What You'll Get
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As cold weather descends on the great Northwest, the best way to keep toasty is from the inside out. Today's Groupon will warm your belly and, by proximity, your soul: $10 gets you $25 worth of food and libations at Branch Whiskey Bar, the friendly, low-key home of craft liquors tucked away in the Alberta arts district.
Branch's menu features locally sourced cuisine lovingly prepared by chef Larry Tavernetti. Chef Tavernetti takes pride in his house-made pork sausages, served with mash potatoes and grilled onions ($10), and grinding the meat for each Branch beef burger served with German potato salad ($9) and house-made bacon ($2 extra). It's enough to distract you from the duck confit hash with poached egg, onion, Yukon gold potatoes, and roasted red peppers ($13). Start things off with the white-bean puree for $5 or the pork rillettes with crostini for $6, and finish with the bread pudding with bourbon caramel sauce or the tarte tatin, $6 each. Check the chalkboard for chef Tavernetti's creation of the day.
Branch's drink menu is a stunning catalog of libations; you may want to start with a flight of one-ounce whiskeys for $18, or use this deal to justify trying the 23-year-old Black Maple Hill Rye. If you can't commit to just one flavor, try one of Branch's brilliant cocktails, such as the Dolvitti (London dry gin, vya sweet vermouth, fernet branca, and pear cognac, $8), the Beet Goes On (beet-infused vodka, a bit of lemon juice, and sugar, $7), or the Branchhattan (rye, vya sweet vermouth, angostura bitters, and orange bitters, $7). Branch houses fine draft brews and a tidy wine list as well.
Branch's cozy lighting, European-influenced comfort food, and more than 50 whiskeys, bourbons, and scotches will keep you glowing through the dreary winter months, well into the dreary summer months. Head over on a Saturday night to catch live jazz and blues or during the afternoon to watch a game.
Note: You must be 21 or older to enjoy this deal.
Reviews
Yelpers give Branch Whiskey Bar four stars:
- It's truly a place that follows the quirky nature of the district, yet…stand apart on its own. It would be a spot equally appropriate to take your folks or a date for a drink...Branch is pretty impressive. – Jenny C.
- I just want to say that the three dishes we tried were great…Did I mention that the food was so reasonable that I was able to try a nice Irish single malt for dessert? – RJ W.
- Lance brings great cocktails and great conversation to this new space. Thanks for letting us sample the chocolate bitters last night - we'll be back soon! – Angie U.
Whiskey Differences
As whiskey connoisseurs know, different types of whiskey have different flavors and feels. Here’s what makes some types of whiskey unique:
Malt Whiskey: Drinking two glasses in a row guarantees realistic, erroneous visions of the future.
Grain Whiskey: Can be used as a gasoline substitute or, when mixed with gasoline, a substitute for a less-strong whisky.
Single Malt Whiskey: The fastest path to a career as a TV-music composer because it causes aural hallucinations similar to popular theme songs.
Blended Whiskey: Money, respect, women—this whiskey makes an excellent substitute for all three.
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The Fine Print
Promotional value expires Apr 21, 2010. Amount paid never expires. Must be 21 or older with valid photo ID. Not valid with other offers (including happy hour). No cash back. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About Branch
The chefs at Branch make everything from scratch—including butchering their own steak, curing their own bacon, and smoking their own poultry—to put their distinctive stamp on traditional dishes. Classic comfort foods take on inventive transformations to result in such unusual plates as Maine lobster dumplings and macaroni 'n' cheese gratin with Oregon black-truffle oil. On their side of the establishment, the bartenders take the same artisanal approach by infusing their bourbon with fresh local fruit and concocting their own whiskey liqueurs. The full bar features an extensive whiskey list with more than 150 whiskeys from around the world available in single glasses or tasting flights.