Liberties, the old standby near the corner of 2nd and Fairmount, is no more. After decades of tending to the neighborhood’s drinking and dining needs, it closed up for good last week to make way for Bourbon & Branch.

As if the name doesn’t give it away, the concept is whiskey bar. And Bourbon & Branch isn't talking a lot of tall talk when it comes to the brown water. There’s nearly 70 different types of bourbon, rye, single malt Scotch, blended, Irish and Canadian whiskies available. What’s really cool though, each one is available in 1 oz. pours. That and the reasonable pricing makes it easy to sample several different selections with each visit.

The bar also offers an interesting range of cocktails. Obviously, whiskey is well represented. There’s a house Manhattan that’s made frothy with the addition of an egg white; Liberties Lemonade, Deaths Door white whiskey, lemon, sugar, cointreau; and Irish Jolly, Jameson, Snap ginger liqueur, fresh black berries, lime, topped with ginger ale. Alternatives to whiskey drinks include a classic Hemingway made with Don Q Silver rum, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, ruby red grapefruit; and the Branch Cosmo, fresh cranberries macerated in orange liqueur, sugar, Titos organic vodka, fresh lime.

There are also 17 beers on tap and an expanded lineup of Citywide Specials. They include the classic Pabst Blue Ribbon and Jim Beam; the Moustache Ride, Natty Bo can and shot of Paddy; and the Wicked Pissa, Narraganset Pounder and a shot of Canadian Club.

Food options run the gamut from mussels and pork belly banh mi sliders to burgers and sandwiches and bourbon glazed salmon. There’s also a separate menu for weekend brunch, too.

Bourbon & Branch, 705 N. 2nd St., 215-238-0660, bourbonandbranchphilly.com
 

Photo: Bourbon & Branch/Facebook