Celebrate
Bourbon Heritage Month
All Year on
September is Bourbon Heritage Month and bourbon fans all over the world enjoy it by raising a few glasses of their favorite brown water, participating in a barrel pick, traveling to bourbon-centered destinations, and other amber adventures.
Here in Northern Kentucky we’re especially fond of Bourbon Heritage Month since it was created by a Senator from NKY, Sen. Jim Bunning. According to Julie Kirkpatrick, creator of The B-Line and our Chief Bourbon Sipper:
It was Senator Bunning that pushed in 2007 for a U.S. Senate Resolution that designated September 2007 as National Bourbon Heritage Month and for the first time used the phrase “America’s Native Spirit.”
Technically only September 2007 was declared National Bourbon Heritage Month by the U.S. Congress. Since then though, every year Kentucky’s governor declares every September Kentucky Bourbon Heritage Month so we celebrate Bourbon and its impact on our great Commonwealth that month every year- or every day that ends in a “y” if you’re a truly dedicated bourbon fan.”
Yep, we’re such bourbon fans on The B-Line that we invite you to come celebrate Bourbon Heritage month all year round. Because every month is bourbon month in NKY!
Our B-Line Restaurants - A Delicious Way to Celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month
One of the things that separates The B-Line bourbon experience from other bourbon trails is that there are restaurants as part of the tour. Award-winning ones at that! To name just three, The Purple Poulet was designated as having the “Best Fried Chicken in Kentucky” by Southern Living magazine; Bouquet Restaurant has won many accolades including being named one of “100 Restaurants America Can’t Afford to Lose” by Esquire magazine; and Pompilio’s has won multiple Best of Cincinnati awards including Best Neighborhood Restaurant and Best Italian Restaurant.
One of the cool things about The B-Line restaurants is the variety of local Northern Kentucky flavors and experiences. From spectacular river views at the Beehive Tavern to southern specialties like Libby’s fried chicken and biscuit sandwich to a refreshing boutique hotel experience at Coppin’s Restaurant in Hotel Covington. So many delightful, road-trip worthy experiences are in store for you! Take a look at our page of B-Line stops to learn more about our restaurants.
Our B-Line Bars – Named the Best Bourbon Bars in America by The Bourbon Review
Another reason to celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month all year on The B-Line is our bourbon bars. Nine bars on The B-Line have been named some of the “Best Bourbon Bars in America” by the Bourbon Review.
Every bar on The B-Line has to stock at least one hundred different bourbons and most of them stock many more. Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar currently offers choices from more than 700. And we’ve got a bourbon bar with the largest collection of bourbons in the world at Prohibition Bourbon Bar. We’ve also got a vintage bourbon bar at Revival Vintage Spirits and Bottle Shop, the owner of which has been called both the Indiana Jones and the Willy Wonka of bourbon by journalists.
One of the best things about those bars is even though the bourbon collections are impressive, there’s nothing intimidating about visiting one. Every bar has friendly, knowledgeable staff who are happy to help share their knowledge and love of bourbon. Whether you’re a longtime bourbon fan or completely new and curious to try your first sip, they will offer helpful guidance. Learn more about each bourbon bar here.
Bourbon Distilleries on The B-Line
Taking a tour of a bourbon distillery is a classic way to enjoy our Bourbon Heritage! First, you should know that all of the distilleries on The B-Line are also on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. Something that makes our distilleries stand out is the variety of unique experiences you can have. Meet the 11th generation of a moonshiner family—the first gen to make it legally—at Neeley Family Distillery. Meet the owners who used to work for the Cirque Du Soleil at their mystically themed distillery Second Sight Spirits. Step into bourbon history at Old Pogue Distillery, which was the third distillery to be registered in their district in the 1800s. See the hidden speakeasy at Pensive Distilling. Learn why Boone County Distilling’s bourbon is “Made by Ghosts.” Visit Augusta Distillery which was founded to share the bourbon-centric life Northern Kentuckians enjoy. And New Riff Distilling is a must-visit. Located just across the Ohio Rive from downtown Cincinnati they’ve won too many awards to list here! Find out more detail here about our bourbon distilleries.
Other Ways to Celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month Every Month in NKY
In addition to The B-Line, Northern Kentucky offers even more bourbon fun for you. As mentioned, you can do the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® here. Covington, Ky. is also a stop on the Come Find Bourbon tour, “Kentucky’s Authentic Bourbon Road Trip.”
There’s a special bourbon blending experience waiting for you at Wenzel Whiskey in Covington where you can thief bourbon from a variety of bourbon barrels and make your own delicious blend. Or pick up one of the bottles they’ve expertly blended for you.
Pick up a B-Line passport in any of The B-Line stops or get a digital version on your phone here. Remember, once you check in at 2 distilleries, 2 bars, and 2 restaurants on The B-Line, we’ll send you a free gift of your choosing. Please always remember to sip bourbon like a true Kentuckian, responsibly. Cheers, y’all!