Bar Belle_Spr20_Ed-final.qxp_Road Trip_Cinci.qxd 3/1/20 10:44 PM Page 12
liquids | bars
Back in the saddle...................
The return of
The Bar Belle .................................................. BY SARA HAVENS
Fashioned. Now, not only is it our city's official cocktail, but you can even get a decent one at PT's! No kidding. I'm not saying every bar in town needs to have a cocktail menu or take 15 minutes concocting a Mai Thai using fresh-squeezed juices and housemade tonics, I just mean that even at a Dixie Highway biker bar, you can usually score a decent drink or at least choose from a respectable list of bourbons on the shelf to sip on while you throw back a beer. So let's take a look at some of these newcomers to the bar scene — where you're guaranteed to experience both unconventional and traditional mixology at its finest.
Old, new, tried and true: A Louisville Pub Crawl Primer
Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years actually. Some of you may remember this here column from my LEO Weekly days, where it ran for about eight years until 2014, when I hopped over to Insider Louisville and resumed my late-night shenanigans there. As we learn at last call, all good things must come to an end, and after Insider closed last year, I found my column without an outlet. Of course I have my own website — barbellelou.com — but I'm tech savvy enough to know that I lost some faithful readers through the cracks of Facebook, Twitter, blogs and White Claw. But at last I have returned to Louisville print media thanks to the fine crew here at Food & Dining — most of whom I have worked with over the years in one form or another — and I'm ready to celebrate, give a voice to and relish Louisville's nightlife scene. You may ask, as many do after a round of tequila, “How are you able to keep up after all these years?” I just smile, as I escort them to their Uber, and say, “Everything in moderation, dear friend, except for love, happiness and fine Kentucky bourbon.” But enough about me. It's time to talk about drinking, and more importantly, drinking in our best neighborhood bars, watering holes, tried-and-true taverns, fancy cocktail clubs, hipster lounges and sassy saloons. After all, it's almost Derbytime — which may be the fastest two minutes in sports, but it's the longest two months for your liver.
Meet the newbies
Among the tidal wave of positive outcomes from this whole bourbon boom is that it's forced the Louisville bar scene to up its game. No longer will we accept mediocre, because chances are, a new establishment with better drinks, more choices and fresh concepts will be opening right around the corner. I remember the days — long before millennials could drink — when two out of three Louisville bartenders had no idea how to make an Old 12 Spring 2020 www.foodanddine.com
Trouble Bar (1149 S. Shelby St.) — This Shelby Park cocktail hub knows a little something about bourbon — and how people prefer to consume it. Geared toward both bourbon virgins and gigolos, the ladies behind the bar can whip up a solid Old Fashioned (even in pitcher form!) or select a flight of whiskeys based on your tastes and preferences. The simple, retro décor adds to the no-frills attitude of the joint, and dogs are always welcome — which is a bonus in my book!
The Limbo (411 W. Chestnut St.) — If a city's cup runneth over with bourbon, why not open a rum bar? That's the idea behind The Limbo, a tiki-themed bar located downtown next to the South Fourth Street district. Of course there is bourbon on the menu, but the magic of the place is in the details.The drinks are delicious and freshly made, usually served in fun, ceramic glassware in the shape of fish, parrots, mermaids and Hawaiian ladies playing ukuleles.
High Horse (1032 Story Ave.) — This Butchertown dive bar is a breath of fresh air — and that's saying a lot in a neighborhood where deep breaths are not advised. The space has been home to numerous bars throughout the past few decades, including the infamous Do Drop Inn, but this one should stick, as the prices are extremely affordable ($5 Old Fashioneds any time of day) and the vibe is laidback.
Other suggestions: There are so many more to get to, but due to space constraints, I'll just list them here. Don't forget to check out the newly renovated Jockey Silks inside the Galt House (140 N. Fourth St.) and while you're downtown, there's also Bar Moxy inside the Moxy hotel (100 W. Washington St.), that serves tacos 24/7, and a few doors away the justopened Doc's Bourbon Room (129 W. Main St.), with more than 2,000 bottles of whiskey. If you're over in the Highlands/Germantown area, stop by ShopBar (950 Barret Ave.) as well, a chill place to spend the evening sipping expertly crafted cocktails or just a PBR.
Don’t forget our stable staples
Yes, new is exciting. But there's something to be said about the comfort of familiarity. Truth is, Louisville boasts many bars that have stood the test of