6th and Penn will always be remembered for the space where 18th Amendment used to live -- if Barrel wants to change that, they need to create their own mark. Co-owned by Matt Weiss, Mark Mernard and Mike Schuster, Weiss owner of other Capitol Hill joints Union Bar and 201 Bar, while Mernard and Schuster of 18th Amendment, it's off to a good start. Unlike the other watering holes, Barrel is less interns and more veteran staffer -- its focus is more on crafted cocktails and less on buckets of beer. The only Bucket you'll find on the menu consists of an Elijah Craig 12 year aged bourbon, peppered ginger, and bitters martini.

Split into three distinct sections, Barrel features a main dining room consisting of a full-length bar lined with shelves housing bourbons and other specialty liquors, near the back is The Lab which is a place for the bartenders to play around with their craft, while downstairs is the Elixir Bar and Cask Room, an extended space which can be reserved for private events.