Seven Grand
3054 University Ave. (North Park)
619-269-8820
Happy Hour: 5 to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday
Come On Get Happy! | Dr. Ink
The whiskey culture has dug its roots in the heart of North Park with a spacious bar festooned in taxidermy and sporting a collection of fermented grains spanning more than 300 labels. If you’ve witnessed the vast whiskey collection at the Aero Club Bar on India Street, the illuminated bottle display at Seven Grand carries equal opportunities for sipping on distillations by small and large producers from several continents.
As part of Los Angeles’ 213 nightlife group, Seven Grand barreled into town this summer, taking over the address formerly occupied by Bacchus House. Marked by scant signage and a black-and-white awning, the interior greets with a dimly lit, masculine élan that would make a group of whiskey-drinking deer hunters from Montana feel right at home.
Obliging to San Diego’s craft-beer scene, and more so, North Park’s insatiable thirst for micro brews, the bar also dispenses suds of local and European origins.
During happy hour, whiskeys are discounted by $2 per serving, while several specialty cocktails made with Old Crow Bourbon are sold at $5. In addition, drafts such as O’Hara’s Irish Stout, Lightning Elemental German Pilsner and Stone Pale Ale are priced comfortably at $4 a glass.
A “Julian sour” spiked with Old Crow was deliciously kicky. Though the Kentucky-brand bourbon is considered “bottom-shelf,” it fares well when combined with Lairds Apple Brandy and house-made apple syrup, of which the bartenders dispense from a lineup of squeeze bottles containing other flavored syrups. Fresh-squeezed lemon juice and a frothy egg white on top sealed the deal as the drink began jerking my equilibrium by the halfway mark.
If you prefer a citrusy punch to your bourbon, look no further than “Derby Days,” made with fresh grapefruit juice, honey syrup and mint leaves. Conversely, the “Sugar Shack” elevates Old Crow to a sweeter level, thanks to maple syrup and floral-tasting Yellow Chartreuse liqueur.
From the beer list, my cohort stuck to Monkey Paw Mandrill, a semi-malty IPA balanced by a mite of fruitiness. The bright, golden ale is among those in the offing brewed in our own backyard, in Downtown to be exact.
Seven Grand also caters to cigar smokers with a table-stocked patio, to which the bar’s faux antique lighting fixtures extend. Near the threshold is a windowed display case filled with whiskey-related bric-a-brac, all of it serving as a reminder that you’ve come to the right place for ryes, Scotches and bourbons.
RATINGS:
Drinks: 5
The whiskey list is extensive, featuring both top-shelf and affordable brands. Cocktails are made with precision, using house-made syrups and fresh-squeezed juices. And the beer selection quenches with a solid list of craft brews on tap.
Food: 0
Food isn’t available.
Value: 4
Beer and select cocktails are kept at neighborhood prices without exceeding $5. From the whiskey collection, nearly every label is discounted by $2.
Service: 5
The neatly attired bartenders are fast and professional.
Duration: 4
Happy hour occurs only on weekdays, although the 8 p.m. cutoff still allows you to seize the deals should you get snarled in rush-hour traffic.
