Why You Should Go to the Multnomah Whiskey Library

Whiskey lovers can't miss the Multnomah Whiskey Library tucked away in Downtown Portland. As the name suggests, this library specializes in whiskey, with a vast collection spanning the globe. You'll be greeted first by the Green Room (the whiskey library offshoot) -- but the whiskey library's namesake lies just upstairs. In the "library", you can sit down to enjoy some wonderful cocktails or whiskey flights as your eyes peruse the whiskeys lining the entire wall.

1. The Whiskey 

The catalog is enormous! From whiskeys in Scotland to Ireland to America to Japan, the library has it all! The best way to conquer the catalog, or at least make small dent in it, is to have a flight -- or three.

2. The Room 

Imagine a cozy university library that you could study in forever, but replace the dusty books with bottles of whiskey.

And the quiet with the hum of casual conversations.

And nobody looks like they haven't showered for days and have been living in the same sweatpants for a week.

Beyond that, I'll let the room for speak for itself.

3. The Cocktails

Our bartender recommended their specialty Old Fashioned for us to sip on as we flipped through their catalog.

This was actually an incredibly tasty drink that could've been reprised throughout the night.

We didn't try the other cocktails, but our friends said none of the ones they tried disappointed.

4. The Bartender

Our bartender had tried nearly every whiskey in the catalog and knew at least something about every whiskey. That's how you know this isn't your typical dive bar.

Tips for Getting In:

There are three ways of getting into the whiskey library:

1. Wait

Wait times can be quite long, sometimes more than two hours at peak times. You can put your name down at the whiskey library, get an estimate of the wait time, and come back. The difficulty here is making sure you show up before your name is called because you might not know how quickly the line is moving.

2. Get a Hall Pass

We'd recommend getting the hall pass if you're willing to pay an extra $25 per person. The hall pass lets you make a reservation ahead of time and skip the line. We were seated almost immediately after we arrived.

3. Get a membership

The Multnomah Whiskey Library's standard membership is at capacity, although you could hop on their incredibly long waiting list. Fees are quite expensive at $650 annually, but if you do somehow acquire a membership, you'll be able to reserve seats during normal hours of operation and get additional benefits.

More Info: 

Multnomah Whiskey Library
1124 SW Alder St
Portland, OR 97205