Noorman’s Kil

Over 300 amber-colored bottles climb the wall of this Williamsburg outpost dedicated to all things whiskey (and yes, whisky). Named after the creek formerly cutting through Bushwick, Noorman’s Kil doesn’t trickle far from the current hipster building code that apparently requires (1) a hastily Googled, historic origin; (2) a turn-of-the-century, reclaimed-materials vibe (an old New Hampshire barn in this case); (3) a low-brow, comfort-food pairing (grilled-cheese sandwiches here). That said, none of this is any real reason to complain. In fact, the overall effect works and it’s arguably the ideal spot for educating one’s palate in an easygoing, informal environment. Add to this NK’s exceedingly friendly and unpretentious staff, and another bonus point for the commendable effort to give airtime to not just the big boys, but the pint-sized distilleries as well.