In 1923, an industrious young man by the name of John J. Russell purchased the business as a “going concern” with it’s solid base of customers. With his connections to the most notorious bootleggers from Vancouver, BC., he operated his bar under the guise of “JJ Russell’s Cigar Shop” with no cigars in sight. The speakeasy managed to avoid the attention of the governments Prohibition Agents for the remainder of prohibition. History was on JJ Russell’s side, as it has been documented that a bar has operated at this Jones Street location since 1867.
Bourbon & Branch never ceases to amaze it’s libation experts with their cocktails as well as their selection of spirits.
In case you are wondering why the secrecy, the set of house rules that everyone is expected to follow is to maintain the “Speakeasy” portion of the establishment. The term comes from a patron’s manner of ordering alcohol without raising suspicion – a bartender would tell a patron to be quiet and ‘speak easy’. So namely, stay quiet, don’t be shifty, and also: no cellphones.
The bourbon selection includes the hand numbered (actually hand numbered, not just made to look like it was hand numbered) Noah’s Mill, Buffalo Trace, and Rittenhouse 21 Year. For scotch they have such rare gems as the Monkey Shoulder, Glenmorangie Margaux Finish (one of 1,200 bottles in the U.S.), and the Balvenie 1971. The rums and tequilas, however, are what they consider the very best and include the Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 Year and the Tapatio XA (not available in the U.S.). But they only have but one Canadian whiskey but considered the “greatest of all Canadian blends,” the Crown XR (only 7,500 cases produced). You get the picture.
// Bourbon & Branch, 501 Jones St, Tenderloin, bourbonandbranch.com
