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Whisky River
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Nightlife Bars Lounges Music Venues, Lounges [Edit]
EpiCentre210 E Trade St, Ste A-208
Charlotte, NC 28202
Neighbourhood: Uptown
(704) 749-1097
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 5 pm - 2 am
Sun 12 pm - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Valet
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Touristy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
51 reviews for Whisky River
Review Highlights
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"The dance floor is huge & always crowded." In 10 reviews -
"But I'm a whiskey drinker and there's no notable selection..." In 5 reviews -
"...find that Whisky River is not a shrine to Dale Earnhardt Jr." In 3 reviews
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51 reviews in English
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Review from Rebecca R.
Durham, NC
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
We have come here a few times and have always had a great time. The free bull rides are great and the guy that runs it is really friendly. (if you want to stay on a while make sure to put on a show on the bull).
This was the first time we've made it on the dance floor. It was packed. If you like being crammed in to dance then this is a great place. I personally don't like such a packed floor but it was still a good time. -
Review from Kelly M.
5/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went here Saturday night with some friends. We were visiting from Raleigh and knew that the EpiCenter was the place to go. I checked the reviews on this place and it didn't look too promising, but everyone else wanted to go ride the bull and dance, so I followed suit. The cover is $7 on a Saturday night which in my opinion is WAY too high for a place that charges so much for their drinks. I got a vodka cranberry and my boyfriend got a beer, and it was $10.50. wow. Thankfully because I checked in I got in for free as part of their check in offer. SCORE!
Anyways, the place was absolutely packed, there were people everywhere and it took forever to get around. Fortunately they had beer coolers set up around the bar, and there was two bars with quick bartenders, so getting a drink wasn't too difficult.
We got in line for the bull first. Now I've ridden the bull in Raleigh at City Limits, and its a good time. After seeing the way its ran at Whisky Rivers I decided to opt out of the adventure. First off the man who is running it makes it very obvious who he thinks is attractive and who he doesn't. The girls who he didn't have the hots for were thrown off after a few seconds. The more attractive girls were up there forever, the bull barely moving expect for vibrating, which of course made the whole experience look completely provocative. There were a few guys who got up there, although it was mostly just drunk girls.
After exiting the line for the bull we went to the dance floor. The DJ was playing good dance music, top 40s with a few country songs thrown in here and there. I had a good time dancing to the music but it was difficult because there were people bumping into us every few seconds, which is to be expected at a place like this.
Girls, the bathroom only had three stalls, they don't restock the toilet paper and the line moves very slowly. Be Warned.
Needless to say this isn't the most fun I've ever had a dance club, but it was a good time. If you are looking for that crazy loud, crowded club scene, this is your place on a Saturday night. -
Review from Maddy E.
Cornelius, NC
4/25/2012
Mega sausage fest. Literally 95% guys.
I came on a Tuesday night for the bikini contest (I was in it....I'm a Ms Bikini compeditor but didn't even place...this contest is RIGGED! Haha the other girls weren't close).
I think it had something to do with not being a regular, but the extent of the rigging was painful- these other girls spent way too much time at Pizza Hut. The other contestants that should have won were also immediately cut...they didnt even try to cover up the rigging! Looking at past pictures, winners are total WR bar flies. Gotta pay your dues I guess?
So hot chicks- if you want to enter the Boots and Bikini contest.....its FREAKING RIGGED....so don't bother. Girls that win are flabby because they must be sleeping with the "judges". I also think you have to be shorter than the DJ guy to win so photos look good, so again hot girls don't try unless you're under 5'4"...and sleeping with the judges. And it so happens the winners are mostly industry girls...WEIRD!!! Haha shocking.
Nice try Whiskey River, your crap ass contest is bull since the girls that win are dating the DJ...and/or the MC...and/or the entire panel of judges.
I will never be back. Unfortunately I had lots of fun before you rigged the bikini contest.
WR- You should treat the ONLY good looking girls that come in to your bar better, cause youre only reelin in the teenie bopper girls that could stand to lose 20lbs. Yum. -
Review from SUSAN V.
Matthews, NC
5/18/2012
If you want to overpay for drinks in a mostly dead venue, then get physically threatened by the manager and bartender for knocking over a beer bottle in their filthy disgusting bathroom, then this is the place for you. Otherwise, AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!! TERRIBLE!!
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Review from Drew P.
Charlotte, NC
4/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
No cover, live band, and plenty of room at the bar. Yay me!
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Review from Bruce K.
3/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Young hotties all around and a racket loud enough to burst your ear drums. If you're into that, then this is the place for you! Thumpa-thumpa-thumpa.
$7 cover at midnight on a Saturday. I can't tell you how much the drinks are, because I didn't have any. I ended up here following a friend. -
Review from Tiffany L.
Charlotte, NC
2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I feel like there are three things important for a club: music, crowd, and drinks.
Whiskey plays decent music. Some days better than the others depending on the DJ. The crowd is alright too. I feel like if you go with a good group of friends, even the worst club can be super fun. The drinks are not bad, decently priced.
It's pretty casual and it's a big space right in the middle of the EpiCenter.
My advice: get a fun group of friends and you are all set! -
Review from Adrienne S.
Freeport, NY
5/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
riding the bull
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Review from Andrew H.
Charlotte, NC
2/13/2012 1 photo
You know...I really expected to hate this place. I really, truly did. Whiskey River epitomizes the EpiCenter in all its douchebaggery. However, being a fair and objective Yelper, I can only comment as to my specific experience at Whiskey River. And it really wasn't that bad.
My lack of distaste for Whiskey River likely had much to do with the crowd (or in this case, lack thereof). My friends and I came here on a Wednesday night (after watching the epic Duke-UNC game at CAH...review tie-in) and the place was deader than Terri Schiavo! I mean there were only like 5 other people in the whole bar. In most places, this would have likely been a bad thing. However, at an establishment which is usually proliferated with Ed Hardy wearing tool-boxes, in this case it was a good thing. My buddy (a former Duke swimmer) was pumped from his team's fluke win and bought us all a round of shots (the bartender, a Duke fan, even gave him a free one). The drinks were what they were. I didn't purchase any cocktails, so I can't comment. The female bartender was polite and friendly (although she was likely bored). That said, the DJ was a joke. He was pumping some hella weaksauce generic mixes, and simply fraternizing at the bar most of the time. One of our friends is a huge Skrillex fan, so he asked the DJ to play some specific requests. I don't know if the guy ever even did.
Oh yeah, and yes, there is a Mechanical Bull. Ladies...how do I phrase this kindly? If you are, shall we say, in inadequate shape and wearing tight-fitting clothing, you might want to avoid the Bull. Well, at least if you value your self-respect. Ah, who am I kidding! If you're at Whiskey River, you probably lost that a long time ago. -
Review from Chrissy H.
Boston, MA
1/21/2012
This place is pretty big compared to all the other clubs at the EpiCentre. It seemed like a more casual place compared to Suite when I was there. The crowd was very diverse. All ages from the 20's college kids to the grandmas. All sorts of nationalities here too but it seemed like they were all segregated, occupying different sections of the club.
The drinks and music were OK. This place was pretty AVERAGE. If I were to think of or describe the most average club in the world, this place would fit the bill perfectly. Does that make it boring? YES, I wouldn't come back unless someone paid me to!
The one good thing that happened to me was that I rode the mechanical bull and killed it. That's how good I am! ;-) -
Review from Michael E.
Asheville, NC
12/1/2011
This place is fun, but really more of a college aged crowd. And to counter Melissa......ALL WOMEN SHOULD GET ON THE BULL.....more than once would be best *evil grin*.
It should be a stop off among many in a night of partying......if you approach this place that way you should have a good time! -
Review from Brian A.
9/7/2011
A terrific place to measure how drunk you buddies are. Would a self-respecting sober man ride a mechanical bull? No? I didn't think so.
The amazing thing about this place is that you never know the type of crowd that may be there. Football crowds, twenty somethings, thirty/forty somethings, rednecks, Jersey shore wannabe douchebags, bikers, accountants...whoever.
The drinks aren't bad and the prices aren't outrageous...not great...but not that bad. The music isn't something I'd particularly play...but it seems to keep the lemmings happy. -
Review from Kimberly M.
Phoenix, AZ
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Not a fan. Crowded.. Can't get to the dance floor.. Some girl in the shortest, tightest shorts dancing the SAME grind while 60 year olds stare ... mmm??? Bathrooms in bars like this.. No words. It's a story amongst stories. The later the night gets.. the better it becomes.. Took me 20 minutes to get from point A to point complete in the womens restroom.. As I waited.. the random youngster runs past line.. holding mouth... random friend following youngster runs after her. Girl behind me bumps me..says some 'mf' stole her jacket while she road the bull.. Did I see? ( No cougar ville.. I saw ur butt tho hanging for the world to see while u tried to ride some mechanical bull... G O A W A Y).. attendant.. curses at puking girl.. I just want to use the restroom.. AND leave . Fast. NOT my place..
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Review from Gabrielle L.
Lakeville, MN
2/12/2012
Terrible service. Very unprofessional would never go back. Chose a different location in the epicentre if you want a good time and to be treated well.
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Review from Becky M.
Charlotte, NC
8/25/2011
I think my review is based mainly on the fact that I'm over the age limit to be in here. We came about a month ago with some friends to go dancing. We got all decked out, had too many drinks at home and off we went.
The place is so crowded you can't move on the dance floor at all. My husband is almost 6'5" and kept getting ran into by teeny tiny girls who had no regard for their surroundings or people around them.
After about an hour of this we headed out to another bar with less people and more room.
Bottom line - if you are under 25, or out on the town for a bachelorette party this is the place to be...ride the mechanical bull, dance in uncomfortable confines and shoes....regret it in the morning. If not, head somewhere else! -
Review from Hugo G.
Las Vegas, NV
6/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Don't remember all very well but I know it's more of a young relaxed crowd that frequent this club. Whisky River comes with a country vibe to it. I first came in here back in '08 or '09 with some friends in which I got us a table and had a fun time dancing and watching drunk chicks get on some mechanical bull they have in there yeah fun time.
Now, move forward to 2011. After hanging out at Kazba which turned out to be a let down, I tried to get into this club with friends from NC.
Got to the door and my friends were fine to go in but not me. The guy at the entrance didn't believe my Nevada ID was real. Informed him I was visiting from LV. He asked me what's the address on it and before I could tell him, he said no, you're not getting in with this... haha dude cracked me up!
The trip to charlotte ended up being a total disaster anyways. Spent a good deal of money on flight, hotel and general fun expenses and I didn't even get dropped off at the airport by a person I flew to see. That ought to tell you what kind of weekend it turned out to be. I was in the twilight zone, what a bummer. -
Review from Lauren W.
10/16/2011
While in town on a work trip - we stopped by here for some free drinks with a local VIP. We were with a bit group and had a great time. Slightly odd that I got my blue moon in a tiny drinking glass because they had no regular sized glasses.
i would have totally rocked the mechanical bull - if i wasn't with my boss and colleagues. next time whiskey river, next time! -
Review from Keyshaun S.
Buffalo, NY
I personally don't really do the club scene anymore but I had to go here because they have a mechanical bull that's free to ride. Besides that the drink prices are what you would expect in a club. They have a huge dance floor as well.
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Review from Melissa B.
Charlotte, NC
2/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Calling all cheeseball 20 yr olds find your Ed Hardy shirts or your plaid button-downs tucked into your faded jeans. Seriously. Ladies dont get on the bull. It just isnt hot. Period. I dont care how hot or drunk you are, it is just embarrassing....horrifying....if your mother could see you now...you would be in BIG trouble young lady!
The only thing I can say positive about this place is that they have my beer there and you get a lot of free drinks because the VIP lounge looks down on the bar by the dancefloor. Just know what you are getting into when you walk in the door. Ug! -
Review from Dave T.
Raleigh, NC
9/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I give it 4 out of 5 for the entertainment and diversity of the Party-Goers. This place rocks in so many ways, Junior has an asset here for sure. This definitely not a place for Site-See'ers...you need to come single and prepared to mingle.
They have mechanical bull riding, two bars, couple of drink bins, and a large dance floor that shakes under your feet from so many people. PLEASE GET A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER TO LOOK OVER THE FLOOR!
You definitely will get pulled into the partying if you come. -
Review from John S.
Charlotte, NC
4/3/2011
Don't waste your time. Overpriced, boring, and full of drunk grenades. Customer service is awful.
My buddy and I decided we would go since they were offering free cover before 11pm. We arrived 10 minutes after 11, and although our whole party had arrived, they still charged 7 to walk through the door. We decided we would just go to Mez or Kazbah so went to leave. A friend came out and begged us to stay, so we decided to bite the bullet and pay cover (the last time we had went it sucked so we were apprehensive).
We went to the line, and the manager said he wasn't letting people in for a minute. We had already been carded 5 minutes before but he decided to make us wait and be ID'ed again. 15 minutes goes by as they are checking in more and more grenades from the VIP line, and then we are finally let in.
Within 5 minutes my friend and I had dropped over $30 on 2 drinks and cover. The wait at the bar was another 10 minutes. My 3 goals entering the bar was beer, shot, bathroom. I completed my mission at 11:50, 40 minutes into my one and only Saturday night of the week. What a waste of time.
The music was awful, Rod Stewart, really?? I didn't hear one song that I haven't heard a million times before. We retreated to the smoking area, the only part of the place I found bearable. There was an amazing amount of girls that could not hold their liquor acting trashed out there. Not normal trashed, more like first-time-I-ever-drank-so-I-decided-to-chug-a-bot tle-of-everclear trashed. Words of wisdom: No one wants to do you if you are a puke time bomb.
We asked if everyone wanted to go somewhere else for a drink and dropped Kazbah as an idea and a girl walks up with the heaviest accent ever and says "Kaaazbuh? Eww, isnt thAt a PUURSHUN place?!" ...... that sentence sums up my recommendation. If you have an aversion to 'PUURSHUN' places, please keep the rest of uptown fun and go to Whisky River! Otherwise, don't waste your time. -
Review from Deacon K.
Saint Paul, MN
3/22/2011
Ok.....mixed reviews. Likes, good drinks, bikini contests, fun atmosphere. Dislikes: one tiny pisser in the back corner, the big tranny who they let dance on a box but ask me to get down when I do it. Honestly she was bigger than me and I'm 300+.
If you catch it right you could have a decent time. Bad timing though...it'll suck ass. -
Review from Corey Tess T.
Phoenix, AZ
7/14/2010 1 photo
This is about as country as I will get! There is usually a 7-10 cover charge, but they have nights and times when you can get in free.
I have been here many times with CLT friends and someone always ends up riding the BULL, which I must say is probably the only reason we go here. I am more of a posh lounge type girl myself.. chill, listen to bands.. lay back on big cushy sofas and drink smart cocktails.. OH.. that is NOT Whiskey River. This is the place to wear your daisy dukes and cowboy boots and listen to pop, r&b, techno and a lot of countryish DJ music while dancing, ordering drinks and hopefully NOT slipping on all the spilled drinks on the floor.
If you want a get down dirty time, you will like it here. If you are looking to chill and be seen.. maybe Suite or Kazba is better for you in the same area.. there is also a great Piano bar above Whiskey called Howl at the Moon that is fun too..Listed in: CHARLOTTE
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Review from Morgan P.
South Lake Tahoe, CA
11/9/2011
They play good music and the staff is friendly. One of the less snotty clubs in the epicenter. The best part is the MECHANICAL BULL!!! My friend rode the darn thing 4times while we were in town. Its so fun to watch all the drunk girls get giggled around on the bull. Not to mention the guys! HAHAhAA i dont know what makes any self respecting man get on a mechanical bull, but hey i wasnt mad about watching. I would totally go here again
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Review from Nick B.
Charlotte, NC
10/26/2011
This place is full idiots! There should be a screening at the front door only allowing certain people in. :) That would make it a much more enjoyable enviroment.
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Review from Annie W.
4/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
Interesting place. Long line to get in, no idea why because there was plenty of space inside, but the line moved quickly. $7 cover...where do you think you are?? A bigger city? Please. At least I didn't have to pay for that ish.
First round of drinks were served in small plastic cups, lame. Second round were actually served in slightly bigger glasses. How does this place get away with that?
Mechanical bull..anyone ever get an STD from riding a mechanical bull? Because I'm sure you would if you mounted this one after all those other ladies finished grinding up on the hand hold.
Huge dance floor with a raised platform at the end of it. Perfect perch for all the creepers. Music was horribly mixed top 40s with a few popular 80s songs (i.e. Journey).
The only reason why I'm giving this place one star more than 1? TVs all around the dance floor so I can watch the NBA playoffs. -
Review from Ian M.
8/12/2010
Ok.. You ready for this... Please read the whole review and dont stop before the ending... hahaha. We went to W.R. on the Snooki (jersey shore) look alike contest night. ON ACCIDENT!! But it ended up being hilarious. Girls came dressed up like her and there was a $300 purse to the winner.. Then Snooki, aka the Jersey whale, showed up out of nowhere sipping on a huge purple drink.. My eyes couldnt believe it..
Other than that, the place was so lively and had a huge bar. Not to mention a bull that you could ride in the back for free.. That is something special. All the bartenders are beautiful and it is a typical college esque bar. Dancing and lots of drinking.. I would highly suggest trying to go for bottle service though.. That is the way to do it.
-Ian MListed in: Uptown Girl Livin in an Uptown…
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Review from Pinaki S.
Charleston, SC
12/29/2008
I gave Pat White a low five here after his 332 yard performance against the Heels. I tried buying him some drinks but he disappeared into VIP section.
I love West Virginia Mountaineers Football (I mean, seriously, I live for it). Pat White is the greatest player in the history of WVU football. This could have been the worst place I've ever been, I'd still give it 5 stars.
If you're visiting from other cities, I'll give the analogy (to decide if you want to go). If you've been to Chicago, this is like John Barleycorn Wrigleyville, if you're from DC, this is like the Clarendon Ballroom or Tom Tom's. Meaning, don't go here if you're not completely inebriated. -
Review from Peggy G.
Charlotte, NC
9/29/2011
I've been to alot of the dance clubs and bars in uptown..this by far is the most consistent in terms of music and crowd and what to expect. It's always a diverse crowd - all ages - but not that outrageous that you are wondering what Twilight episode you just walked into. It's fun for a date night, going out with couples or the girls. I'm not single..so I don't know if it's a good pick up spot. The dance floor is crowded but it is always a lot of fun- after 10pm..I"m sure there are drunk people bumping into each other but your out in a bar!! I will always pick this place over the others.
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Review from Claire L.
Aliso Viejo, CA
3/29/2009
I can't give this place a lower rating, because my co-workers absolutely loved the "atmosphere" (we stood right behind the two scantily clad women selling beer out of a tub...and women were basically falling all over them since they look good and dress well). However, I can't give it a higher rating, since a) they charge a cover, even on Tuesday nights. Ugh. b) it's a trashy, crowded club not unlike the ones I loved as a college freshman, which is not my scene anymore...
Still, I had no problem getting served quickly by the bartenders (although I should note they were all guys), and I thought the crowd was more polite than I've experienced in similar settings. Plus it was a 50-foot stumble from the door of our hotel. So take the advice of another reviewer and go...as long as you are already in your happy place. -
Review from Amy R.
Seattle, WA
9/10/2008 1 photo
I was surprised and relieved to find that Whisky River is not a shrine to Dale Earnhardt Jr. Still, it's a haven for his adoring middle-aged fans and very much a tourist trap. There is even a stand selling Whisky River T-shirts, hats and other merchandise.
If you're not into NASCAR, you definitely shouldn't go during a race, which dominates all 20 TVs in the bar.
Whisky River is a private club, so if you're going for the first time, you'll have to go through the annoying process of waiting in line and filling out a membership form. You'll also have to pay a cover to get in.
Unlike other EpiCentre hotspots, Whisky River's crowd isn't very dressed up. Most women wear jeans and halter tops; most guys wear jeans, collared shirts and baseball caps.
With three large bars and several beer tubs, there are plenty of spots to get a drink in the smoky, packed bar. And I'll admit that watching people (mostly women) tackle the mechanical bull can be entertaining.
A big plus is that it's right off the light rail.Listed in: Uptown
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Review from Brian L.
10/20/2010
The waitresses and dancers are quite good looking. The crowd is diverse (age, some race), with a mix of music that goes into the 80s/90s/00s.
The dance floor gets crowded. I mean, like really really crowded. Nice venue though.
There's bull riding in an area. Please, no guys (not a rule, but who wants to see a dude on a bull in a bar?). Girls, sure! =]Listed in: I've Been Here Once - Travels!
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Review from David P.
Munster, IN
3/23/2009
Whisky River, where the whiskey flows like molasses on a cold day.
You'd think that a place with a mechanical bull, costumed patrons and an affinity for country music would harbor a playful vibe. But playful is not a word I'd use to describe Whisky River.
Like others on Yelp have said, drinks are distributed at a snail's pace. And they're expensive for a bar of this class. Enforcing my claims about the horrible vibe at Whisky River, the space surrounding the bars is a mixture between the floor of the stock market where customers thrust fists of cash at bartenders as they walk by, and a mosh pit.
I understand that when a bar is busy, you have to expect the employees to be busy. But maybe they could use some of the $20 they charged just to walk into the place for hiring a couple more bartenders?
On the Saturday night I came here, the fire marshal could have had a field day. It took approx. 5 minutes to weave our way from one side of the building to the other. Literally, wall-to-wall, shoulder-to-shoulder people--and this place isn't small.
And that doesn't help the moods of the patrons. Everyone seemed aggressive and pissed.
The guy operating the mechanical bull pulled girls out of the line waiting to ride, selecting the girls with the shortest skirts and biggest boobs. Mysteriously, the bull faced away from the operator for the vast majority of the rides, coincidentally facing the exposed posteriors of the riders to the leering eyes of the man with the joy stick.
At Whisky River, the bulls don't buck so much as they vibrate in a jiggle-inducing seizure.
And while I'm sure the following experience is a rarity, it is, in my opinion an ugly snapshot of the mood at Whisky River.
On our way out of the bar, walking down the sidewalk, someone threw a glass bottle at us from the balcony of Whisky River. Is shattered on the handrail next to my wife. Thankfully, it didn't hurt anyone, and the cops saw the whole thing go down and ran in to try and find the culprit.
But needless to say, I won't return to Whisky River anytime soon. -
Review from Ayana Y.
8/4/2010
I had the time of my life with my greatest friends during a road trip to see my WVU Mountaineers play in the 2009 Bowl Game in Charlotte. The whole venue played host to the winning Mounties and our crazy country antics! Nothing Greater after a BIG Win that Booze, Music and A Mechanical Bull to throw us around! my grls and I had an amazing time with our freinds whom a had worked so hard all season!
Next time I'm in the Charlotte area there is no doubt in my mind if I will be back at Wiskey River.... -
Review from Allison Z.
Atlanta, GA
12/8/2008
I'm giving this bar/club a 2-star bc of the intense amount of country music that was played in the first part of the night. True, I am not a Charlotte resident and I was there with a group of friends, just visiting for the weekend and might have made a mistake in going to a country bar. But nonetheless, I thought at least they'd play a mix of country and contemporary. Sadly, the contemporary dance music did not kick in until the dance floor was too packed to dance. Drinks are reasonable ($3.50 for a bottle of Miller Lite, $6 for mixed drinks) and there is a mechanical bull in the back near the exit, which makes for good people-watching.
On the Sat. night we visited, there was some kind of fire drill which took out the whole place. One minute we were drinking and having fun, the next all the lights went on and we were ushered out into the bar for no reason. Or, at least not a reason my group could figure out.
The group of bars in the area where Whisky River is located seem like fun, but the plaza is still under construction and it was a little hard to tell where things were located. We popped into Blackfinn too but it was v. v. crowded. Whisky River is prob. more geared towards the "just out of college, just want to drink and dance" crowd, and if that's your scene you'll enjoy it. If it's not, go somewhere else. -
Review from Todd W.
3/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Looking for a sub-25 year old party in the Epicentre nightly...here you go! Place is A-OK. You've got a few bars, a stage area for bands and a riding bull for the drunks to make idiots of themselves. You'll find some cheap specials from time to time, but also a cover charge most nights. A little pretentious in my opinion, but that's Epicentre for you. They play good music and when PBR is $1, dropping by fr a few is a must. Staff is always friendly too.
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Review from Royce H.
San Francisco, CA
8/27/2011
All I can say is wow! I recently had to go to Charlotte for some training for work. It was Sunday and I couldn't sleep because of the time change so I went to get a drink as a replacement to the Ambien I wish I had. There is where I met the reason why I spent 4 of the 5 nights I was in town at Whiskey River. Ashley and her little sidekick Whitney were the coolest and most accommodating people I think I may ever have been exposed to! My first efforts at damaging my corporate reputation in front of 26 coworkers and 4 managers started by a shirtless bull riding stint. I couldn't believe that I didn't get thrown out immediately, instead embraced as legendary at least among colleagues. This was college night which by the way if you're looking for beautiful women dressed up all naughty, GO THERE ON TUESDAYS! Wednesday was an interesting night where I seduced a woman to hookup with a married guy, don't judge it wasn't my decision. Thursday was the concert where Ashley worked outside to awesome music and dancing. I dont mean to make this sound like a journal, but this is America where we have freedom of speach, so if you don't like it, read another review. Im simply trying to describe my experience and if you like what you hear, you can follow what i recommended. All in all it was fantastic time based on the scene at the bar with my new friends Ashley and Whitney. I wish you guys would stay in touch...
All the best,
Your favorite customer -
Review from Jason L.
9/6/2008 1 photo
If you don't mind paying a ridiculous cover charge to listen to loud, live music you could hear just about anywhere else, and don't particularly care what you're drinking, this is probably a really fun place. The coolest things about it are that it's a huge space and they have coin lockers so you can ditch your backpack, purse or briefcase and have fun all night hands-free with nothing but your ID, cash or credit card and that orange key in your pocket.
Would I go here again? No. Why? Because they don't have any whiskey! I know it's a glorified All-American bar. But if you're going to call yourself Whiskey River, carry some bourbon I haven't already had a million times! Wild Turkey (crap!), Makers Mark (crap!) and Johnny Walker (bo-oring!) hardly create an amazing selection of booze. Maybe I'm completely missing the point. But I'm a whiskey drinker and there's no notable selection of whiskey, whisky or even moonshine here. Call it "Swill River" and stock nothing but "well" labels and you won't disappoint.
Also I have no interest in the electric bull gazing crowd. That's usually a half step from a strip club, with guys ogling and girls just trying to get in and out of the spotlight. But Whiskey River is a really cool looking bar with cow themed booths, lava lamps and seemingly friendly people just out for a good time. -
Review from Callan C.
7/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not great. I like that there is a lot of space and the cool fog machine shooter things. Otherwise it is a pretty dumpy place. The interior is industrial NASCAR garage / cowboy / clashing things. There is usually a cover. The music is alright and there is the bull to ride.
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Review from Roberta S.
Summerville, SC
6/27/2010
I enjoyed this little place and It was my second stop for the night, the bar tender (mark) was really great and very helpful. The atmosphere during the fall early evening is great and it was fun to hang out with the football crowd. The mechanical bull wasn't running but my boyfriend and I were told we should come back for bull riding night.
A tad over priced and there was no cover charge when I went, however that could be seasonal.
Good early night stop.
