Whiskey admirers come in a variety of forms and categories. After all, whiskey is for everyone, and doesn’t discriminate, whether its fan is a gentleman, frat boy, hippie or even a grandmother playing cribbage. The diversity of whiskey drinkers is mirrored in the diversity of venues in which they choose to admire the water of life. This all comes down to preference, really; different folks enjoy different settings. The Red Star Tavern in downtown Portland, while perhaps a worthy establishment, is not my preferred whiskey joint.
There is nothing inherently wrong with the Red Star and it will definitely spark interest for some. It is certainly a high-end bar—more of a posh restaurant, really. The swankiness is absolutely kicked into high gear here—so much that I have trouble referring to it as a tavern. A tavern bears implications of a greasy spoon, pool tables and the down-to-earth din of people filling the room. While there are certainly higher-end taverns serving classy clientele, I have yet to come across one as fancy as the Red Star.
This is not to say this “tavern” isn’t worth a visit. It would make a perfect setting for a nice date, or any evening out on the town dressed to the nines. In other words, my usual flannel shirt and worn jeans clash a bit with the suit-and-tie business crowd who more appropriately fit the atmosphere of the bar.
Why the run-down of Red Star’s atmosphere? Isn’t this a series on scotch? The Red Star does indeed offer a significant whiskey selection and promotes this fact. But one must bear in mind the presentation of the “tavern” when considering it as a whiskey hotspot. For example, such high-end ambiance comes into play when an order of The Glenlivet will run you more than $10. And while I greatly respect The Glenlivet, there is no excuse for this. Inflated prices are the main obstacle to enjoying a scotch here. It borders on insulting.
The rumors of the whiskey selection at Red Star are not false. The impressive list carries a variety of bourbons and scotches from which to choose. Irish whiskey takes a back seat; bourbons seem to be what the Red Star is all about, though scotch comes in at a close second.
From Aberlour to Talisker, most likely any scotch that has made a name for itself in the whiskey market is here. Most popular brands offered will also be accompanied by various years and lines. Going back to The Glenlivet, for example, patrons can find the usual 12-year bottle, but can also find The Glenlivet’s 15-year, Nadurra, 18-year and 21-year archive. Glenmorangie, Macallan and Balvenie are a few other brands carried here that span a number of years and lines.
Another pleasant aspect of the Red Star is that the waiters and bartenders seem to actually know what they are talking about. My last waiter discussed which scotches hailed from the Highlands or the Speyside—or for fans of a thick, peaty taste, which brands came from the Isles, and so forth—and did so with ease. Therefore, humble enthusiasts such as myself can find someone with some knowledge at the Red Star to help guide their quest.
Scotch lovers will find a home here, but they will pay for it. The Red Star is a “tavern” where what one mostly purchases is the environment and the feeling that they are a hotshot. But perhaps I am too hard on the place—I have witnessed a few people cutting loose at the Red Star. Why, just the last time I was there, a couple of people even took off their ties. ?