a year now and is still being poured at Branchwater (I can make no promises as to how long this will last).

When Amanda sat down to chat Branchwater with me a couple weeks ago, one of the coolest things she shared with me was this – BOURBON FLIGHTS ARE COMING (and soon y’all)! Look for them later this summer! Flights with four different types of bourbon with .75 ounce pours will be offered at the $40, $50 and $60 price point. Branchwater’s bartenders will select four bourbons personally for your flight from a range of differnt bottles within the price level you chose.

By the way, don’t skip the food here either; they specialize in southern small plates, an idea that just makes my Alabama heart (and stomach!) happy. Who doesn’t want to sip bourbon and nosh on bomb mac and cheese on a patio all summer long? Branchwater shares a kitchen with sister restaurant Pintxo and their rock star culinary team brings you a very simple but delicious southern inspired menu with dishes like a hot fried chicken sandwich, home fries and mac and cheese topped with bread crumbs as well as a couple Pintxo staples like the fried shishito peppers and a Spanish cheese plate.

They make some pretty mean cocktails at Branchwater – both with bourbon and all the other spirits too, y’all. Pictured above is the Oaxacan Eclipse which is composed of Mezcal, Cynar, lemon, agave and orange bitters. It’s one of a dozen house cocktails that include both Branchwater originals as well as classics like the Mint Julep. You’ll also find Craft on Draft here (cocktails on tap) like their Negronis and Manhattans along with other favorites and a 50/50 Shots section on their menu (50/50 shots are shots composed of only two things, two spirits; for example one offered on their menu is Joven Mezcal and Cynar). So cheers to a summer filled with good bourbon, good food and good cocktails y’all – let’s spend as much of it as we can on the patio at Branchwater!