Again, what a marvelous place to enjoy your bourbon drink in a very relaxed environment. 2024 was…read morethe last time we were here and it felt just as welcoming then as it did now in 2026. The wealth of knowledge with both Austin, our Bartender and Dave, Owner, is amazing. Thanks to them, we walked out of there quite happy with our tastings. With the huge selection of Bourbon, right in front of us, we were able to ask questions about any bottle we spotted on the shelf. We gained a lot more information about Bourbon. THANK YOU Austin & Dave !!! Yes, we will stop here EVERY TIME we travel to Frankfort, KY. Hoping it won't be another 2 yrs.

We pulled up to Benson Valley only to find it closed, so we decided to give HOC a try instead --…read morebest detour ever! This place was absolutely amazing! From the moment we walked in, the vibe was warm and welcoming. The staff provided great whiskey conversation and shared so much interesting history about the community and the distillery. It really made the tasting feel personal and special. We had the opportunity to sample an incredible lineup: * Weller 12 * Rip Van Winkle 10yr * Castle & Key Rye * Peerless Double Oak * Benson Valley Bourbon Every pour was smooth, flavorful, and clearly high quality. The pours were generous and the explanations for each one added so much depth. If you're into whiskey (or just good conversation and local history), HOC is a must-stop. We left smiling and already planning our next visit. Highly recommend! Thanks again to the team at HOC -- you turned a closed door into one of the highlights of our road trip!

Must stop to eat. Doesn't look like much and is hidden a bit, close to 3 distillery tours…read more Tons tons of bourbon, but good solid food, kitchen open to watch how they pump out some tasty food, had the bologna sandwich with a spicy stone ground mustard. Side wax one the best corn bread muffins I've had in while. Nice selection of local beers. Friendly and fast staff, kitchen was fast at pushing out some good meats and comfort food. Small inside dining, packed in, but still nice, outdoor patio with bags area, tuck away but worth the trip.

When you're traveling the Bourbon Trail in this area, finding a place to eat between distillery…read moretours can be surprisingly difficult. Luckily, we came across this restaurant and were able to make a reservation for lunch between our tours. I definitely recommend making a reservation in advance, as dining area is limited. The service was quick. We ordered a burger and a chicken sandwich. My spouse was happy with the burger, but unfortunately, my chicken sandwich was a bit too toasted. My first bite was mostly fried breading, and the chicken itself was quite thin and didn't feel as substantial as it should have been. That said, this isn't necessarily a five-star dining destination, but it was a convenient option when we needed somewhere to grab lunch between distillery visits. I would recommend it primarily for the convenience, especially if you're spending the day touring the Bourbon Trail.

Spectacle for Senses tasting was a total disappointment . Would recommend a different tour.read more

Woodford was the last distillery we visited during our bourbon tour vacation, and needless to say,…read moreit did not disappoint! The property is absolutely beautiful, and you immediately get a sense of luxury as soon as you walk into the check-in area. Before our tour, we ordered two drinks, and both were delicious. Our tour guide, Sydney, was fantastic--she was knowledgeable, informative, and very relatable. When we reached the tasting room, she guided us through each sample and shared some great insights along the way. The gift shop had a great selection of souvenirs, and we loved that there was also another bar where we could order additional cocktails, along with a few small snack options. Overall, Woodford quickly became one of our favorite stops on the tour. We highly recommend visiting if you're in the area--and definitely make a reservation in advance!

I absolutely love this distillery! Friendly staff and fantastic bourbon selection at great prices…read more They do a Daily Drop of hard to find bourbons which is why people start lining up early in morning. They open at 9am and offer free tours as long as you reserve online. The gift shop is huge and some of the bourbons are limited to one or two per person. Since many of the bourbons are not available in my area,this is a must stop when in the Louisville area.

If I could summarize my experience in one word, it would be Disappointed…read more The Buffalo Trace tour and tasting was at the top of my Bourbon Trail list. My family had visited in 2017 and 2023 and raved about it, so I had high expectations. Unfortunately, after visiting five distilleries during our trip, this was one of my least favorite experiences. To start with the positives: the tours are free, which is generous, and the drinks at the bar are reasonably priced. Our guide, Tony, was knowledgeable and friendly when answering questions. However, the tour itself felt underwhelming and lacked depth. We never went inside the actual production areas, learned much about the grains or bourbon-making process, or experienced the sights and aromas I expected from a distillery tour. Even my spouse, felt the tour was somewhat scattered and lacking in detail. The tasting was even more disappointing. The tasting room was simply a room where everyone stood, and there was very little that felt special or memorable. We were given vodka samples, which felt out of place on a Bourbon Trail tour, and the bourbon selections themselves didn't feel particularly unique. Water wasn't provided at the tasting stations either; we had to walk over to a dispenser and use tiny paper cups. Most surprising of all, the tastings were served in clear plastic cups. After each pour, our guide mentioned how much the bottle cost in the gift shop, which made the presentation feel even more underwhelming. We were even told we could take the plastic tasting cups home as souvenirs. I understand that the tour is free, but Buffalo Trace is a major distillery with a huge reputation, so I expected a more polished and immersive experience. Between the lack of access to the production areas, standing throughout the tasting, limited variety, lack of readily available water, and plastic tasting cups, the overall experience felt much cheaper than I anticipated. The lemonade from the outdoor bar was actually very good and reasonably priced, so that was a bright spot. Unfortunately, overall, Buffalo Trace was one of my least favorite distillery tours and tastings of the trip.

Dark and mysterious bourbon cellar vibe that serves up some killer food…read more Make a reservation for this loud and potentially dark, depending on where you're seated, foodie joint. Or maybe slip into the bar unannounced. Super friendly! As they've outgrown the Tates Creek location and are building out the new location, the website and Google conflicted on who's open and where. At the moment I'm here on TC. To make sure I knew where I was going, Grace called to confirm my reservation and the correct location. Bonus points! If you're reading this they've already moved to Turner Commons. Maybe the best fries I've ever had. Seriously! I love a fry. The thicker the better. These aren't steak fries but a healthy, house cut, seasoned to perfection. I could make a meal of of these with the dipping sides of smoked tomato ketchup (meh), lemon-garlic rosemary aioli (oh yeah), and a thai chili dipping sauce (B I N G O) $9 Cola-Braised Shirt Ribs were good. The greens with bacon, I mean, bacon, rocked better than other sides in the past. So there's a win. The scoop of grits were delicious and made for a perfect trifecta @ $33. Wanting something more refreshing yet still filling? I highly recommend the Heirloom Tomatoes/Watermelon/Burrata salad $22. You will think it's huge, and it is, but you'll clean your plate. Dessert? Well. That's bourbon, Son. OBC has an exceptional collection. Peruse options on the iPad to get hints of flavors, proofs, and costs. May I suggest the Stag Single Barrel? It's uncut, unfiltered, and a very limited batch from Buffalo Trace. It's a beauty and a beast. Being a date Collect your friends Join a party Does not matter OBC is where you should band give Akeem a shout out at the bar on the way to your table

I think I've found my newest favorite restaurant in Lexington! Old Bourbon Country (OBC) Kitchen,…read moreis a showstopper! This place is a must for anyone local if you haven't been, and if you're not local, it's seriously worth the trip! There are so many great things I can say about OBC, the service is phenomenal; professional, amazing recommendations, and they go out of their way to give you an unforgettable experience! Their bourbon selection is fantastic; they're guaranteed to have everything you'd want and even some things you haven't tried or been able to find anywhere else. The food is on another level! Starting with with bacon in the glass for the table is a must! This gives you a taste of the quality to come and the peanut butter accompaniment that comes with it works so well! The depth of flavor in the Cola-Braised Short Rib Tacos is unreal & even their rolls are amazing! The Ribeye is cooked to your exact liking; is a very high quality cut, and has a delicious seasoning which is the differentiator for me that makes this one of my favorite steaks I've had in a very long time! I could go on & on, but you need to experience it for yourself!

Friday night = cocktails at my house. To my horror, I saw the empty bottle of bitters in my liquor…read morecabinet! I made the drive to Happy Hour Liquor to check it out and give an entrepreneur my business. Ondie was a great help. He asked which drink I was planning to make, and naturally I had my two-page list on hand. Together we searched the web to determine the best pick. We have something in common since we've both recently moved back to Lexington, and we agree that it rocks. Then he gave me a sneak peek of their future bourbon bar. I'm first in line when it opens! You'll find Ondie behind the bar. He made me promise to bring my list so we can concoct some libations. My new friend! Here's a tip: if you're looking for an alternative route to Nicholasville Road, take the Harrodsburg to Keene Road connection. Such a beautiful drive past a couple of horse farms.

The bourbon assortment is off the charts as is the service. Into single barrels but a little…read morehesitant to try a new one- free sample tastes of any single barrel they have in store, I've never seen that before Excellent experience and overly knowledgeable staff!

3.5 stars. Just a long room open to the street that on a warm Spring Saturday night, even past 10…read morepm will be interestingly dead, but with a collection of top bourbons that punch above this bar's weight. By 11:30 pm though the place suddenly is crushed, and among the college tribes stomping in are some lithe girls in half-shirts looking at their phones, amidst guys that either look preppy or like country raccoons. Good vibes. Good service that is efficient over being friendly - and why not.

Accidentally found this place when staying one night in Lexington and already want to go back! Our…read morebartender Noah was so knowledgeable about all the bourbons and helped us create a very personalized flight! We were blown away by the variety alone but the service really made this place a must stop. They also have an AMAZING espresso martini!

So good! So good! The hot fried chicken with hot honey sauce was just fantastic! Every bit was…read moreflavorful and left me wanting more. The Mac and cheese was also delicious! I'd skip the slaw next time, not bad, but would try something else. The warm cookie to finish the night was epic! Baked fresh and did not disappoint. The only downside was when I realized I left my hat there the next morning Dinner was served very quickly! The waitress was friendly and attentive (I forget her name).

Merle's is one of those restaurants where I didn't expect much from it, but nevertheless, it…read moreexceeded my expectations. It's way better than it needs to be! It could just be mediocre pub food, but the food here is very, very good. I don't know why, but when I'm in the south, I get the hankering for a deviled egg. So we started with the deviled eggs (Los Huevos El Diablo), which, despite the name, were not super spicy. They had just the right amount of spice. One thing to know about me is: If I see a patty melt on the menu, I will order that. So I got the Merle's Melt, which is a burger patty with cheddar and Monterey jack cheese, plus bacon and special sauce on buttered toast. It was sublimely tasty! It comes with house-made chips, which were good. They also offer tacos on the menu. One of my children got one steak taco and one chicken taco. The tacos are topped with tomato, lettuce and cojita cheese. I was told that these were very good! My kid eats like a bird, but ate one and a half tacos, so that must say something, right? The Lip Smack'n Mac & Cheese was also ordered, as well as the fried chicken, because the menu says that the fried chicken is award-winning, so how could we not? The fried chicken was super crispy and tasty, and the mac and cheese was creamy and made with large shells, which is the best kind of pasta to use for mac and cheese (in my opinion). The service was great, the lighting was great, and we were seated quickly, even though they seemed busy. It was a good place to have a family dinner in Louisville.

Major thank you to Logan and the Team for making our Anniversary dinner AMAZING! The delicious food…read morewas like music in your mouth; grooving with Flavor. We can't wait to go back!

We received a gift certificate for Watch Hill Proper from our kids for our anniversary last month…read more It is located in Norton Commons and I had never heard of it. We made reservations and went last night. I often find the precursor to a restaurant experience is how you are greeted (or not greeted) when you walk in the front door. They provided an extravagant, warm welcome. We were seated and our server, Logan, was at our table promptly. He explained their drink menu. They do not serve beer, gin, or vodka, but do serve wine and a VAST number of whiskeys. Their specialty drinks are all made with whiskey of some sort. Loan explained all of this and we each ordered one of their speciality drinks that were well made. The menu is large enough to fufill most tastes but small enough to excel and they did excel. Every morsel of food was excellent and our service was, in a word, perfect. Even when leaving we were asked how our meal was and our departure was just as delightful as our welcome. This place is really outstanding.

Great place. Most imaginative bourbon and spirits selection of any place within 50 miles. Don't…read morecome here expecting the typical bourbon tasting experience like you would have at the big guys ( I.e. Woodford, Four Roses, Wild Turkey). David gives you the breadth of his knowledge of the industry and what he has learned over his many years of experimentation. This man is a true scientist of the industry and should be recognized as such. Don't overlook this place.

There's an old saying: "When someone tells you who they are, believe them". I can't think of a…read morebetter representation of this quote. I don't believe just anyone would enjoy this venue. Frankly it's a bit on the junky side. Most everything is covered in black (yeah I know). The tasting room is teeny tiny, itty bitty, small. The bathrooms are..... well, they're outside. You will not find a flower garden, fountain or artwork. You may see chickens or billy goats. I saw both. Our server was (Emma), a charming young gal with freckles that can clean a pot still, explain the grain bill of her product, and give you the business if so deserved. I've been to a few distilleries in the area and found the products selected for tasting conservative? Whiskeys that most people would find okay. Ha.... Not here. This distillery is where you will find your father's or grandfather's bourbon. It's in your face in the best way. I'm not going to cover the whiskeys I liked best but I will say there was absolutely no disappointment. However, the biggest surprise was the Rum. I'm not a rum guy but this deserves to be consumed neat. Being a total tourist and new to this area, I didn't discover this place till my last day. Noob mistake. After tasting I ended up purchasing several bottles here, where I walked by the competition. If you are a whiskey person and you want to taste bourbon, stop by. Dave, we never met but you did deny me on a tour this morning over the phone. I guess I shouldn't have waited till the last minute. Home run on the booze! I'll plan better next time! Keep on keeping on!