I am a Scottish Highlander. I drink whiskey. And, as any proper Scot knows, whiskey is the water of life. So when I tell you that The Locked Barrel in Sacramento is one of the most impressive whiskey bars I have ever experienced, understand that I do not say that lightly. I have traveled extensively, including throughout Scotland - and I have never seen a Macallan flight like the one they offer here. That alone would make the visit worthwhile. But then you look around and see what appears to be 30 feet of whiskey bottles lining the place. Ye gods and little fishes. I am a 6'6 Scottish Highlander, and I look UP to 30 feet of whiskey bottles. That is impressive. There is history here. There is character. And there is whiskey. Period. Serious whiskey. And then there is Ricky, bartender extraordinaire--knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly someone who understands that serving whiskey is more than pouring a drink ... it is an institution. I do not get to Sacramento often - but finding the Locked Barrel was one of the unexpected highlights of my trip. The Locked Barrel is one of the most remarkable whiskey experiences I have encountered anywhere--including Scotland. If you appreciate whiskey--or simply appreciate a place that takes it seriously--put this one on your list. Slàinte mhath! #TheLockedBarrel #Sacramento #Whiskey #Whisky #ScotchWhisky #Macallan #WhiskeyBar #Scotland #ScottishHighlander #SlainteMhath #RustyNail #WhiskeyLovers #SacramentoBars read more

Locked Barrel - 30 Feet of Whisky! - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

Loved the smell of this place. Flights were amazing. Excellent service, great whiskey and the charcuterie was fire. Cool scenery. I recommend visiting this place! read more

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Walking by during a weekend convention and was instantly pulled in by the ambiance. You can tell me design this place is a spectacle and educator of whiskey as well as all spirits. The bartender behind the craft, was such a cool dude and helped me navigate what I was looking to drink as well as super knowledgeable of his work. The drinks are absolutely delicious, I tried a smoked old fashioned and an espresso martini. I haven't been into whiskey in quite some time but the way the flavors complimented each other with the smoke and sweet--my pale T broke right through the ethanol and straight into the whiskey. I'm also not an espresso martini guy but goes to show how solid this place is that I thought it was insane. I'd go back (which I will) for that martini again; easily. read more

Locked Barrel - Smoked old fashion - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I've been to Locked Barrel just twice in the last few years but had and enjoyable experience both times. I don't drink whiskey as much as I used to and this time I just had a couple glasses of wine while the rest of the party enjoyed their whiskey cocktails. We had some appetizers as well before moving on to a nearby restaurant for dinner. The bartenders were quite helpful with suggesting drinks and my friends loved the recommendations. read more

My girlfriend and hubby were visiting and they are whiskey connoisseurs...so I'm search of a local whiskey bar, we stumbled upon Locked Barrel. Cute place! Never even knew it existed. Food was delicious and variety of whiskey they had to offer was great. Unfortunately my GF and her husband wasn't satisfied with the whiskey flights she had...I know nothing about whiskey so can't really comment. The food was delicious. We had the chicken wings, kettle chips and dirty tots. The service was ok, surprisingly a bit slow with barely any customers. The waiter forgot one of our beers after waiting for a long while, we went up to the bar to remind him since he never came back to check on things. But then only to find out, they didn't have the beer. read more

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Came here during the week and was disappointed that they only had small plates/apps available. Otherwise, the vibe of the place and drinks were great. read more

Locked Barrel - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Not a true whiskey connoisseur, but I came here with a friend who definitely is. Even when it was busy, the place had a super chill vibe and we were able to hold a conversation comfortably. The bartender was incredibly friendly and personable, and we had some great conversations throughout the night. They were knowledgeable without being pushy, which I really appreciated. My friend ordered me a High Gold Derringer, and it turned out to be a great introduction for me. Smooth whiskey with just a touch of sweetness, and very easy to enjoy. I had a great time overall and will definitely be back to try something new from their huge assortment of whiskey options. read more

Locked Barrel - Bar area - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

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This review is for drinks only as I did not have a meal. The ambiance of this place is super unique. It appears that at the lower level there's an emptied pool, which is fun to look at. Service was quick and friendly, and the drinks were strong and well made. This spot offers a lower key, cozy vibe, that's nice to hang out in especially with it being so chilly outside read more

Locked Barrel - The last word and smokey old fashioned - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

Amazing bacon burger with seasoned fries everything tasted incredible fries were seasoned two perfect perfection. Crispy on the outside and fluffy warm on the inside. Burger was jampacked with flavor had plenty of sauce, a tad bit undercooked for my taste, but everything else tasted incredible read more

I really wish this business well. But to be blunt, it doesn't know what it wants to be. It's not a speakeasy. Is it a sports bar? I'm sure it wants to be a high end whiskey place. But it's not. From the shredded, plastic peeling bar chairs to the impossible to read online menu. Maybe don't stand on the same bar surface to reach high bottles where you are preparing drinks? The food options are beef or shrimp. Maybe focus on the available high end bottle rarities? Just having a lot of bottles doesn't make the place. read more

Locked Barrel - Is this the intended ambiance for your $100 whiskey pour? - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

This small and quaint pub is the best. The Cesar Salad is fresh and crisp with just the right amount of dressing. Be sure to try their tasty chicken wings. We had a side of freshly baked flat bread like no other! The service; what can I say, but EXCELLENT. Wait staff was there when needed and not over-powering. Polite and kind and professional. We kinda just stumbled onto Locked and Barrel on our way into the Fleetwood Mac Tribute (a must see) a bit early and boy were we surprised! Couldn't have found a better place if we tried. So next time we're back in SacTown (we're from San Jose), we are certainly coming back here. The guys. read more

Came for a drink with conference folks. Cool decor, cool history of the building and swimming pool. Nicest bar bathroom ever!!! Drinks were delicious too. Everyone enjoyed what they ordered read more

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Cool vibe, crazy pool converted into a vault, great selection of whiskeys. Very friendly service.

5 Stars "Smoked Old Fashioned Perfection" The Locked Barrel in Sacramento is the kind of place that surprises you--in the best way. From the moment you walk in, it's clear they take pride in what they do. Let's get right to it: the Smoked Old Fashioned is a game changer. Rich, bold, perfectly balanced, and the smoky aroma makes the whole experience feel elevated. It's not just a drink--it's a moment. If you appreciate a well-crafted cocktail, this one alone is worth the trip. The food backs it up beautifully. I tried the short rib grilled cheese with truffle fries, and it was everything you want in upscale comfort food--flavorful, filling, and expertly done. The vibe is polished but relaxed, the service is on point, and the bartenders are passionate about what they pour. Whether you're a whiskey connoisseur or just looking to treat yourself, this spot delivers. Quick hit: "That smoked Old Fashioned is worth the trip alone." read more

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This place is awesome. Visited recently for first time. Jerry was a pleasure to talk to, and wow great Whisky selection! Venue is intimate, bar is cool. Lots of potential. That corner has seen a lot of businesses come and go. I really hope they last! read more

Great find! Was a bit loud at first but got quiet as time went on. Drinks are good, ambience was good. Love the pool and all the bottles of hootch that is stored poolside. Did not realize this was an old elks lodge. Would come back. read more

Cute venue. Love the big indoor windows down to pool room. Yummy drinks. Staff was friendly and service was good. read more

Locked Barrel - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

This spot is a really chill place to spend your days after work! You can also plan to bar hop at this location when you're around the Golden 1 Center. They sell food in addition to their yummy cocktails. This place is beautiful inside, and you'd never expect it to have an interior this nice. The staff was engaging , and the owner even acknowledge us all during our work mixer here! read more

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What an amazing little find! Walking through downtown Sac looking for a drink and came upon Locked Barrel. The prices are amazing and the drinks are super good. There is a huge amount of incredible whiskeys and flights available. Worth a stop any single time you are downtown! read more

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Fantastic selection and extremely knowledgeable staff. The food is good as well and the atmosphere is fantastic. A real find downtown!

Our second visit to Locked Barrel did not disappoint. We wanted to experiment with some new flavors and revisit old favorites. The ambiance is reminiscent of prohibition speak easies with modern play lists. We were happily not surprised. Our first Happy Hour drinks were classic comforts. Moving from those to the house specials was full of taste. The Smokey Old Fashioned is not to be missed. My friends did some preselected whiskey flights. I did the custom flight of Barrel/Full strength Single Barrel selections and was surprisingly treated to some great whiskeys. As we finished our small bites, I asked our bartender, Dennis ,for a custom drink recipe and received exactly the drink I wanted. Locked Barrel is a great place for a new experience or a great place to revisit an old taste. read more

Locked Barrel - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

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The service here is amazing. The sole bartender and server (Dennis) took the orders on a saturday evening, made the fantastic drinks, came back to check on us several times and even took time to chat all while taking care of the other customers. This place has a lot of choices for whiskey..,they have all the other drinks of a full bar too but if you like bourbon this is a great place. The food menu looked good but we only came in for drinks. read more

Locked Barrel - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

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A hidden Gem! Sacramento's premier Whiskey Bar. 1920's style elegance aged to perfection. Must visit! read more

I just had a small party at Locked Barrel to celebrate my 50th birthday. The event planners, Sabrina and Rachelle, were great to work with! They answered my questions promptly and offered suggestions to help make my event exactly what I wanted. Everything went smoothly the night of my party. The bartenders were great servers and super friendly. We all had such a great time! read more

We were the first ones in here on a Thursday. We got there as soon as they opened up and had a place to ourselves. Soon as you walk in, you can see that it is relaxing and a cool place to chill. We ordered the burger in the state fritters, they were some of the best I have ever tasted. The whiskey selection is top notch, which means so much to try that I didn't even know where to start so I used it. Looked at their menu. We decide to go with a Dalmore Flight. It was $38 for four different whiskeys and they were worth it. Check out the pictures they tasted smelled and were some of the best whiskeys we've tried in a while. The service was awesome as well. We will definitely be back to try more whiskey, flights, food, service, and everything else. read more

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Erick was everything a bartender should be. Friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. Drinks and food were excellent.

I can't wait to bring share this new found love with my boyfriend!! Came for my monthly outing with a friend and we so enjoyed it. I let them know my Whiskey preference, and they came out with the perfect flight for me. One of them I loved so much I bought a bottle (pricy but worth it). To our surprise they had a small food menus so we were happy we didn't have to leave to go eat somewhere else. Even bigger surprise was how delicious the food was!! Wow. Loved their Kettle Chips with balsamic and basil (omitted the blue cheese), tots, and absolutely loved their strips!! They were out of wings, but the strips were perfect. One of the best customer service experiences I've had in a while! I loved the relaxing and warm atmosphere. Excited to go back! read more

Locked Barrel - House Single Barrel Flights! - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

Love the ambiance! And the bartenders are super friendly. Shout out to Pretty Ricky who made our drinks! read more

Locked Barrel - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Great happy hour cocktails and food! I'll definitely be back for more! Staff was friendly too! Enjoyed great service from "pretty Ricky"

My wife's and my favorite place! Awesome atmosphere, incredible bartenders, not overcrowded, amazing food. Visit, you won't be sorry! Unless you're a beer person, they only have a few of those... But they have a stupid crazy assortment of whiskey! :-) read more

Locked Barrel - Double burger and tots with an old-fashioned. Yes, it's as amazing as it looks. - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

Great service and staff is very knowledgeable. Food was amazing! Even the play list was on point. Highly recommend!

I didn't have the food, but my friend thought the sliders were great. Drinks were awesome. Great vibe and really friendly staff.

I got the fifth element and it was very good, definitely would get it again and the tots were pretty good as well. Very nice inside, looked cool. read more

Locked Barrel - The Fifth Element - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

I had a good time at this place. Food was okay for bar food. Drinks were good and there were so many options I was overwhelmed. It was a cool little vibe. read more

I love the look of this place! Gorgeous! Bartender was super friendly and very helpful! I highly recommend

Great experience. Went there this time to take advantage of the January 50% of you first pour deal. We got to try Pappy Van Winkel for the first time. Great service from Eric. Lots of recommendation! read more

Great selection of whiskeys. Also a very underrated stark house. Service was excellent.

Lowkey bar/lounge with great ambiance, good selection and fair pricing. Service was attentive without being overbearing and he made good suggestions. I don't love that they're only open a couple nights a week but it's a great little place to grab drinks before or after dinner when you're in the Midtown/downtown area. read more

Locked Barrel is an excellent place if you love bourbon, scotch and whiskey. Reasonably priced, with a well organized and easy use to menu of hundreds of standard and unique brands from all over the world. Eric was our guide and recommended a delicious bourbon we had never tasted. While we didn't try the food, the menu looks great. read more

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The Locked Barrel is becoming my go to bar. Ambiance is comfortable. I was too late for happy hour (2 to 6pm), but was presented a modest menu of other choices. I went with House Made pork Sausage. The kitchen does make their own sausage. A lot of kitchens do not do this. It was served hot with pickled vegetables: red bell and cabbage. Actually, I could have made a meal from these. Be advised, the sausage is REALLY spicy. To my pallet a 9.5! The portions of the veggies was about a Tablespoon. Way too little for the generous size of the two sausages. I couldn't finish the sausages because of the "heat." I didn't take them home either. I gave five stars for the entire experience. As the spiciness was disappointing, I still maintain my overall positive impressions. read more

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