A Char is Born
Brooklyn's Hidden Whiskey Palace

Slightly mad and mildly obsessed are traits usually reserved for celebrity stalkers, evil geniuses and stamp collectors.

But when the obsession revolves around whiskey, and the madness involves building a bar around the city's—and maybe the country's—largest whiskey list, you'll gladly play along.
 
Welcome to Char No. 4, a hidden whiskey palace in Carroll Gardens, soft-opening Friday.

You may have to cross a bridge or two, but for a collection of more than 300 whiskeys (Tennessee, corn, Japanese), bourbons (wheated, mashbill), ryes and scotches, you can scratch all your whiskey itches in one cozy, Southern-tinged space. The menu's set up for tasting, so go looking to try some new flavors (like Georgia Moon corn whiskey) or visit some old friends (Jack, Jim, Pappy Van Winkle). There are even bourbon cocktails if you feel like a change of pace, but you probably didn't come here for the Kentucky Sparkler...

Of course, if you're going to get as many tastes as you can, you'll want something in your stomach to keep your wits about you. The fare here is mostly Southern barbecue and bar bites like the Cornflake-Crusted Fried Oysters with Bacon Remoulade or the Dr. Pepper-Glazed Short Ribs, in case you want a taste of a slightly less complex beverage.

It'll be the first time you've used short ribs to cleanse your palate.