LOCAL Houston | The City Guide MARCH 2015 | Page 24

Local March 2015FINAL.qxp_002houston 2/21/15 3:42 PM Page 24

CLUB/LOUNGE REVIEW

PUBLIC SERVICES WINE+WHISKY
THIS
IS
A
PUBLIC
SERVICE
ANNOUNCEMENT...DO ATTEMPT
TO ADJUST YOUR MINDSET...WE
HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE
YOU ARE IN FOR A REAL TREAT... Ok,
enough with the CAPS, we’ll get to the
message. One of our city’s finest sommeliers has opened a wine & whiskey
bar in what may be one of the finest
locations in the entire city, the old
Cotton Exchange Building downtown.
IT SHALL BE KNOWN...ah whatever,
it’s called Public Services Wine &
Whiskey. Moving into the old Cotton
Exchange Bar space, Public Services
had the great fortune of only really
needing to focus on what made it beautiful in the first place: the fantastic
woodwork, elegant details and its grand stature. After a light update which
highlighted those qualities, we get an open space with a grand ol’ bar, arches, high ceilings and plenty of seating on some interesting couches and chairs.
THE NEON “SHERRY” SIGN...sorry... by the entrance accentuates the fun to
be had inside. No outdoor seating but, don’t worry, even with a great crowd,
Public Services manages to still feel open and airy.

Seeing how it really is one of the classiest joints in town, it’s staffed and run by
some real down-to-earth people.
ATTENTION! THE ENTIRE STAFF HAS
REAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT...sorry...
some wild and different wines and
whiskeys, as expected considering
owner Justin Vann, the personable,
quirky wizard somm is running the
show. Where else in town can you
enjoy a Taiwanese Kavalan Solist
Sherry whiskey and be able to taste the
Olosoro sherry wine aged in the same
barrels? Ever had an Indian whiskey?
Let’s just say the peated (Scottish briquettes of basically earth, similar to
coal) Indian whiskey, Amrut, is a real treat. You are also in for some cuttingedge wines too as Vann the man certainly knows his wines. Public Services
also offers classic stirred cocktails, keeping it simple, but real, at the same
time. Bottled/canned beer are available if for some crazy reason you came
here not looking to have a wine or whiskey bomb dropped on your taste
palate. THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT...DO ATTEMPT TO
ADJUST YOUR MINDSET...WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE YOU ARE
IN FOR A REAL TREAT.
By Mike Cook | Photography by Daniel Ortiz

202 Travis St., Houston TX, 77002
713.516.8897
www.publicservicesbar.com
Facebook: Public Services Wine & Whiskey
Mon–Sat 4pm–2am

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