20 of 'America's Best Bourbon Bars' are in Northern Kentucky
CINCINNATI (WKRC) - According to an annual bourbon review guide, 20 of 2024's best bourbon bars can be found across Northern Kentucky. Did your favorite make the list?
The Bourbon Review released their 2024 guide to America's Best Bourbon Bars to celebrate National Bourbon Heritage Month (September). The publication has made a name for itself with its annual guides since 2013, through which it seeks to compile "the places that have the most expansive whiskey lists, mix the most exciting cocktails, select the best single barrels, and most importantly - have a team of hardworking, passionate, and knowledgeable bourbon lovers behind the sticks," according to the publication.
The guide itself doesn't actually rank the bars from worst to best, but rather just compiles the best of the best bars by location. Although there are categories for the entire United States of America, Kentucky has its own category all to itself.
"Kentucky is The Bourbon State as it has the Bourbon Bar prowess to match its mighty distilling chops," the publication wrote.
Within the Kentucky category is a special highlight for Northern Kentucky, and the publication decided a whopping 20 bars from NKY deserved recognition.
The 20 Northern Kentucky bourbon bars that made their way onto the list of 2024's Best Bourbon Bars in America are (in no particular order):
- Bouquet in Covington
- Colonel Pomp's Tavern at Pompilio's Restaurant in Newport
- Coppin's Restaurant and Bar (Hotel Covington) in Covington
- Jerry's Jug House in Newport
- Knowledge Bar & Social Room in Covington
- Libby's Southern Comfort in Covington
- Midway Cafe in Ft. Thomas
- Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar in Covington
- Newberry Bros Coffee Shop & Prohibition Bourbon Bar in Newport
- Purple Poulet in Newport
- Revival Vintage Spirits & Bottle Shop in Covington
- Rich's Proper Food & Drink in Covington
- Smoke Justis in Covington
- The Brass Ring Bourbon Bar in Burlington
- The Globe Covington in Covington
- The Hannaford in Covington
- Three Spirits Tavern in Bellevue
- Tousey House Tavern in Burlington
- Union 42 Bourbon & Brew in Union
- Wiseguy Lounge and Goodfellas Mainstrasse in Covington
11 of the bars were in Covington and four were just across the river from Cincinnati in Newport.