Hilltop is one of the most historic bars in all of Iowa City. Open for over 90 years, they were one of the first establishments in the whole city to get a beer license after prohibition ended. Ownership has changed only five times in the bar’s history, with the current owner, Linda Kuncl, going on 42 years of ownership. Thanks to its location a mile north of the city, it’s always been a true neighborhood bar, with its regulars being the pulse that has kept it going all these years. Families who have lived in the area have had multiple generations be regulars at Hilltop, and they would attest that the bar’s consistency over the course of decades is part of the appeal. You know that you can come in right when they open on weekdays and get the daily lunch special, a plate of food so good it could have been made in grandma’s kitchen, and 75 cent homemade cookies to boot. With three pool tables and multiple dart boards, you’ll always have something to do there and even when it gets busy, it doesn’t feel crowded. The tap and liquor options are simple and consistent, as is the whiskey selection, which we’ll look at now.

WHISKEY SELECTION

Variety: Bourbon, Scotch, Irish, Canadian, Flavored

Range: Limited. Hilltop carries 13 bottles, all of which are tapped besides the Cedar Ridge bourbon. In a first for these reviews, Hilltop has as many Canadian offerings as Bourbons. There’s four bottles of Canadian and four Bourbons. Granted, two of those Canadians are flavored Crown bottles, but it’s still quite rare for anywhere to offer those two whiskey varieties in equal measure. A quarter of the selection being flavored reflects the type of whiskey drinkers Hilltop expects.

Price Point: Great price points. The pours range from $3.50 to $6.75 at the most expensive (the Cedar Ridge). This price range is perfect for a place where you go to take your whiskey in shots rather than as a drink to sip. Finding Cedar Ridge at $6.75 is a steal.

Wells: Their current well whiskey is Black Velvet, but they use whatever is cheapest for them to get on order day. Well shots are $3.

Best Bottle: Their best bottle is definitely the Cedar Ridge Bourbon. No other bottles really stand out and could be found in any other bar out there.

Grade: D+

Overall Thoughts: Hilltop is a spot for the locals more than anything else. The staff are friendly and the atmosphere is warm and inviting; although, I’ve never been after dark, so I can’t speak to the night time vibe. The Cedar Ridge is worth a pour every now and again at that price, but if you’re drinking whiskey here then you’re probably taking shots with some buddies while shooting pool. Even so, the selection is just large and diverse enough to not make it an absolute bottom tier whiskey destination.  I go there more for the lunch specials than the alcohol, anyways. Every meal is just fantastic comfort food and I’ve started to look forward to my days off when I’m able to go there to get lunch. I would recommend this spot to anyone that wants a neighborhood bar feel away from campus.