I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions this week about today’s review subject, Short’s Burger and Shine. On Monday, I thought it was being forced to close for good by this weekend. I had been notified that Shorts’ management was being forcefully evicted by MidWestOne Bank. I looked up the restaurant’s Facebook page and found a statement from their management confirming the eviction notice.

 I was gutted. Shorts has been a weekly stop for me after work for almost a year and half now  (yes, just like the first two reviews, we are sticking with my favorite Iowa City establishments). Shorts Burger and Shine originally existed in the exact same building as a shoe shine store owned by one H.D. Short, who shined shoes at the location for 50 years in the mid-twentieth century. The current burger joint has existed for around 15 years now in the same location as the shoe shine shop and exists as a sort of extension of the restaurant Stella, which is a favorite of Iowa football players and is in close proximity to Kinnick stadium. The menu for Shorts is a direct copy of Stella’s burger selection. Though they have recently begun expanding the menu, burgers are still the clear focal point, and they are very good burgers at that. 

So, when I heard that one of my favorite haunts was closing, I planned to visit as many times as I reasonably could in its last week. Luckily, there has already been good news on that front: Shorts is fighting to appeal the eviction, and they released a statement saying they will be open as the appeals process plays out, which I was told by management could be through at least July. Fantastic news for both burger and whiskey lovers alike! Oh yes, on top of a rich history and great selection of burgers, Shorts Burger and Shine has a solid whiskey selection, too! Let’s get right into the review and see how they stack up.

WHISKEY SELECTION

Variety: Bourbon, Rye, Scotch, Irish, Canadian

Range: Good. They offer 30 different bottles of whiskey displayed prominently behind the bar. They have at least two selections for each type of whiskey that they have and even have three bottles of Canadian Whisky! They have a solid base selection of scotch, with multiple single malts and a couple of blended bottles as well, and some standard selections for their Rye and Irish bottles. Bourbon is definitely the focus of this whiskey collection. They not only have a very solid selection of base bourbons, they also carry a couple of bottles you won’t see in many bars, including one (Rossville Union) I hadn’t heard of before seeing it here. Shorts also sets themselves apart by having the entire range of Four Roses bourbon: the yellow label, the Small Batch, and the Single Barrel. An entire range of a bourbon brand is something I have yet to see anywhere else, including Micky’s. 

Price Point: Low end bottles are $6 a pour, higher end bottles run as high as $14 a pour. Their most expensive bourbon is $12. You won’t break the bank ordering whiskey at Shorts, but they do have a wider price range than many of the places I have rated so far, reflecting a greater focus on whiskey and a greater range than most.

Wells: High Ten whiskey is used for their well whiskey and Bartons brand is used for all other well liquors. Each well is $4 a pour.

Top Shelf Selection: None. Their best bottles are Basil Hayden Dark Rye, Four Roses Single Barrel, and Laphroaig 10. Plus points for having both George Remus Bourbon and Rossville Union, unique bottles I have yet to find anywhere else, if not top shelf themselves. A solid mid shelf selection supported by a very strong base of standard bottles is nothing to sneeze at.

Grade: A-

Overall Thoughts: This grade initially started as B+ and currently sits at an A-, thanks mainly to what I have seen with several other whiskey selections that I have rated since this rating originally took place in early January. The number of bottles is turning out to be generally higher than many other selections in the city and the range exceeds George’s to an extent that feels worthy of the bump to an A-.

Shorts Burger and Shine is not somewhere you go looking specifically for whiskey. The great burgers, solid local draft beer selection and cocktail menu, and fun game day atmosphere are much more advertised and well known, but the whiskey selection is impressive both in its depth and unique nature. They even got a couple of Glencairns in the past month! If you can walk into a bar and try a whiskey you’ve never had or heard of before in a Glencairn glass, you’re probably in a good spot for whiskey.

Postscript: The Master Key was updated to reflect a change in the ordering of the review categories. Older posts will not be edited to reflect the new format.