Peek inside Tacoma's Big Whisky Saloon

By Ron Swarner on May 1, 2010

WHISKEYS, ROCK 'N' ROLL AND COWBOY HATS >>>

Whiskey has always been the drink of dangerous men - cowboys - the ultimate macho accoutrement. Whiskey is what mom warned you about, and there has never been anything dainty about drinking the stuff. In accordance with myth, whiskey is to be belted back in a quick, neck-snapping gesture, from a shot glass or straight from the bottle, by those who are tough enough to take it. 

You can now test your manliness at the new Big Whisky Saloon at the corner of Ninth and A Street in downtown Tacoma. The country music joint that opened last night in the spot that once housed Cans Tacoma - and 53 other restaurants, or so it seems - has dubbed itself a "Whisky Bar" carrying more than 50 whiskeys from around the world.

Yup, no "e." According to a press release, co-owner Roger Rahill who has dual citizenship with Canada "came up with the concept, name and the logo and preferred the Canadian spelling of whisky."

Rahill and business partner Jon Tartaglia (Varsity Grill, The Loft, 21 Commerce) want to make it clear that while the 6000 square foot venue does have a country feel to it with a whisky barrel wall, a true hardwood dance floor, a mounted moose head, staff donning cowboy hats and skimpy jean shorts - plus General Manager Paul Muller came from McCabe's American Music Café - they will play a mix of country and rock via music videos and DJs.

"Roger and I have been dreaming of the country and rock concept for a long time," Tartaglia told me yesterday just after opening the doors. "Funny, Cans was just finding its legs, gaining a large crowd, but we really wanted to open this kind of joint."

Last night's opening saw a mixture of country music fans and folks waiting for the Comedy Underground show to start, which has been housed in the building's basement for years.

"Country and comedy are a natural fit," Tartaglia explains. "Typically, a majority of the comedy crowd comes from Puyallup, Sumner and Orting."

Right now, food consists of burgers, nachos, fries, tater tots and such. A giant projector screen is also on it's way soon.

Big Whisky Saloon will host a Brooks & Dunn pre-concert party with 100.7 The Wolf tonight.

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