If you’re looking for good whisky in Exeter, it’s easy to assume your options are limited.
They’re not. You just need to know where to look.
Exeter isn’t a whisky city like Edinburgh or Glasgow, but that’s exactly the point. The places that serve good whisky here are usually independent, low-key, and much more personal.
And once you find them, you realise there’s more going on than you’d expect.
Exeter has a growing whisky scene, with independent pubs and bars offering carefully curated selections. Some of the best places to drink whisky in Exeter include The Fat Pig, The Scapegoat, the Nobody Inn, and Crossed Anchors Brewery, where regular whisky tastings are held.
What makes a good whisky bar?
Before getting into specific places, it’s worth knowing what actually matters.
A good whisky bar isn’t about having hundreds of bottles behind the bar. It’s about how those bottles are chosen, how they’re served, and how the whole place feels when you walk in. Places like The Gate or The Pot Still in Glasgow, The Highlander Inn, or even the bar at Port Charlotte Hotel all, in our opinion, are awesome.
The whisky list feels considered rather than overwhelming. The staff are happy to talk, recommend, and guide without making it feel like a lesson. And the atmosphere invites you to slow down, stay a bit longer, and actually enjoy what’s in your glass.
In reality, a bar with twenty well-chosen whiskies and the right attitude will always beat one with two hundred bottles and no sense of direction.
And that’s exactly what you’re looking for in Exeter.
Where to drink whisky in Exeter
Exeter has a handful of spots where whisky is taken seriously, even if it’s not always the main focus.
Some are bars with a strong spirits selection, while others are more general venues that just happen to have a well-curated shelf. That mix is what makes the city interesting. You’re not walking into identical whisky bars; each place has its own personality.
At The Fat Pig, the focus is on food and atmosphere, but the drinks offering reflects the same independent mindset. It’s the kind of place where you can settle in for the evening and discover something you weren’t expecting.
The Scapegoat is another example of a proper independent pub doing things its own way. It doesn’t try to be a whisky destination, but that’s part of the appeal. The selection is considered, the setting is relaxed, and it rewards curiosity.
Then you have the Nobody Inn, just outside Exeter, which is well worth the short trip. It has a reputation for its whisky selection, and the setting gives you the kind of experience you don’t get in the middle of a city. It feels like somewhere you go specifically to enjoy what you’re drinking.
Crossed Anchors Brewery
A brewery first, but increasingly a place for good drinks full stop.
Crossed Anchors isn’t trying to be a traditional whisky bar, and that’s exactly why it works. The atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming, and social. It’s a place where you can try something new, talk about what you’re drinking, and take your time without feeling rushed.
It’s also home to the Devon Dram Club whisky tastings, which makes it one of the best places in Exeter to actually explore whisky, not just drink it.
If you’re curious what that actually looks like, here’s exactly what happens at a whisky tasting in Exeter.
The Exeter whisky scene
What Exeter lacks in scale, it makes up for in character.
There’s no overwhelming wall of bottles and no pressure to know everything. Instead, the experience is slower and more personal. You discover things naturally, often through conversation or recommendation, rather than trying to navigate an endless list.
For a lot of people, that’s a better way into whisky.
Looking for more than just a drink?
If whisky has caught your interest, Exeter has more to offer than just a night at the bar.
The Devon Dram Club hosts regular whisky tastings where you can explore different styles, learn how to taste whisky properly, and meet other people who are just as curious as you are. It’s a different kind of experience, and one that’s growing quickly.
If you’re not sure what to expect, we’ve broken it down in our guide on what happens at a whisky tasting in Exeter.
