The world has its City of Light and City of Angels, its Motor City and Windy City. We may be known as Derby City, but you know what else we are? We are the City of Bars. Other cities can only dream of the depth and breadth of places we have to toss one back. Our bars are just getting warmed up when they’re on last call. And the bourbon? Forget about it. It takes a Serious Bar in any other city to hold a candle to the bourbon collection you’ll find at even a dive bar in this town. In short, we’re spoiled. And we’re spoiled for choice. It’s five o’clock – oh never mind, this is Louisville, it’s waking hours – somewhere, and time to decide where to go.
We don’t pretend to present an all-inclusive list. But here’s a pretty good start to help you decide when you’re looking for the next place to order up.
The Bar Most Likely To Get A Lump Of Coal In Their Pappy Allocation Next Year
Want to thumb your nose at the establishment? Hit downtown cocktail lounge Meta at the right time, and you can check the Pappy-Jell-O-shots box off on your life’s goals list. Meta won the internet that time in 2014 when they decided to show the bourbon industry just what they think of the allocation system (that contentious means of divvying up the best booze amongst sellers) by making Pappy Old Fashioned … Jell-O shots for ten bucks a pop. They followed up in 2015 by selling their (greatly reduced) allocation at cost. What’ll they top that with in 2016? We’ll have to wait and see, but in the meantime ask them to recommend one of the many other fantastic bourbons on their shelves in a classic or modern cocktail.
Top Place To Educate Your Palate Without The Side Of Smug
We’re bourbon lovers, many of us. We don’t just want to drink it; we want to know everything there is to know about it. You can upgrade your bourbon-nerd score with intel from plenty of local bartenders. But for my money, the place that’s going to be the most fun is the Silver Dollar. Staff behind the bar here are legit. They’ve worked their way up to this position and seriously know their stuff. That doesn’t mean they’re going to give you that look (you know the one) if you ask a newbie question. No. They want you to enjoy your drink here.
Here’s what you do at the Dollar. Tell them what you like, and what you’re looking to experience. Say maybe you’re branching out to rye. Give the bartender your budget, and let him or her build you a flight. It’s kind-of cool to watch how much thought they put into it. They’ll bring you a selection of pours and happily tell you all about them—attitude-free.
Where To Check-In If You’re Trying To Make Your Friends Think You’re A Badass
How many times have you passed Freddie’s on Broadway and thought how much you want to go in but, man, it just looks so sketchy? Yeah, it doesn’t look much more inviting inside when a cooler friend finally drags you there. Though it’s got that rough-around-the-edges feel that’s just enough for hunters of frisson, it’s just an old school bar with some cool boxing memorabilia. Come on though, order a cheap drink from the grizzled bartender, pick a tune from the fancy jukebox that won’t make you look like a jerk, and go ahead and post your studiedly nonchalant ‘gram of your night at Freddie’s. Just be sure to bring cash. Forget American Express; they’re not taking any of your plastic.
The Place To See The People Who Are There To Be Seen
If you overhear someone uttering, “Can you believe we’re in Kentucky?” chances are you’ve landed at Proof Bar. This slick hotel bar in the celebrated 21c art hotel is a magnet for accolades, darling of travel writers, and a favorite among locals who want to show visiting friends THIS is what Louisville looks like. Come here for seriously executed cocktails and some seriously addictive bar snacks but mostly to scope out the seriously cool crowd. Need a chill drink after the scene? Keep reading.
Best Place To Wash Down A Generous Pour With Greasy Comfort Food
How sad for all those cities that have a strange little shopping center without an awesome neighborhood bar. If you’re hitting up a movie, a Jazzercize class, or, I dunno, the big sale at the Nearly New Thrift Shop in the basement of Midcity Mall, you need to stop in at the Back Door. This institution is as no-frills as it gets. You can get a reliable spilling jigger – just kidding, you may not even see a jigger here – of your bourbon of choice topped with a splash of ginger, and grab a booth to chow down on a heaping plate of guilty pleasure food.
Most Underrated Bar
Hidden away on the second floor of the Galt House, the intrepid tippler – or visiting conventioneer – can find themselves in another little world at Jockey Silks. In this world, you might be sitting at the bar minding your own business ogling the dozens and dozens of bourbons on offer, swapping ghost stories with the bartender, when the house magician materializes. Yep. Anyone wanna see a card trick? This is the kind of place you want to bring out of towners to show them a corner of town forgotten by time. And, like many bars actually, if you can’t decide what you’re sipping tonight, they’ll serve you a half pour for half price.
