My best friend and I will be staying in downtown Louisville in mid-September, near the 4th Street Live area. Our aim is to cover as much of the Bourbon Trail that we can in 3 days, but also to walk and dine the downtown area. All of the threads here are several years old, so I thought I'd ask for current recommendations?
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Funny, I thought we had some bourbon drinkers on this forum.
mneeley490 posted:Funny, I thought we had some bourbon drinkers on this forum.
I have a friend in Louisville, I will ask him about restaurants to go to there.
Heading there as one stop on my bachelor party. We are eating at 610 Magnolia. Supposed to be awesome, so will report back post-meal.
Maybe reach out to Italianwino - he lives in the area.
I got a response from my friend who lives in Louisville. He suggested three restaurants: Holly Hill Inn, Jack Fry's and Germantown Bakery. There is also a steakhouse, Jeff Ruby's which is the best steakhouse in Louisville, but is a small chain and not Louisville based.
In regards to Bourbon visits, he suggested Maker's Mark, Buffalo Trace and Woodford Reserve and Rabbit Hole
Maker’s and Buffalo Trace tours were among those we did - both enjoyable and well done. Graelhaus is an interesting and tasty place for coffee and breakfast. Biscuits and duck gravy! 
thistlintom posted:I got a response from my friend who lives in Louisville. He suggested three restaurants: Holly Hill Inn, Jack Fry's and Germantown Bakery. There is also a steakhouse, Jeff Ruby's which is the best steakhouse in Louisville, but is a small chain and not Louisville based.
In regards to Bourbon visits, he suggested Maker's Mark, Buffalo Trace and Woodford Reserve and Rabbit Hole
This is helpful. I'm in Louisville staying at The Galt House and Jeff Ruby's is in a street view retail spot housed by The Galt House. I might walk over one evening.
Jack Fry's is also a short 2.5 mile Uber from here.
A friend that used to live here also recommended Lilly's, Proof on Main, 610 Magnolia plus another friend Doc Crow's.
thistlintom posted:I got a response from my friend who lives in Louisville. He suggested three restaurants: Holly Hill Inn, Jack Fry's and Germantown Bakery. There is also a steakhouse, Jeff Ruby's which is the best steakhouse in Louisville, but is a small chain and not Louisville based.
In regards to Bourbon visits, he suggested Maker's Mark, Buffalo Trace and Woodford Reserve and Rabbit Hole
Thanks! We love steakhouses, & will definitely check it out. Haven't heard of Rabbit Hole, but since it appears to actually be in town, we may have to see it. It would be interesting to try some spirits that aren't normally available in WA.
I have a Rabbit Hole bourbon aged in sherry casks and it is very good. Try the tour if you can
Just a quick note on Jeff Ruby's. It is a good to very good steak house. It is not a great or perfect steak house in my opinion. Really nice bar with excellent bourbon selection and prices. Good, solid raw bar. It fell a little short in two areas in my opinion. First up every person at my table except my self ordered a dry aged steak (all are bone in) and I was the only one that ordered a wet aged steak (no bones) and my steak counter to intuition was easily the best steak on the table. Moist, juicy, well seasoned, perfectly cooked to order, rock solid steak. Every person at the table that got a dry aged steak had a "one minor complaint" that it lacked flavor. I saw two out of four that ordered dry aged reach for the salt shaker.
The other thing is the pricing. It is definitely up there. We're talking CUT in Vegas kind of pricing. Most the dry aged steaks were $70 plus or minus. Kind of pricey to be reaching for a salt shaker while eating it.
Not dissing the place necessarily just go in with full knowledge it'll be expensive and may not roll your socks down then back up.
[Quote]The other thing is the pricing. It is definitely up there. We're talking CUT in Vegas kind of pricing. Most the dry aged steaks were $70 plus or minus. Kind of pricey to be reaching for a salt shaker while eating it. [/Quote]
At least no catsup 
I provided Jeff Ruby understanding it was the best steakhouse in Louisville, I have never been but I hope I didn't lead you astray. I am not a steakhouse person in general as I would rather have a chef provide an interesting dish rather than hope on getting a really good steak. I hope you had a good enough time. I feel better about the other restaurants I provided, not sure if you have the time to visit. Hopefully you enjoy some bourbon tastings in Louisville.
Good to know, thanks guys!
Just saw this thread. Some of the recommendations are good choices. As far as bourbon distilleries to visit I highly recommend going to Willett in Bardstown. Another good restaurant worth checking out is 211 Clover Lane. From downtown it is about 10 or 15 minutes away. The tour at Angel‘s Envy in downtown Louisville is worth checking out. Avoid doc crows. It is not half as good as it used to be. 610 Magnolia is excellent. Holly Hill Inn that was mentioned earlier is not in Louisville. It is in Midway Kentucky about 40 minutes away. If you do go take a look at the three vintages (07, 12, 13) of Andrew Geoffrey diamond mountain cab on the wine list. Check out Sidebar restaurant next-door to the KFC Yum center. Good bourbon list and good cocktails. Jeff Rubys is excellent and has the best shrimp cocktail in the city. Decca restaurant in NuLu is also a good spot. What hotel are you staying at? Send me an email if you want to get together for a drink. Justinhome at msn dot com
IW
Also very good honest food is Mayan Café in downtown Louisville. If you like French influences in dining check out Le Relais at Bowman Field in East Louisville.
IW
Check out Bourbon Bistro. Would not recommend Proof on Main. Jack Fry is ok steakhouse. I agree with IW on Willett. Buffalo Trace is a good 45 -60 minutes from downtown in Frankfurt but worth the drive. Woodford is not far from BT. Down One whiskey bar is worth checking out. If they have reopened Jockey Silk have a drink there.
+1 on a Bourbon Bistrot. Food was great and a got a pour of Pappy 23.
longboarder posted:Check out Bourbon Bistro. Would not recommend Proof on Main. Jack Fry is ok steakhouse. I agree with IW on Willett. Buffalo Trace is a good 45 -60 minutes from downtown in Frankfurt but worth the drive. Woodford is not far from BT. Down One whiskey bar is worth checking out. If they have reopened Jockey Silk have a drink there.
Jockey Silk was still closed for renovations as of a couple of weeks ago.
Just got back last night, and we had a blast! The people in Louisville are just incredibly friendly and awesome.
As to tours, we walked around downtown Louisville the first day. Our hotel was the Embassy Suites downtown, right next to the "Fourth Avenue Experience", sort of like Fremont Street in Vegas. We hit Evan Williams, Michter's Fort Nelson, and Rabbit Hole. All were different and interesting. On the tours we did, they end up with a tasting, and most of the time the tour guide imbibed with us. Wish I could get a job like that!
Second day, drove down to Bardstown and hit Maker's Mark in Loretto, (aka: the middle of nowhere), and Jim Beam on the way back. Tried to see Four Roses, but we just missed it; they closed at 3pm. Way too early for bourbon lovers, imo.
Third day, headed east to Buffalo Trace and Woodford's Reserve. (Note: I always thought the word "Reserve" was related to the product, but it turns out it references the land it is located on, aka "Woodford's Reserve".) I bought a bottle of bourbon there, and for an extra $10, they inscribed our names in gold lettering. (Should have waited until after the tasting, as we both liked their double wood bottling even more.) Woodford's was absolutely gorgeous horse pasture country, and Buffalo Trace was so big, the grounds could easily pass for a small company town. We agreed that we enjoyed the BT tour the most, which also happened to be the only one that was free. Then we motored thru Lexington, which was interesting, but we agreed, not as genteel as Louisville. Had a few drinks at a place called Oscar Diggs, and were mildly amused to see Transylvania University.
As to food, between the time that we booked the trip and when we left, my friend was, shall we say, between positions. So we decided to skip Jeff Ruby's, and ate at the Seelbach (fantastic Hot Brown's!), Bob's Steak and Chophouse at the Omni (excellent steak meals there, too), and Whiskey Dry. Imbibed in town among other places, at the Old Seelbach Bar, and the Brown Hotel Lobby Bar.
(On a strange footnote: the last night, I was thumbing thru one of the tourist magazines and came across a listing for the Neeley Family Distillery, in Sparta, KY, which happens to be my last name. Unfortunately, it was out of our way, and I didn't have time to visit.) But we had a wonderful time, and both agreed that this won't be our last visit to Louisville.
(Sorry Italianwino, I forgot to email you. Next time!)
Two year update: My friend and I had planned to return in 2020, but obviously that didn't happen, so we hit it again this year. Unfortunately, it turned out to be exactly the same time as the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, so many tours and restaurants were already pretty booked.
But we did manage to hit some tours the first day at Peerless, Angel's Envy, and Copper & Kings, which is a brandy distillery in the heart of bourbon country. Dined at La Bodeguita de Mima for some good Cuban fare.
Second day, we ventured to Crestwood to Kentucky Artisan Distillers, where Jefferson's is made. Then on to the Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta. Turns out, after comparing family histories, we actually are distant cousins. They showcase their family history on the tour, which included a "Hatfield/McCoy" type feud with their neighbors around 1903. Pretty cool, I thought. I loaded up on quite a few products from there. I'd rate their bourbon as high, mid-range. Then back to Louisville for drinks and apps at Swizzle, at the top of the Galt Hotel.
Day three, we went to Bardstown again and had a great lunch at The Bar at Willet. Tours were all booked up, but we still did some damage at the gift shop. Bottles there (and everywhere we went) are significantly less expensive than in WA state. Had a beer at the Old Talbot Tavern downtown, which has been around since 1779, and bills itself as the oldest surviving western stagecoach stop in the nation. Notable guests at the attached hotel included Abraham Lincoln, and Jesse James, who rudely shot some holes in the walls. Stopped by Four Roses for a tasting on the way back to Louisville. Dined at Joy Luck for some good Cantonese. My friend, who is 1st generation Chinese/American, was quite impressed with their food, and was gob smacked when told that the chefs in back were all Hispanic, lol!
One other place of note, we actually twice visited a "speakeasy" called Hell or High Water. It's unmarked from the street, and you have to have reservations and then text when you get there. Then someone opens a door, and they lead you down a set of steep stairs into an underground bar, lounge, and library set up to resemble a very cool watering hole from the 1920's. Very interesting drink menu, and I highly recommend it.
Only had one scary moment, and that was at the SW airline ticket counter. We had previously purchased a couple boxes and bubble wrap to check our booze onto the plane as luggage. I had much more than my friend who was in another line. Everything was wrapped and packaged fine, and the check-in lady asks me what was in the box? Bourbon, I say. Then she tells me that I am only allowed to transport 6 bottles or 5-liters per person domestically, otherwise TSA will confiscate it. Oh, crap! Really??? I'm trying to quickly do the math in my head, but I'm thinking either way, I'm screwed. I guess at 9 bottles (6 of which were 375's). Turns out I had 13 total. She rolls her eyes, writes "9 bottles" on a big, red sticker (to alert TSA) and slaps it on my box before sending it on it's way. So the whole day from Louisville to Seattle (which included an unintended 3 hour layover in Vegas) I'm just sick, thinking that I just lost more than $700 in prime bourbon to some TSA agents who were about to have a great party. But the Alcohol Gods smiled on me that day, and somehow the box showed up in baggage claim unmolested.
Some observations: Many businesses and restaurants we had seen before in downtown were either closed down and boarded up, or operating at reduced hours due to COVID and labor troubles. Many restaurants were open only from 4pm to 8pm. Some distilleries were simply closed to tours and dining, including Forester and Jim Beam. I had reserved a tour at Heaven's Hill in Bardstown (which was incredibly difficult to get), but the day before we were to be there, their employees went on strike and everything was canceled. I am technically a Teamster myself, but I was not at all happy about the timing of that. They are near Willet, and we drove by lots of picketers with signs, who I gifted with the one-finger salute.
Sounds like a cool trip. Thanks for the write up. I might be doing this at some point in the reasonably near future.
@wineismylife posted:Sounds like a cool trip. Thanks for the write up. I might be doing this at some point in the reasonably near future.
one of my buckets too
You should definitely go, we had a blast both times. But perhaps with a little more of COVID in the rear view.
