Old Lightning

Reviews

• Karly C.

  star star star star star 12 July 2026

  Wow. If you want to impress friends, a date, or just your taste buds/liver, this is the place. Came back to visit our old stomping grounds in LA and wanted to explore something unique and new to us. Read a few articles on Old Lightning and made a reservation (5p was the only time available when we booked a few weeks out, so book your rezzys as far in advance as possible!)
  
  We checked in with the hostess at the restaurant in front who directed us to stand under a vintage light bulb outside and someone would escort us to the speakeasy - the experience already had us feeling super cool!
  
  The Old Lightning hostess came to walk us to the entrance and gave us a brief but interesting overview of the menu/experience/history.
  
  It's a small dimly lit room with vintage liquor ads and mod furniture. They take your phones when you enter which makes for a totally immersive tasting experience - no distractions! The only bummer is not being able to document and make your friends insanely jealous haha! There is something for everyone's price point, though it's hard to resist the urge to splurge since they have rare liquors all around you. The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable, and share great stories from the bar or insights into the liquors they're serving you.

• Mel G.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 9 July 2026

  This place felt built for suckers.
  
  Afterwards, we decided they take phones so no one can google enough information to know most pours are a total rip-off. Some details are in order, and keep in mind they serve 1 ounce pours (aka a splash of whisky).
  
  To start, there are no entry level bottles. That is, they don't sell pours of anything most people would know the price of . . . in any category.  The tequila page doesn't have Patron Silver, no Jack in the whiskey, no Bulleit in the bourbon, no Del Maguey in the mezcal, no Nikka Coffee in the Japanese, and no Jameson in the irish whisky. Am I going to a specialty bar to drink any of those things? Hell no. But most spirits drinkers could judge whether the rest of the menu is a total rip-off from prices for baseline options like these.
  
  Instead, what we found was a massive quantity of barely off the beaten path liquor (mostly whisky) being sold for approximately a quarter to half the price of a bottle. Of course, your phone would apprise you of that detail if you had it.  And while I don't have a prolific knowledge of the entire selection by any means, seeing prices that were outrageous relative to the bottle price (or prices you'd be charged for a pour anywhere else in the world), I was certainly terrified of the upcharge on things I didn't recognize. And yes, I mean world, as someone who has traipsed through spirits bars from NY to Tokyo in the last year.
  
  Speaking of bottles I didn't recognize, good luck trying to pick one. The menu is alphabetical by distillery without any description of the spirits besides category. Want to know which of the Ardbegs tastes more or less like motor oil? Hope that's stored in your memory already. Customers are greeted with the direction that "most people" spend about $100-200 on flights. But forget it if you want to make an informed, meaningful decision before dumping that kind of "pocket change." No whisky Bible here, just throw some darts at the whisky wall.
  
  (Of course there's no menu online, so forget doing your research in advance.)
  
  So whatever: give up, order a $22 cocktail made with the rarest and finest Wild Turkey 101 (or maybe El Dorado 5 year for those rum drinkers out there), sip it from the finest thrift store glassware in town, and call it a night.

• Jeff C.

  star star star star star 7 July 2026

  This place is very cool if you are a bourbon lover.  If you don't know anything about bourbon, it's a good place to learn.  They have created a great space-NO CELLPHONES so you just concentrate on the people you are with, no distractions.  There is a good upscale vibe to the room.  It's super clear the staff cares a lot about their craft, and they are total geeks when it comes to bourbon. That's a benefit, not a bug-it's cool.  I love to see people get passionate about what they are doing.  
  
  They have so many different varieties, at so many different price points that it's really impossible to categorize.  If you want to spend a bundle, you can but if you want to spend $50 you can do that too and have a great experience.  
  
  They have cocktails, and they have tequila and some wine/champagne too. My wife had a cocktail and it was excellent.  I had a flight of three bourbons and it was fun.
  
  No food, just drinks.

• Criselda C.

  star star star star star 28 June 2026

  SIP your drink.  I failed at getting drunk here.  It would have been incredibly expensive if I had succeeded.
  
  I didn't have my phone so I used a pen and paper to capture my experience.
  
  All Bourbons samples were round full bodied (not flat) and tasted somewhat malty (except Old Charter), I'm guessing it's either the due to year released (when Scotch was King) or how old the open bottle is at this point (possible oxidation).  If malt flavor was due to mash bill then I would suspect mash bill was made up of 15% malt, as opposed to minimum 10% malt for NATURAL fermentation.
  
  1972 Ezra Brooks 7 year Straight Bourbon 90 Proof
  This is a high rye bourbon. Nose: maple syrup with some gingerbread.  Taste: somewhat oaky with cinnamon. First sips were delicious with all the pepper and grain and heat of an 90 Proof high rye.  It was a completely different bourbon when it opened up 20 minutes later.  Very Impressive!  
  
  1960s Hill & Hill Straight Bourbon 80 Proof
  I'm guessing it's a wheated bourbon.  Mild, easy, smooth.  Taste of a little saltwater and maple syrup, with a bitter finish at the back of the tongue. It's had character and I liked it!
  
  1970s Bourbon De Luxe 4 year, Kentucky 80 Proof
  Nose: high alcohol.  Taste: corn caramel, burnt toffee, vanilla, sugar cookies. I suspect this may have been low shelf back in the day.  I DON'T CARE.  I really connected with this one. 'My Cherie Amour' by Stevie Wonder was playing as I sang the lyrics softly at this bottle, 'My Cherie Amour . . . I wish you were mine . . . la la laah la la la . . . la la Laah la la LAAH.'
  
  1970s Eagle Rare Italian Export, reimported back to USA :P LOL
  --it doesn't taste vastly different from today's Eagle Rare. Timeless.  Delicious.
  
  1962 Old Charter 7 year Bourbon 86 Proof, Louisville Kentucky.
  This had an impressive decanter style bottle with matching decanter style screw top (example replica pic below). Could be enjoyed as an everyday bourbon. Very easy going. Reminds me of Evan Williams.
  
  BARTENDER GUS is a real pro.  He would be great to cast on BAR RESCUE. Just watching him work was mesmerizing and hearing him talk about spirits was hypnotic.
  
  I would return.  Completely different experience from Bar Jackalope.

• Josh T.

  star star star star star_border 24 June 2026

  Amazing hidden gem next to Scopa with the rarest whiskeys and bourbons around since prohibition! Small bar with about 10 stools - small lounge area for another 10 or so. Appointment only so snag yours quick!
  
  Gus was super knowledgeable and gave us history lessons on all our tastings! Two flights were plenty: American Bourbon flight and a Japanese/Taiwanese flight.
  
  Topped it off with the Smoking Gun egg-white cocktail which was UH-MAZING! Will definitely return for a small intimate gathering.
  
  Pricey side but great spot for celebration or special occasion! Will probably return for the cocktails - flights are anywhere from $100 and up (no real menu here - "dealer's choice").
  
  Also, they confiscate your phone. Don't worry, you get it back at the end.