Which Pensacola bar deserved a spot on Paste BN's Bars of the Year 2025? We asked, you answered
- Paste BN's Bars of the Year 2025 list was published on July 30, highlighting 29 of the best bars in the country.
- While Pensacola didn't appear on the list, we asked our readers to vote on which bar they felt deserved a spot on the list.
- Out of the 15 popular Pensacola bar options we provided for the vote, Old Hickory Whiskey Bar prevailed.
When Paste BN’s Bars of the Year 2025 list rippled through the nation on July 30, we couldn’t help but reflect on all the unique Pensacola area bars the city has to offer that could have held their own on the list.
We have everything from vintage arcade bars to secret speakeasies, open-air beach bars to dimly lit dives. So, we decided to ask our readers – which one would you have liked to see land a spot on the list?
We identified 15 of the Pensacola area’s favorites, compiling reviews from websites such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google to get the conversation started, then asked our readers to vote.
The results? Drum roll, please….
While we received a mixed array of results across the 15 fan-favorites, Old Hickory Whiskey Bar was able to lock it down in the end, securing 18% of the total vote.
What is Old Hickory Whiskey Bar?
Old Hickory at 123 S. Palafox St. leads the way in whiskey, offering over 750 varieties in a dim-lit, sexy and sleek bar in the heart of downtown Pensacola. Seasonal drinks are supreme at Old Hickory, whether it's their peach tea-infused Summer Old Fashioned or a Christmas pop-up drink when the bar transforms into a hauntingly whimsical Nightmare on Palafox.
Old Hickory was named after U.S. President Andrew Jackson, whose personal residence was just across the street from the bar. “Old Hickory” was Jackson’s nickname in battle, and he became the namesake of the popular Palafox Street bar owned by Katie Garrett and managed by Joe Couture.
While hundreds of whiskey bottles are shelved to the ceiling and can certainly be enjoyed and appreciated on the rocks, there are a variety of cocktails that allow Old Hickory’s mixologists to shine.
The bar’s flagship drink, however, The Old Hickory, comes prepared with Larceny Bourbon, sweet and dry vermouths, Angostura bitters in a smoked glass, with an optional $22 upgrade to Larceny Barrel Proof Private Select.
If you’re looking for something a little simpler, they deliver light and refreshing summer seasonal cocktails. Here are a few standouts on rotation right now:
- Tropical Crush: 360 Vodka, house-made tepache, lychee, pineapple, and lime. ($12)
- 5 o’clock Somewhere: Coconut-infused Don Q Rum, Siesta Key Rum, Licor 43, Borghetti, coconut, and cold brew. ($13)
- The Tourist: 30A Rosemary Beach gin, Luxardo maraschino, Campari, watermelon, and pineapple. ($12)
- Hickory Hurricane: Woodinville Rye Whiskey, velvet falernum, chinola passion fruit and strawberry. ($13)
- White Wedding: Worthy Park Jamaican Rum, Blue Chair Bay Rum, orgeat, coconut, aloe water and cherry rum syrup. ($12)
Want to visit? Old Hickory’s Google hours are listed as 2 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, and from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. For real-time updates and information, follow Old Hickory Whiskey Bar on social media or check out their website at oldhickorywhiskeybar.com.
Hungry for more? Stay updated on the latest restaurant news by subscribing to our free Pensacola Eats newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign up for the newsletter at profile.pnj.com/newsletters/pensacola-eats/.