Hey all! Yesterday I returned from a long Memorial Day weekend in Louisville! It was all about bourbon, hot browns, horses, and baseball bats! It was my first time in Kentucky and I could not have asked for a better trip. Here is my Louisville recap!
I checked in to the lovely historic Seelbach Hotel before having lunch at a popular hot chicken joint where I enjoyed a bourbon & Cheerwine slushy with my meal. Afterwards I stopped by the Muhammad Ali Center for a bit. Then it was time to get right into the bourbon spirit with a speakeasy tour at downtown distillery, Evan Williams.
For dinner I stopped by Hammerheads for some tasty duck fat garlic herb fries and baby back ribs. I concluded the night with an Old Fashioned on Fourth Street Live.
The next day I started off with a great brunch at Porch Kitchen & Bar. Then it was time to see some of the Bourbon Trail with Mint Julep Tours. We enjoyed tastings, distillery tours, chocolate pairings, and I even dipped my own bottle of bourbon at Maker’s Mark.
Later that night I had the tasting menu and wine at Chef Edward Lee’s restaurant, 610 Magnolia.
Sunday began with some killer chicken & waffles at Butchertown Grocery. Then I checked out the Kentucky Derby Museum for a bit before going to Churchill Downs – home of the Kentucky Derby. I met a horse owner at the hotel bar the previous night and he invited me to his Jockey Club Suite! I had a chance to go inside the paddock, walk through the owners tunnel, and watch the race up close with great company. I even met Morning Social at the stables. It was an amazing experience!
After an incredible afternoon, I had a lively steak dinner at Jack Fry’s. The next morning, I had to try a Hot Brown at the place it was created. I also went to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. It was a gorgeous day to watch the Louisville Bats at Slugger Field.
My final day in Louisville began with ziplining in a Mega Cavern! It’s the only place in the world with underground zip lines. I had a burger at Chef Edward Lee’s more casual restaurant, Whiskey Dry. Before heading to the airport, I had to have one last bourbon cocktail at The Old Seelbach Bar.
Well my flight back to Newark ended up getting delayed a couple times before eventually being cancelled. So I spent just a few more hours at a nearby hotel before boarding the next morning’s flight. Oh and I had to bring back some Bourbon Balls.
Louisville was incredible! I really enjoyed the yummy food, beautiful distilleries on the Bourbon Trail, meeting great people, the historic hotel, cool museums, ziplining in a cavern, and a memorable VIP experience at Churchill Downs. Thank you so much, Kentucky!
