“Journey to try the best thing you’ve never tasted.” Brad Bonds
We are back friends and have a good one for you today. Dot (Old Fashioned connoisseur) and I (lover of history) continue our Meet the B-Line series with Covington’s Revival Vintage Bottle Shop for an authentic experience that you would pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for in New York City, Los Angeles, or Las Vegas. Right here in Northern Kentucky, you can experience and taste the true history of spirits including Kentucky Bourbon, vodka, rum, tequila and so much more at jaw-dropping affordable prices.
Located on Madison Avenue in the heart of Covington sits the Revival Vintage Bottle Shop. This three-story bottle shop and bar is truly like no other. Located within these walls are liquor bottles steeped in rich history and unbelievable finds that you won’t be able to experience anywhere else. Co-owner Brad Bonds has been called the Willy Wonka of bourbon and the Indiana Jones of vintage spirits.
With their door wide open, all are welcome inside where the fun begins immediately. Behind the bar on the first floor, is a fully stocked bar with a unique display of liquor bottles from the past and present. Have you ever wondered what Very Old Barton’s from 1978 tasted like in comparison to Very Old Barton’s today? Dot did. According to her, the 1978 bottle was tasty, smooth, and rich in flavor while the bottle from the present was smooth and tasty, but thinner and less rich.
For as low as $5, you can try a half-ounce pour of something old and a quarter-ounce pour of something new. With new and old bottles coming and going often, you can stop by several times and try something new each time. They operate on the motto of when it’s gone, it’s gone. You don’t have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on rare bourbon or whiskey; for a few dollars you can experience what bourbon from over the last 100 years tastes like.
Additionally, you can enjoy a delicious cocktail made with those same vintage spirits. I opted for the Vintage Amaretto Sour when I saw they had a bottle of Amaretto that was made in the 1980s like myself. Made classically with egg whites, the cocktail was frothy, smooth, sweet, and refreshing. Dot opted for the Northern Light. For those familiar with our blog, Dot is on a quest to try every B-Line stop version of an Old Fashioned. This one did not disappoint. Made with maple and a 1960s Canadian Club, she said it was smooth and deliciously sweet. With our cocktails in hand, we headed to the second floor where the bottle shop is located. Or as Brad likes to say, the building is like a mullet, business on the first floor and a party on the second! It’s important to note that Revival is ADA-accessible and there is an elevator for guests to use if they do not wish or are unable to take the stairs.
Revival is a true bottle shop that sells not just rare, vintage spirits but also encourages guests to buy bourbon made locally, including B-Line stops New Riff Distilling, Pensive Distilling, Boone County Distilling, and more. When perusing the shelves you are looking at history itself. You can see original bottles filled with spirits made in the early 1900s, memorabilia, and more. All up for sale and open to wheeling and dealing.
Just to the back of the second floor, you will find an additional bar fully stocked with vintage spirits for you to try, again for as low as $5 up to $50 per pour. They even offer fraction pours! Imagine, trying a bourbon, tequila, or Irish Whiskey older than your parents. All the bottles behind the bar never last longer than one year after being opened. With bottles constantly rotating, you can come back and not try the same thing twice.
Revival Vintage Bottle Shop is truly a treasure that we do not take for granted in Northern Kentucky. It is more than just a bar or bottle shop; it provides an experience that you can’t replicate anywhere else at these prices. Step out of your comfort zone and for a few dollars, you can taste something you have never tried that you may have wanted to, but didn’t want to pay full price for the bottle. And of course, if you love it, you can buy the bottle too!
You can also enjoy events at Revival. For Women’s History Month you can meet some incredible women in the spirits industry. Revival has also started offering Trivia. Guests are free to bring their food and snacks or order from Ripple Wine Bar & Restaurant directly across the street.
If this article has enticed you, please download our B-Line digital guide or stop by one of the many stops on The B-Line for an official passport. For those that check in at 2 restaurants, 2 bars, and 2 distilleries, we will send you a free, bourbon swag gift of your choosing! Who doesn’t like free stuff? Also, if you are interested in bourbon-centric events, keep an eye on our calendar, updated daily with great events happening all month long.
Until next time friends, go forth and explore our great region, one sip and bite at a time!
