Scottish distillery, Ardbeg, earned a cult following after the company launched several vials of whisky into the galaxy. Photo / Supplied
Scottish distillery, Ardbeg, earned a cult following after the company launched several vials of whisky into the galaxy. Photo / Supplied
According to the aficionados at The Jefferson whisky bar, there's a story behind every bottle.
And out of the 600 or so varieties that glow under the warm lights of the impressively stocked bar, few could match the yarn about the whisky that went on a mission with the International Space Station.
"It's certainly the quirkiest thing we have," says The Jefferson owner Ofir Yudlievich. "It's the only one we've got that's ever been to space."
Scottish distillery, Ardbeg, earned a cult following after the company launched several vials of whisky into the galaxy, where it matured while orbiting Earth for three years, before touching down in Kazakhstan.
After analysing the liquid gold once it arrived back on the planet, the boffins discovered it tasted quite different to whisky that had spent its life solely on Earth. They recreated the findings in a rare batch called Galileo, which visitors to The Jefferson can taste for themselves.
Other drams on offer are sweet, smoky and everything in between, with single malts, through to bespoke bourbons and sought-after blends. The most exclusive drop will set you back $265 per shot, although most are under $30.
The carefully selected line-up boasts varieties from around the world, including one-off batches and rare finds from top producers in Japan, Ireland, America, and Taiwan, as well as some home-grown drops from New Zealand.
The Jefferson
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While the serious-looking wall of liquor that greets you as you come down the stairs to the bar can seem intimidating, Ofir says the people who know nothing about whisky are their favourite type of customer.
"We don't put a menu in front of you," he says. "We ask you questions and pick some flavours that we think you'll like."
And forget the idea of whisky being a drink for grey haired men with cigars. For starters, you'll find more women than men enjoying a dram at The Jefferson on a Saturday night. "Whisky is considered an old stuffy man in the corner thing, but we're appealing to a different crowd," says Ofir, who was formerly a chef before joining the whisky trade. "This is not an old man's bar, it's not what we do."
At The Jefferson, you'll find sleek, sultry décor, chic booths and a relaxed, inclusive vibe, rather than tired leather couches and 'man cave' clichés. Around the world, whisky is having a major resurgence, and its fans are from all walks of life.
As well as knowledgeable staff on hand to help you select your ideal tipple, The Jefferson also runs a range of whisky tastings and events, to have you imbibing like a pro. And with so many different types of whisky on offer, you'll never run out of new discoveries.
