Deadwood Tavern is a staple of downtown Iowa City. It has existed for over 50 years and has chugged along steadily without much change for decades, including having gone through a semi-recent change in ownership. It’s been rated the best college bar in town before and is adored by both students and locals alike. It’s got everything you could want in a good college bar. A wide array of specialty shots and drinks, friendly staff, two pool tables, pinball machines, and even a picture booth! It’s a place that has a little something for everyone. Sometimes you might just go for a quick beer or shot after work, sometimes you’ll go to spend an evening shooting pool, and other times you’ll have a couple of their famous Bloody Marys and maybe put some quarters into one of the pinball machines and photo booth. Maybe you’ll even do all of that in one go; it’s really up to you!

There are two quirks to note that set Deadwood apart from what would be considered a standard “modern” college bar. First, it’s a cash only bar, which is good to know when most people don’t regularly carry cash anymore. Being cash only – and being the only bar that I’ve seen to sell cigarettes – has led to Deadwood being known to locals as the service industry bar.  Before the evening crowds come out, you’ll see regulars at the bar and smoking out front, giving the bar a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. During peak hours it might seem crowded and wild because of the crowds that can sometimes congregate out front, but the inside is quite spacious, with lots of seating that helps maintain that friendly bar feel even with a full house. That leads right into the other quirk: despite indoor seating like a normal restaurant, Deadwood doesn’t serve food. It’s a true dive bar and it can get raucous on the weekends just like any college bar. It was the heart of the party scene in Iowa City for a long time and it can still live up to that billing in season.  

While Deadwood is a bar I’d recommend anyone to stop by while out on the town in Iowa City, it’s not necessarily a place I’d go if I was looking for whiskey, if you couldn’t tell from the above description. They know their lane and they stay firmly in it. There is still something of a selection of whiskey, though, so let’s get into it.

WHISKEY SELECTION

Variety: Bourbon, Rye, Irish, Crown

Range: Limited. 8 bottles. They have the “bare minimum” (quote from the bartender). It’s just a few basic bourbons, a couple Irish whiskies, a Rye, and Crown. Their entire selection is doubled on either end of the bar, so you’re always within reach of a good pour wherever you’re sitting.

Price Point: All of their whiskey pours range between $4.75 and $5.25. A very good value even considering their limited selection. They unsurprisingly don’t have a whiskey menu. Again, they know their lane well. Ordering a whiskey is equivalent to a shot here.

Wells: Kessler for whiskey, but not always. They treat the wells as a rotating bottle based on “whatever they have [at the time].” A well shot is $4.

Top Shelf Selection: None. None of their bottles are bottom shelf, but none of them go above a cheap bottle. Their best bottle is definitely Wild Turkey 101.

Grade: D

Overall Thoughts: A “D” might seem harsh, but this place isn’t trying to be a whiskey bar and that’s okay. You don’t come here to have a pour of whiskey, you come here to have a beer and a shot and unwind at the end of the work day.

I was told by the bartender one day that they often get asked about any local whiskies they might have and they always have to turn the customers down. They have what they have. As a place steeped in tradition, they won’t be changing, either. It’s still one of the best spots in town and I’ve made plenty of memories there. I’ll happily continue to stop in to have a drink anytime.