The Whiskey House - Guinness World Record Collection Of Over 4,000 Whiskeys!
Tucked into the heart of San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter lies a whiskey lover’s paradise unlike any other on Earth—The Whiskey House. Holding the Guinness World Record for the most commercially available whiskeys—over 4,000 and still growing—this unassuming yet extraordinary bar is more than a drinking destination; it’s a living museum of spirits from every corner of the globe. At the helm of this record-breaking operation is General Manager Austin Swint, whose passion for hospitality and deep knowledge of whiskey culture have helped shape The Whiskey House into an internationally renowned experience. In this exclusive interview, Delivery Rank sits down with Swint to explore what it takes to run a bar of this magnitude, how the team curates its ever-expanding collection, and why The Whiskey House is not just a bar—but a story in every pour.
With over 4,000 whiskeys in your collection, how do you curate new additions and ensure the list stays exciting and relevant for both connoisseurs and casual drinkers?
With around 4600 labels of whiskey, we don't really need to work on the list to be excited because it is far larger than any patron (both connoisseur and casual drinker) have ever seen. However, we are constantly trying new offerings from current distilleries as well as staying current with new and exciting distilleries hitting the market. We will typically bring in new offerings from well reputed and established brands without tasting because we know and trust the brand. However, for brands that are new to us we insist on sampling to ensure that the quality is a good fit and will make a good contribution to our catalogue.
Are there any rare or particularly unusual bottles in your collection that come with a great story?
That's a bit of a loaded question! Pretty much every distillery has an amazing (and often historical) story behind how it came to be. We also have a lot of rare, limited, and small production brands. That being said, I'll stick to a brand with a story that will relate to the heavy military presence in San Diego. Operation Task Force Dagger is an operation that took place immediately after 9-11 in Afghanistan. The story was made popular by the movie starring Chris Hemsworth called 12 Soldiers and recounts the story of 12 green berets getting air dropped into Afghanistan and fighting Taliban forces on horseback due to the significant terrain challenges. They were later referred to as the Horse Soldiers. In 2015, some of the surviving members were in Idaho and came across a small distillery called Grand Teton Distillery. The experience inspired them to get educated and trained in the craft, and they eventually created their own distillery called American Freedom Distillery in Kentucky. They have been producing the award-winning brand Horse Soldier for a few years now and as far as I'm concerned that's one of the best American whiskey stories out there.
Your menu includes house-made sausages and fresh-ground burgers—how do you approach whiskey and food pairings at The Whiskey House?
Our entire dinner menu is designed with food that has bold and savory flavors that will pair with (and will not be overpowered by) whiskey. Our staff is well trained and can not only point you in the right direction to find a whiskey that you will enjoy based on your style preference, but they are also great at suggesting food that will go great with that whiskey recommendation. Some of our food is actually touched with whiskey; try our Pecan-Bourbon Brownie!
How has the San Diego community, especially the Gaslamp crowd, influenced the vibe and evolution of The Whiskey House?
They have both greatly contributed to our success and longevity! Although we have always had a lot of patrons joining us while in town for a convention or vacation, the key to our consistency and continued success is from our locals. Everyone knows that we have the best Happy Hour in town, so we have a lot of regulars that visit us two or three times a week before hitting the Gaslamp or a Padres game at Petco Park. We also get a lot of people joining us after dining downtown looking for a nightcap. Lastly, we are fortunate to have been here for ten years so most of the hotels know what we have to offer and graciously send their guests our way.
What whiskey trends or innovations are you most excited about right now—whether it's production methods, barrel aging, or regional experimentation?
I'm always amazed at how the beverage industry and trends continue to adapt and grow based on demand. Whiskey is in a great place right now (and has been for a while) with more and more people expanding their comfort zones (and palates) into the whiskey segment. We get several people daily that come in with a friend or spouse that are looking for insight for beginner tips. This is a great sign that the segment will continue to grow. Whiskey is the most diverse spirit in the world. That makes me excited for the future of whiskey because, as long as the segment has growth, we will continue to see it evolve. Some of the newer, recent trends are growth in the smaller producers (even locally, like Fierce & Kind), and we are also starting to see barrel finishes grow into some more obscure woods like virgin Spanish oak, wild cherry, and walnut.
To read more about The Whiskey House, please visit https://www.thewhiskeyhousesd.com/