Old Lightning — Restaurant in Los Angeles

We had eaten at Scopa, and John our server told us about the "speakeasy" next door, that is a rum/scotch/whiskey/bourbon/champagne/tequila tasting room. Though they do have cocktails, this is your chance to try things you might never see again, as well as names you might have heard about on difficult items to find and taste. We had let our John know that we had an interest, after eating dinner, and met Nick. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and excited we were interested. Luckily, we were in on a Thursday, so we were able to pop over about 9pm. He checked on us a few times, and you could tell he knew how to allow a variety of customers, explore this experience. It is suggested you make a reservation on Resy. We got to meet Oscar who was amazing. You kind of get to bring up what your tastes and interests are, and a price range. Tastings are pricey, but it is such a cool/chill intimate room, and a unique experience. We talked with Oscar and made up a tasting to optimize our first experience he called "Around the World". We were educated and presented with such a cool array of Rums, Scotch, Whiskies, and Bourbons. You don't feel rushed and the amount of information they know, and share is almost like a Master Class. We ended up going through a variety of tastes from Japan, England, Scotland, America, Spain, and France. It will probably be a very rare experience for me and my friend, but we felt special and appreciated that we wanted to experience this. Thank you to the partners that created this collection and found these amazing people to let you make the most of...

Walking into Old Lightning feels like stepping into Pablo Moix’s private whiskey collection—rare, curated, and full of bottles you’ve only seen in photos. Hidden behind Scopa, the bar features an incredible lineup of high-end spirits: single cask Springbanks, rare Willetts, unique Balvenies, and other bottles you’ll probably never see again. Prices are high (sometimes maybe a bit too high), but you're paying for access to some truly special stuff.

What really makes this place stand out, though, is Oscar. He’s not just pouring drinks—he’s setting the tone for the whole experience. Super knowledgeable, but never pretentious. Inviting, energetic, and clearly passionate about what he does. He listens to what you like, asks the right questions, and then somehow nails exactly what you were in the mood for—whether that’s a rare pour or a killer cocktail you didn’t even know you wanted. His energy really brings the whole vibe together and makes it feel less like a fancy bar and more like a personal tasting experience.

If you're into whiskey or just curious to try something you won’t get anywhere else, it’s definitely...

No pics because they take your phones away upon entrance. I think they do a clean sweep of the place once every two hours so reservations are highly recommended. We got in by going to the front of Scopa and asking for the speakeasy and were led to an unmarked door to the side of the restaurant.

They specialize in whiskey and rum and their cocktails are almost all great (pricey though at an average of $25-30 per). Trust the bartenders and you’ll have a...