Bayou & Bottle is our very own whiskey and bourbon heaven

By Jean Hare / Photography By Jean Hare | September 25, 2017

The bourbon steward station is a lovely perk at Bayou & Bottle

If you’re a whiskey aficionado, Bayou & Bottle is the smart place to go.

If you’re a whiskey novice, Bayou & Bottle is also the smart place to go.

Dubbed “Houston’s Living Room,” the Bayou & Bottle bar is our very own whiskey and bourbon heaven nestled in the first floor of downtown’s upscale Four Seasons hotel. Guests can sink into the couches and take their time studying the drink menu—which is an education in itself, peppered with annotations that supply a crash course on the differences in whisk(e)ys by location. Thirsting for more? Visit with the Bourbon Steward for tastings and guidance. There’s no reason to leave Bayou & Bottle without expanding your palate.

Nor is there reason to leave hungry. The bar menu is carefully crafted not only highlight local, fresh ingredients but also to pair well with whiskey and bourbon. General Manager Peter Pearce recommends trying the lobster tacos with a rye whiskey or the strawberry shortcake with Angel’s Envy Bourbon. The staff are also happy to make pairing suggestions.

Just like a neighbor might display family photos and a liquor cabinet in their living room, Bayou & Bottle has whiskey lockers where local companies and whiskey lovers store their special bottles. Instead of family photos, the Angels’ Share private room curates an entertaining collection of photographs that distill Houston’s recent history into a collage of black and white. Feel free to look around; it is Houston’s living room, after all.

While you’re expanding your whiskey knowledge, you can also improve your golf swing in Top Golf’s first-of-their-kind simulators. Or, if you’re in the mood for something quieter, the couches, intimate lighting, antique-style glasses and central fireplace invite curling up with a book and a great cocktail. Just like in your own living room at home—but with a better liquor cabinet.