The constant thing you will hear when you’re in Kentucky is that there is no wrong way to drink bourbon and that is a form of welcome that’s reassuring and comforting.
Along with whiskey, baseball and horses, the bluegrass state has so much more to offer- from boundary-pushing twists on southern cuisine to a trail exploring the hangouts of legendary bootleggers. It is also the state with colossal, colourful murals in nearly every corner.
The food:
Many restaurants specialise in southern fare, barbecue and seafood dishes along with serving local classics such as the Kentucky Goetta (deep fried balls made with a mash of pork, oats and spices) and the Hot Brown (a heavy, open-faced sandwich with ham and turkey). Local restaurants in the heart of downtown Louisville’s Whiskey Row boast an extensive bourbon menu, some even spanning 57 pages of whiskey that’s ready to be poured.
If there’s one foodie destination that you must include on your radar, then don’t miss Wallace Station. It is known to have some of the best sandwiches in the country and after relishing the brilliant catfish sandwich, I can see why. Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” television show, host Guy Fieri raved about their Big Brown burger and ranked it among his all-time Top Five.
The distilleries:
In Kentucky, almost everyone has a connection to bourbon. Six-time James Beard Foundation Award nominee chef Ouita Michel says, “Bourbon is a quintessential Kentucky ingredient. Early settlers in Kentucky were required to plant a patch of corn and the Scots and Irish among them didn’t waste any time putting their distilling skills to work. So, corn and its by-product bourbon have been part of our Kentucky culinary heritage ever since, and will always have a starring role in our cuisine.”
When in Louisville, step back in time at Kentucky’s first licensed distiller, Evan Williams where the operating distillery is utilising the same type of pot stills as the early Bourbon-making days.
Buffalo Trace distillery sits on 400 acres of green space in the heart of bourbon country with five centuries of architecture represented on site. Apart from an incredible journey into the art and science of bourbon making, archaeology buffs will rejoice with the ‘Bourbon Pompeii’ on site. This is where the ruins of the OFC Distillery were discovered and are still being looked into under the supervision of archaeologist Nick Laracuente who surveys Kentucky’s lost distilleries to investigate the stories behind the bottles.
Buffalo Trace is also home to great bourbons like Blanton’s – the first single barrel bourbon and the famous Van Winkle line of bourbons.
At the forefront of innovation is Bardstown Bourbon Company fondly referred to as BBC which is a modern take on the traditional industry. The enormous column stills and barrels are visible as you drive past this sleek distillery and the apart from tastings and cocktail masterclasses, they have an outstanding large dining space. Don’t fret if you’re the designated driver when you visit and can’t taste any whiskey as there’s bottled old-fashioned cocktails to go as well.
Whiskey blending and masterclasses:
Speaking of an old fashioned, if whiskey tasting is too hardcore or you simply need a little more than a neat pour, there are plentiful spots across the state that will gladly make you a brilliant cocktail or teach you how to create some alluring bourbon concoctions.
The Frazier Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is also where you can experience how to make the official cocktail of Louisville in the Craft Your Own Cocktail Experience, presented by Old Forester. The hilarious team will guide you through making a traditional old fashioned where you get to add your own unique twist while providing some fascinating history about the cocktail.
Up in Covington at Wenzel’s Whiskey, you can book a spot with your friends, family or colleagues for an exclusive bourbon blending experience.
Alternate Whiskey Spots:
Revival Vintage Spirits – When you’re in Covington, head to Revival to admire an enchanting collection of rare, precious vintage bourbons and spirits from around the world. If that’s a little overwhelming, owner Dusty Bonds will gladly take you on a journey and talk to you on the stories behind each of the unique spirits including some from the pre-prohibition era.
Fresh Bourbon Tasting Room – Renowned as the First African Americans to make Kentucky bourbon since slavery by the State of Kentucky. True to the name, the couple behind the brand Sean Edwards and Tia Edwards bring a fresh spin on America’s Native Spirit in Lexington. The motto here is that there are no rules on how to enjoy your bourbon and to bring an element of individuality to your drink by crafting your own cocktail with their versatile tasting bourbon.
Justins’ House of Bourbon-Owned by Justin Sloan and Justin Thompson(hence the name) this is another spot in Lexington with a wide array of spirits including budget friendly choices such as the Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream. If you’re here to splash the cash, then there’s some Pappy Van Winkle to be tasted and some W.L. Weller 12 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey too.
The bars:
Kentucky has some of the friendliest bars in the country, but the one that really stands out is Trouble Bar in Louisville. Featured in Esquire Magazine’s Best Bars in America list in 2021, Trouble Bar takes you through a magical journey in the world of bourbon through its curated whiskey flights and cocktails.
It is almost impossible to miss the large mural that reads ‘whiskey got me into trouble’ on the exterior wall at this woman-owned business. It is a space where people can bring in their authentic selves and the cocktails have extraordinary ingredients in syrups such as amethyst infused pomegranate and quince syrup and the s’mores tea syrup.
Felicia L. Corbett whose official work title is Head Potions Master and is the genius behind the bar menu at Trouble says, “My inspirations come from many different places. I think of how I can play with different spins on classic cocktails. If I want to go a little crazy, I’ll research different aspects of things (hobbies, nature, mostly looking at what I feel like everyone is interested in or excited about) that catch my attention. For instance, this fall, I created cocktails that are spells or are blessed with crystals. I made lists of what herbs, fruits, spices and such meant and divided them into categories (love, health, power). Then I combined the flavour combinations I liked in each column and a drink was born.”
Bourbon Festivals:
The Kentucky Bourbon Festival runs every September in conjunction with National Bourbon Heritage Month. The three-day festival brings new products, auctions, panel discussions, educational experiences, live music and food trucks too. Here is where you can meet the distillers in person to understand their bourbon and brand better. Many will gladly pour you a sample too.
There are many other reasons to visit Kentucky where legends like Abraham Lincoln, Muhammad Ali, George Clooney and Jennifer Lawrence are from but start with the bourbon that runs in its veins and you’ll have the best trip.
