Ok people, seriously? You're in a college town filled with young people, and you go to a college bar, obviously you'll meet some creeps. There's no reason why this place should lose out on points for living up to that stereotype. This place is spacious, so you'll have room for all of your "bump & grind" and whatever it is that young kids (LOL) do these days. The drinks are strong and cheap, which definitely seems to be a trend in Madison. The only problem I had with this place was the sticky floors and the clientele. There's nothing wrong with getting trashed and having some fun, but most people here are a bit too drunk. Expect to be bumped into a lot, mostly by obnoxious bros who don't have sorry in their vocabulary. read more

Went to Whiskey Jacks recently, I had been here a few times before and had hoped for a better experience.... Well that didn't happen. My better half and I get there about 945 after stopping at a few places on State Street like Mondays & The Tiki Bar. Walked into WJ and ordered some drinks. 1st drink was a blue uv with well sprite because WJ doesn't carry Mt. Dew, great guys what a start.... That will be $5.00. Wait your charging $5.00 for that drink that I just paid $4.00 for at the Tiki Bar and $3.00 at Mondays and both those places served it with Mt. Dew. What a joke. The place smelled like bleach and Pine Sol inside. The floors were sticky. Not my scene. About an hour later the cops show up and have 3 individuals detained. Great lets slow everyone down. The bouncers looked less than excited to be dealing with these idiots who had a few too many. A tip to WJ owners, Please offer some food, bring your drink prices down a little. Offer a wide variety of drinks and stop with the nasty smelling bar and I may come back. read more

DJ booth, pool table, arcade games, mechanical bull, long bar with a ton of stools, and spacious middle ground with tables and room for dancing (if you care to-most people dont). Definitely a recipe for a good time! read more

Had a great time and love the bull, but don't leave a tab open because they might lose your card.

Initially this establishment seems amazing. Billiards and games. But sadly you will find if you ever win big or win at all, they have a sneaky way of payout behind the bar and kick you out before you can. So short sighted. By far the best place to drink underage. They pretend. But everyone in there was damn young, no wonder it was packed. read more

I've never been treated more rudely as a paying customer. I left my card in the ATM and gave the bartender an expired card accidentally. She told me to give her my ID while I search for my card or leave. I told her I wasn't worried about the drink I just wanted to find my card. She then said since I made her pour me the drink I had to pay for it, when my only concern was for my card. She called security over who understood what I was getting at. Terrible service and entitled bartenders. No thanks read more

Favorite bar in Madison! A little on the pricey side but the mechanical bull is free and the dance floor is always a blast.

Good atmosphere, poor, slow service. Slow service and when we asked for food, He did not want to deal with it so we got Cold food (not microwaved long enough!) it was gameday at 2:30 but it wasn't packed so not sympathetic at all. read more

Fun atmosphere. Drinks are a bit on the pricier for the small size but have good specials sometimes. Large and roomy. Karaoke, pool, darts and the mechanical bull all add to the appeal and the line is usually reasonable even when lines at other nearby bars are not. read more

Doorman don't listen to their management. There is a racist doorman name Zac who is the only person who won't let me from something that happen about 5-6 months ago just taking everything to personal and having a power out rage. Went there to talk to the managers and they told me they will let me in went there yesterday and when I told the doorman zac about this he refuse to get his manager and let me in. He told me "I can't take your word for that" when I told him to call his manager he told me "if he doesn't know you are here we won't know I didn't let you in". Didn't want to deal with his childish behavior so we ended up going to the double u highly recommended and if you want a country bar that treats there paying customer good would highly recommend red rock. read more

The shot menu is amazing but the staff is unfriendly to say the least. Down right rude when the place starts to fill up. They take all the chairs away from the bar whether people are sitting in them or not! All the men seem over 21 but, about 1/3 of the women are not. Also, They advertise as a country bar but, the DJ played no country music. Just because you have wooden tables and floors and aluminum in your bathrooms that doesn't make you country read more

I ordered grilled boneless chicken wings. I was served microwaved chicken nuggets with grill marks pained on. I refused to eat it. It was a waste of money and time. read more

I asked for water & got cussed out by one of the security guards helping at the bar. Telling me this is a whiskey bar not a water bar then throwing lots of F bombs at me. Didn't know his name but he was the guy with the afro. I only give 2 stars because everyone else was super nice & the other security guards were easy on the eyes. I did like their shot specials. They have a ton of options. You do have to get two shots minimum of the same flavor doubling the price but I didn't think that was bad. It's a color coated price system ranging from $4-$6 each shot. They have a mechanical bull that looks cool & pool tables. read more

Oh how I wished I would've read reviews before the girls and I picked this place. Idk maybe I looked like I wanted to be grinded on (at least buy me a drink). After 45 mins we left, too many creepy guys and the music kinda sucked *maybe I'm just getting old lol read more

The employees at this bar are the most unprofessional people I have ever had experience with at a bar in Madison. My horrible experience started with a bartender, who literally threw ice at someone who was waiting for their check but not looking. They threw ice on a patron! Later that night my purse was stolen. I had set it down on the stage next to my friend and walked to the bathroom 5 feet away. Upon returning it was gone. Shortly later, at bar time, my friend and I were looking for my purse near the back of the bar when the bouncers started screaming in their usual rude-tone to "GET OUT OF HERE". I politely told them we were looking for my lost/stolen purse and was told that 'we had plenty time to look'. Ends up he grabbed my friend by her arms and carried her across the bar (a good 50 ft) to the door. She did not incite this attack, and told him she would walk out herself-yet he would not let go. She has DARK bruises on both arms. Come to find out that was the second purse stolen that night. I will not be going back to this bar and will tell everyone I know how horrible of an experience it was. read more

This bar is pure crap. A friend and I were in there for less than 10 minutes and were harassed twice. They have big ugly thugs watching the doors. Oh so welcoming. Not. All the red (even the pool table felt, ugh!) made us nauseous. Ignore all the spammy 5-star reviews. The only people who'd enjoy this bar are douche canoes. And, as a nearly-native Milwaukeean (does 12 years count?), this bar is NOTHING like Milwaukee, or Chicago. Puhlease. read more

I really want to like this place but I just can't. The crowd that hangs out here is just trashy. I have gone here a couple different times and have always been disappointed. I want to like this place because it has a great space, dance floor, pool tables, etc but the trashy stripperness needs to go. read more

The staff was very rude. They announced last call at 1:30 am. However, when I specifically asked what time they closed, the bouncer and bartender said 2 am. I continued to finish my drink, assuming we would be able to stay until closing time and finish our dart game. Instead, we were asked to leave at 1:40 am. I was mid-sip when the bouncer crushed my beer and spilled it on my new shirt. I was denied a refund. read more

They have to water down their drinks!!! I've been several times and always leave more sober than when I walked in. So if you like over priced water this is the place to be! It literally smells from the stench of nasty men who will try to make out with you on the dance floor. Seriously, men try to stick their tongue in my mouth every single time. They come up behind me on the dance floor. Go anywhere else!!! read more

Once the Pub always the Pub. Still a great place to get harassed by undesirables. Although I did give it one star MORE than the Pub because they did upgrade the paint and architectural conditions inside. Although getting better SLOWLY the service seems to be staffed by castoffs from other downtown places that didn't have the speed to make it at their old joints. I guess it just comes down to you can't polish a turd. read more

This place was below average, at best. Pricing was very high, and the bartender Tim was very snobby and didn't seem like he knew what he was talking about. Never again. read more

Used to be a regular to this bar for over a year. Had a bad experience one too many times. This one incident, I ordered a long island and got served in a smaller cup. I asked the bar tender why I was served in a small cup and that I always got a long island in the bigger cup. She ignores me. I ask to talk to the manger. A fellow bartender comes up ans says they now serve long islands in small cups. This was clearly not true as I had just had a long island half hour before that. The next thing I know is a bouncer comes up to me and says we have to leave the bar. We were a group of 5 guys. I ask for an explanation as to why I should leave the bar and I am held by my shoulder and taken to the door. They lost my business for ever. The bar itself is mediocre at best. The DJ is alright. The music is loud. Lot of country songs by bands that play on Saturday. Madison is a great place with tons of bars. They are better places than Whiskey Rivers Saloon. Avoid this bar if you can. read more

This bar deserves 0 stars. My first and only time going to this place was a horrible experience. All was fine until my boyfriend was pushed off the dance stage by Whiskey Jack's security, proceeded to fall flat on his face and spill his drink entirely on himself. Obviously embarrassed, and luckily not hurt (for Whiskey Jack's sake), him and I left having not finished our drinks. Within the next few days I attempted to communicate through Facebook involving the injustice I believe to have happened, including a post explaining the situation in its entirety. Whiskey Jack's simply deleted my comment on their page with no apology or message of any kind. What complete disrespect from a business! Also being in contact with the police regarding the incident, we later learned Whiskey Jack's has a strict "female-only on the dance stage" rule. Bull-$hit. I'm a male and I wasn't forced off the stage. If you're looking for a bar that treats you like a money-spending customer should be treated, this bar is the furthest from it. I still wouldn't step foot in the place and even to this day tell everyone this story. Word of mouth can help you or hurt you, and Whiskey Jack's shows this as I never hear anything good about this dump. Wouldn't recommend it, my money is better spent elsewhere, and I don't need an establishment to tell me who can go on a stage and who cannot when everyone is out to have a good time. Shame on Whiskey Jack's. read more

The bartender on Sept 8th, 9pm, short hair, literally told me to "go f**k myself" after I told him very politely that his wait times were way too long. There was only 5 people at this bar and I waited at least 5 mins to place my order and asked him 3 times to cash or while he sat and talked with other customers. I've never been so disrespected. I wasn't drunk and beligerant and I hope the owners review the camera footage. I'm always polite and have been to hundreds of establishments. This was outside of the norm. Never again. read more

The service is terrible unless you are an underage, half naked girl. We went out for a cigarette and they made us wait in the line to get back in, but the young girls who were also smoking got let right back in. The mechanical bull is a good time but go to Red Rock if you want that, it's better. read more

Terrible venue. All they are worried about is drawing the "right crowd". Attend to pull girls on stage to make it look more fun. Avoid at all cost. read more

Whiskey Jacks Saloon - No one wants to be here anyways - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Seriously great service , food and drinks...We were all blown away with the food - the pastrami and sauerkraut was awesome as well!! We'll be back - Party of 4 - all happy read more

Fun place and good music But can i just say how rude some of the bouncers are! Also what is the point of getting a stamp on your hand (saying that you paid your cover charge of $5 and your ID was checked) if when u step outside for fresh air etc. they wont let you back in right away but yet make you go back to the very end of the line to wait another 15 minutes to get to the front of the line just for them to wave you in right away! Literally the dumbest thing ever. VERY inconvenient for a PAYING customer if i say so myself. read more

Can I go lower than 1? I guess not. I waited in their line outside for 10 minutes patiently before getting kicked out for some reason like "disturbing the peace." Apparently talking to other patrons "violates" that if you're not the right type of minority- docile, doesn't put up a fuss, or doesn't agree that the white people they allow in are somehow less disagreeable. Great service that doesn't recognize a skin tone less than beige. read more

A place to get beer, drinks, pool tables, music, dance floor. It's spacious. Otherwise nothing exciting, but nothing I'd avoid either.

I want to say this is a typical college bar but I feel like even typical college bars can put Apple crown and cranberry in a cup and not make it taste like water? Somehow Whiskey Jacks did just that. My friends and I came the day before OSU was in town. It was around 8pm so it wasn't busy yet. We sat at the bar and the girl waiting on us seemed polite, but gave us terrible drinks. My buddy asked about one beer but she couldn't explain what it was but offered to give him a sample. He tried it, didn't like it and asked about a different beer on tap. She again couldn't explain if it was an amber, a lager, a stout etc. and she continues to patronizingly say I can't keep giving you free drinks. He said I don't want free drinks but it's hard to make a choice when you don't know what beers you have on tap. He went for a crappy Miller Lite to make it easy. We only stayed for one drink, but when we tried to cash out our bartender was no where to be found. We discovered she had left but I guess wasn't worried about cashing out with us... terrible bar. read more

Bartender didn't know how to make a Manhattan. I know I'm a college student, and she was probably expecting me to order shots, but there are some of us who want an actual drink. My drink was very watery. $6 for watered down drinks isn't right. Their Orange Juice was very muddy (I didn't order it but saw it come out of the dispenser). Place was very loud, and some of the bartenders seems pretty burned out and annoyed, even if though it was a Wednesday. read more

Good place to go if you want to get a good buzz. Drinks have a healthy pour. Service kinda depends on the time of night.

Great place for young 21 yr olds who want to pass out from drinking too many fruity hangover inducing shots.

Walked in around 11am after the Shamrock shuffle to get a drink and warm up. It was pretty clean and very big with a large beer selection. We got Bloody Mary and a fuzzy navel to start and switched to green beer. I can't comment what it is like at night but I'd be happy to go there again during the afternoon on a weekend for a drink. The bartender was alone and busy but did ok. read more

I'd say the place is pretty cool. It's very different than a lot of the places around it. It reminds me heavily of a bowling alley or sports bar(more like Pooley's than anything in the area.) The live music sounds cool and the dance floor is a cool idea. The main problem I've had is the drinks -- there is not enough specials and its hard as hell to get a drink in the first place! There is also a minimum on the card that you must spend which .. I don't know, I don't think I can spend enough here on drinks to enjoy it :) read more

Stopped by after dinner on Friday with my family & had a good time. Very large bar that had live music. I liked that there was enough space for you to talk & hang out, shoot hoops & even dance. Bartenders were great all night. read more

This a perfectly fine place to stop for a cold brew on a sweltering day. It seems funny that such a cavernous place could be so empty, but I guess it's the night crowd they're after...and based on previous reviews, I'll avoid that like the plague. My only complaint is that the floor is so sticky in places that I literally lost a flip-flop. However, with its window bar seating, this is now tied for Irish Pub for best people watching spot. read more

This is a fun college bar with a Good DJ playing the full gambit of musical genres until 10ish. Then it was a decent cover band. The pool tables are up front, the dance floor in the back. Fin read more

Despite being a hangout for the drunk and the disastrous, Whiskey Jack is a pretty solid place to grab a drink. As a young, female, college student, it's fun to head to a bar where there's a dance floor and where there's also a place to sit and hang out. The bar is pretty standard, and the staff is pretty normal, so it's a good place to go for cheap drinks and dancing. read more