Lexington Bourbon Week returns with 40 cocktails to try at 20 local restaurants, bars

Janet Patton
·7 min read

Lexington Bourbon Week returns, just in time to kick-start the holiday season.

The second year of the event, presented by Smiley Pete, will be Nov. 7-16. The 10-day celebration of bourbon and cocktails will include 20 Lexington restaurants and bars offering 40 specialty drinks.

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“We are thrilled for our second year of Lexington Bourbon Week with a stellar lineup of 20 local restaurants and bars,” says Amy Eddie, director of events at Smiley Pete Publishing, in a news release.

“This year there is an exciting range of bourbon cocktails, from traditional favorites to unique creations like Mazunte’s Latin-inspired Horchata Bourbon and 33 Staves’ Milk-clarified E.J. Curley Small Batch with lemon and honey. Plus, Chevy Chase Inn and Charlie Brown’s are teaming up for a fun twist — enjoy one of Charlie Brown’s off-menu creations, then take your glass over to CCI to try theirs. You may find you haven’t yet tried your favorite bourbon libation!”

Each location will have two off-menu bourbon cocktails, one featuring Jessamine County bourbon company E.J. Curley and one with either Log Still or BeSpoken spirits.

Besides cocktails, Lexington Bourbon Week will include a special event on Nov. 8. From 5-8 p.m. E.J. Curley Bourbon master blender Ashley Barnes will be at Liquor Barn Hamburg signing bottles and talking bourbon.

Lexington Bourbon Week returns Nov. 7-16. with 40 cocktails at 20 local bars and restaurants.
Lexington Bourbon Week returns Nov. 7-16. with 40 cocktails at 20 local bars and restaurants.

Participating bars and restaurants and their cocktails:

33 Staves

4714 Rowan, open Sunday through Thursday 4-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4-11 p.m.

E.J. Curley Cocktail: Bourbon Bee, $14, Milk-clarified E.J. Curley Small Batch, lemon, honey.

Bourbon Bee cocktail from 33 Staves.
Bourbon Bee cocktail from 33 Staves.

Log Still Cocktail: Back Roads Highball, $15, Monks Road Bourbon, blackberry, lime, Ale-8, splash of ginger beer.

Barrel 53

5532 Athens Boonesboro Rd., open Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight, Sunday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

E.J. Curley Cocktail: Spicy Smoke Show, E.J. Curley Bourbon, spicy bacon honey, aromatic bitters, smoked orange peel, rimmed with oak-smoked maple bacon

BeSpoken Cocktail: Chocolate Fig Bourbon, Bespoken Bourbon, fig & chocolate syrup (fig jam, brown sugar, honey), chocolate bitters, chocolate bar garnish, rimmed with chocolate syrup and brown sugar

Belle’s Cocktail House

156 Market St., open Thursday through Saturday 6 p.m.-2 a.m.

E.J. Curley Cocktail: Apple Butter Old Fashioned ($15), E.J. Curley Bourbon with apple butter, black walnut bitters, artisanal cherry and flaming orange peel

Log Still Cocktail: RizRaz ($12), Monk’s Road Wheated Bourbon, housemade fresh raspberry syrup, lemon

Bourbon on Rye

115 W. Main St., open Wednesday through Saturday 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.

E.J. Curley Cocktail: Old Fashioned ($18), E.J. Curley Bourbon, housemade bitters, housemade vanilla bean syrup, orange twist

Log Still Cocktail: Something Sweet ($15), Monk’s Road Bourbon, Meletti Amaro, Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, lemon juice

Charlie Brown’s

816 Euclid Ave., open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-1 a.m.

E.J. Curley Cocktail: Bourbon-Rita ($8), E.J. Curley Bourbon, triple sec, ginger ale and lime juice, with a lime garnish

BeSpoken Cocktail: Pumpkin Old Fashioned ($8), Bespoken Bourbon, pumpkin simple syrup, with pumpkin twist garnish (Bring your Charlie Brown’s glass to CCI for their Bourbon Week special!)

Chevy Chase Inn

833 Euclid Ave., open Monday through Thursday 2 p.m.-1 a.m., Friday 2 p.m.-2 a.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m., Sunday 3:30-11 p.m.

E.J. Curley Cocktail: New Fashion ($6), Generous E.J. Curley Bourbon, a splash of maraschino liqueur, orange bitters, a squeeze of orange and a cherry or two. CCI’s dive bar twist!

New Fashioned cocktail at Chevy Chase Inn.
New Fashioned cocktail at Chevy Chase Inn.

BeSpoken Cocktail: A Chicken Walks into Chevy Chase Inn…($10 / $8 if you bring a glass from Charlie Brown’s), Celebrate CCI’s iconic rubber chicken and CCI Lager with this drink: a shot of Uncle Chicken’s Bourbon paired with a half-pint of CCI Lager. Drop the shot for a CCI Boilermaker!

Coles 735 Main

735 E. Main St., open Tuesday through Thursday 4-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4-10 p.m

E.J. Curley Cocktail: Smoked Old Fashioned ($14), Applewood-smoked E.J. Curley Bourbon made with housemade Meyer lemon, bitters, housemade turbinado syrup and a candied lemon twist

BeSpoken Cocktail: Bramble On Rose ($12), Bespoken bourbon, Tuaca, St. Germaine elderflower liqueur, pineapple juice, muddled blackberry

East End Tap and Table

333 E. Main St. Ste. 180, open Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

E.J. Curley Cocktail: - Kick Rocks ($12), E.J. Curley Small Batch, housemade ginger syrup, housemade cinnamon bark, fresh lemon juice

Log Still Cocktail: Old Roman ($12), Log Still Bourbon, Italicus liqueur, simple syrup, grapefruit and orange bitters, essence of Grand Marnier

The Old Roman is available at East End Tap & Table.
The Old Roman is available at East End Tap & Table.

Eppings on Eastside

264 Walton Ave., open Tuesday through Thursday 4-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4-10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday Brunch 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday dinner 4-9 p.m.

E.J. Curley Cocktail: Curley “Ham-Dram” Sour ($13): E.J. Curley Small Batch, lemon, Hamilton’s pimento dram, cherry heering, Demerara all over big cube, garnished with lemon peel and cherry

BeSpoken Cocktail: Speaking With Snakes ($13), Bespoken Rye, Antica sweet vermouth, Villon cognac liqueur, angostura, cherry bitters served up with lemon twist

GOODWOOD LEXINGTON

200 Lexington Green Circle Ste. 110, open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

E.J. Curley Cocktail: Howser Sidecar ($13), E.J. Curley Small Batch Bourbon, orange curacao, lemon juice

Log Still Cocktail: The Saint Clair ($13), Monk’s Road Bourbon, ginger ale, aged balsamic vinegar, basil

The Kentucky Castle

230 Pisgah Pike in Versailles, open daily 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Sunday through Thursday 5-8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5-9 p.m.

Cocktails not available.

The Manchester Granddam Lounge

941 Manchester St., open Sunday through Wednesday 4-11 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 4 p.m.-midnight.

E.J. Curley Cocktail: Kentucky Curley ($16), E.J. Curley Bourbon, Demerara, aztec chocolate bitters, Abuelita chocolate

Log Still Cocktail: Maple Monk ($16), Monk’s Row Wheated Bourbon, Cointreau, Vermont maple syrup, cardamom bitters, orange

Mazunte Bodega

903 Manchester St. Ste 150, open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

E.J. Curley Cocktail: Sunset Over Lexington ($13), E.J. Curley Bourbon, Cointreau, Demerara syrup, sour mix, pineapple & lime juices

The Sunset at Mazunte Bodega is available during Lexington Bourbon Week.
The Sunset at Mazunte Bodega is available during Lexington Bourbon Week.

BeSpoken Cocktail: The Dirty Chata ($12), Mazunte’s house-made Horchata mixed with Bespoken bourbon; garnished with cinnamon sticks and a cinnamon-and-sugar rim

Merrick Inn

1074 Merrick Dr., open Monday through Saturday 4-11 p.m.

E.J. Curley Cocktail: Fall Furlong ($13), E.J. Curley Bourbon, spiced pear liqueur, maple simple syrup, dash of walnut bitters, cinnamon stick (garnish)

BeSpoken Cocktail: Merrick Inn Fall Fashioned ($13), Bespoken Bourbon, Demerara simple syrup, homemade apple cider, bitters, cinnamon stick (garnish)

Nic & Norman’s

135 W. Main St., open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.

E.J. Curley Cocktail: Bluegrass Sour ($15), E.J. Curley Bourbon, lemon, simple syrup, Pinot Noir cold foam float

BeSpoken Cocktail: Black Widow Smoked Old Fashioned ($13), Smoked Bespoken Bourbon, blackberry simple syrup, black walnut bitters

Paddock Bourbon Club

1011 S. Broadway, open Tuesday through Wednesday 3-8 p.m., Thursday through Satruday 3-11 p.m., Sunday 1-8 p.m. Closed Monday.

E.J. Curley Cocktail: Maple Sidecar ($18), E.J. Curley Small Batch Bourbon, Cointreau, maple syrup, lemon juice, orange peel garnish

Log Still Cocktail: Sweater Weather ($18), Monk’s Road Small Batch, fresh espresso, Rumchata; mixed in a co\u0094ee glass, topped with Redi-Whip and a dash of cinnamon

Rackhouse Tavern/Campbell House

1375 S. Broadway, open Monday through Friday 4-10 p.m., Saturday 4-11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. & 4-11 p.m.

E.J. Curley Cocktail: Curley’s Campfire ($15), E.J. Curley Bourbon, Campari, sweet vermouth, China China Liqueur, rosemary honey simple syrup, lemon peel and torched rosemary garnish

BeSpoken Cocktail: Bespoken Thyme ($15), Bespoken Bourbon, blackberry thyme simple syrup, lemon, lemon peel and thyme garnish

Lexington Bourbon week returns with 40 cocktails at 20 local restaurants and bars.
Lexington Bourbon week returns with 40 cocktails at 20 local restaurants and bars.

Trifecta

243 Walton Ave., open Wednesday through Saturday 6 p.m.-12:30 a.m.

Cocktails not available.

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