Prior to Prohibition, Irish whiskey was a very popular spirit in the United States. By the end of Prohibition, Scotch and Canadian whiskies were in, Irish was all but unheard of and our ancestors were missing out on spirited experiences.

Unfortunately for most of us, there is still a void where Irish whiskey should exist: in our bar orders, in our home stocks, in our experiences and in our knowledge.

The Dead Rabbit is many things to many people. To all drinkers, it is excellent. The bunny can, however, be divided. If you’re out for a sip and a nibble, then the ground floor is your destination. If you want a cleverly constructed – and eminently quaffable – cocktail, then you’ll wend your way up one flight of stairs to the parlor, what bartender Brooke Baker deems the “cathedral of cocktails,” where there is seating only and there are 76 complex cocktails on the menu. If you want to see The Dead Rabbit’s top floor in its current state, then you’d best head there soon, because that story is about to undergo changes – changes with a spirited purpose.

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Photo by Seanan Forbes