I was surprised and relieved to find that Whisky River is not a shrine to Dale Earnhardt Jr. Still, it's a haven for his adoring middle-aged fans and very much a tourist trap. There is even a stand selling Whisky River T-shirts, hats and other merchandise.
If you're not into NASCAR, you definitely shouldn't go during a race, which dominates all 20 TVs in the bar.
Whisky River is a private club, so if you're going for the first time, you'll have to go through the annoying process of waiting in line and filling out a membership form. You'll also have to pay a cover to get in.
Unlike other EpiCentre hotspots, Whisky River's crowd isn't very dressed up. Most women wear jeans and halter tops; most guys wear jeans, collared shirts and baseball caps.
With three large bars and several beer tubs, there are plenty of spots to get a drink in the smoky, packed bar. And I'll admit that watching people (mostly women) tackle the mechanical bull can be entertaining.
A big plus is that it's right off the light rail.