The Whiskey opens in Savannah: Elegant, inviting, and down to earth.

By Vanessa Lantos Daly (Spicy Melon)

Oct. 8, 2024 – Losing Whitaker’s Bar was heartbreaking for the local community. It wasn’t just the games, the neon fixtures, the worn-out furniture, or the curtains of lights down the hallway.

It was the staff and their charm.

The energy of that place was amazing. It was a favorite of locals and service industry workers after their shifts. The dim lights and corner tables made it the perfect last stop for the night after a date.

All the memories… or lack thereof. I half-remember playing oversized Jenga and pool after an unknown number of shots, crawling on all fours trying to find the missing Jenga piece. That pool room in the back with the graffiti, white fluorescent lights, and broken pool table—it looked like an undeclared murder scene.

That bar was iconic, exuding its own divey, sultry magic.

Old tricks, new digs

When visiting “The Whiskey” for the first time, I was thrilled to find the bar manager was Donnie Pomykala, a great friend, native Savannahian, and local bar manager and mixologist for over 20 years. Donnie has a big following around town and is known for his inventive cocktails and use of natural ingredients.

I’ve known Donnie for years and was part of his following at Whitaker’s Bar. When you frequent a bar long enough, you make a connection with the bartenders, learn about their lives, and become friends.

It’s a special kind of relationship—very akin to the Cheers sitcom song line: “…Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came…”

Suddenly, going to The Whiskey felt like visiting old friends at their shiny, brand-new house.

Located at 224 West Bay St., the Whiskey is owned by Arthur Rudy Gasdik, who also owns Black Rifle Coffee Shop, Frosty Frog Express, Rusty Rudder’s Tap House on River Street, and the original Christmas Store on River Street. Rudy has been in business in downtown Savannah for about 40 years.

Donnie shares: “Rudy reached out to me when Whitaker’s closed. I really like everyone in the company. They treat you like family, and they’re locally owned.”

Approachable luxury

After sitting at their bar for just a few moments, what stands out—beyond the beautiful atmosphere and furnishings—is the crisp, fresh ingredients and the luxurious yet approachable cocktail menu. At the moment, their most expensive cocktail is $15, which is their signature Georgia Peach Boulevardier. This cocktail is crafted with their very own “The Whiskey’s Knob Creek single barrel select,” peach-infused Campari, and red vermouth—a classic with a peachy twist and high-quality, unique ingredients.

Similar cocktail experiences around town start at $15 and go upward to over $20. Donnie shares that while they don’t cut corners with their ingredients, they aim to keep things reasonable and approachable. I’d call it approachable luxury, especially when you look at the fresh garnishes and specialty ice.

It’s also a great place to just have a beer and a shot. Donnie and the bartenders mention that they welcome service industry folks to make this one of their watering holes. A very polished and nice-looking hole, if you will.

Having spent years as a mixologist and bar manager, Donnie shares: “We’re really big on making as much as we can in-house—fresh juicing, house-made syrups, and a lot of infusions on the menu. Fresh, high-quality ingredients. We specialize in craft cocktails but also have a good beer selection and curated wine list. We try to offer something for everyone who walks in the door.”

He reflects on the name: “With a name like ‘The Whiskey,’ you’ve gotta have a huge whiskey selection. We went to the Knob Creek Distillery and came up with our own signature blend using the owner’s last name, so it’s called Gasdik Select and clocks in at 120 proof.”

The finest pool and ice

For all you appreciative patrons of high-quality ice, The Whiskey sources theirs from Savannah’s Crook Factory. This is Greg Thornton’s project, and it shows how serious a bar is about their cocktail program. They purify water to remove sediments, silt, sand, rust, and other suspended particles down to five microns. Their freezing process forces all the remaining minerals and inert gases to the surface, leaving behind the cleanest, clearest ice for clients.

The decor and theme of the space is classic upscale rustic. Their two brand-new pool tables look gorgeous, and if you’ve been playing pool around town for a while, it’s a special thing to play on a new one with that brand-new-car smell and feeling floating around.

The espresso for their espresso martinis is sourced from Black Rifle Coffee Shop, also owned by Rudy.

The Whiskey will operate solely as a bar and lounge, with no food menu in the plans. This lounge is a fantastic place to bring a friend for a drink, a client for a high-end whiskey after dinner, or a date for a signature cocktail and a game of pool.

I was also happy to see Caleb Napier as one of their bartenders, who I also knew from Whitaker’s. He shared his experience: “I’ve known about this—it’s been in the works for like two years. I knew it was going to be a craft cocktail bar. Obviously, everyone knew Whitaker’s; it was a big deal in terms of local community. We were great at Whitaker’s but could never get the support we needed. Whereas with this company, they’ll do everything and anything for us. They’ve given us anything we could ask for. They truly support the vision.”

Happy bartenders are always a good thing

Everyone seems really happy with the move, and it makes me wonder what really matters. Whitaker’s was always busy and had a loyal following, but we, the guests, would just see the smiling bartenders and the spell of tipsy possibilities.

Often, the reality behind the curtains is a bit more grim. Caleb shares: “It was the little things. If the soda gun stopped working, we had to run and buy sodas, keep the receipts, etc. It was a whole ordeal. Here, we can just work with our local partners and are never lacking. We have businesses owned by the same company around us and are supported. They’ve given us all the tools to create an inspired cocktail program and be the best versions of ourselves.”

This is also a lot easier since the owners are local. Whitaker’s owners were from South Carolina.

He also mentions an impressive selection of Irish whiskey offerings: “The Dingle or RedBreast collections we have are amazing. There are a couple of things here you don’t see that often.”

The excitement about the shiny new pool tables doesn’t escape him either: “It’s also worth mentioning that those pool tables are perfectly leveled, and those balls are perfectly polished. Plus, it’s only $1 a game, and throughout the city pool prices are higher—some places charge almost $2 a game.”

I feel like Rudy has created a treasure in the making with The Whiskey. From Donnie to the bartenders to the space, it was a wonderful experience all around. A happy staff makes for a great experience for anyone who ventures a visit.

Future plans for Rudy’s portfolio of businesses include opening “The Mercantile” below the Alida, which promises to be a beautiful wine bar mixed with a general gourmet store. So stay tuned!

I highly recommend a visit to The Whiskey—and have a cocktail for me.

Love always,

Vanessa Lantos Daly

Editor’s note: This article has been updated from the original version to correct the spelling of Arthur Rudy Gasdik’s name.