Kentucky fans and/or Kentucky residents

[GE Nole]

Merry Christmas!

My wife surprised me with tickets to the Railbird Festival in Lexington June 1 and 2. Hozier, Chris Stapleton, and more, very excited!

We are only doing the festival on Sunday, so we will have all day Saturday to explore. Few questions:

1. If you could only do one bourbon tour, is there one you’d recommend?

2. Can you take tours of Rupp on the weekend?

3. Any good restaurants? We like steak houses, sushi, and burgers.

4. Any horse farm worth seeing?

 

[kyjeff1]

Merry Christmas!

My wife surprised me with tickets to the Railbird Festival in Lexington June 1 and 2. Hozier, Chris Stapleton, and more, very excited!

We are only doing the festival on Sunday, so we will have all day Saturday to explore. Few questions:

1. If you could only do one bourbon tour, is there one you’d recommend?

2. Can you take tours of Rupp on the weekend?

3. Any good restaurants? We like steak houses, sushi, and burgers.

4. Any horse farm worth seeing?

Go to Bardstown and hit a bunch of distilleries, but Makers and Buffalo Trace are awesome too.
If you go to Buffalo Trace, request 'Freddie' as your tour guide, that dude is an awesome man, best there is.

Heaven Hill and Willett are great, HH is massive.

Lexington, especially dt where the fountains are, is beautiful at night, especially around X-mas time, but I'm glad I don't live in Lexington anymore, it's gotten way too overcrowded.

 

[Random UK Fan]

Merry Christmas!

My wife surprised me with tickets to the Railbird Festival in Lexington June 1 and 2. Hozier, Chris Stapleton, and more, very excited!

We are only doing the festival on Sunday, so we will have all day Saturday to explore. Few questions:

1. If you could only do one bourbon tour, is there one you’d recommend?

2. Can you take tours of Rupp on the weekend?

3. Any good restaurants? We like steak houses, sushi, and burgers.

4. Any horse farm worth seeing?

@GE Nole ,

Merry Christmas! Great gift! I’ve heard people really enjoy it! I don’t think Eupp arena is open during the off-season. Here’s links to what you’ll want to know.


Malone’s Steakhouse,

Burgers

Horse farm tour

 

[GE Nole]

@GE Nole ,

Merry Christmas! Great gift! I’ve heard people really enjoy it! I don’t think Eupp arena is open during the off-season. Here’s links to what you’ll want to know.


Malone’s Steakhouse,

Burgers

Horse farm tour

Malone’s looks fantastic! Thanks for the links.

@kyjeff1 appreciate the info, Bardstown def seems like a cool place.

 

[Random UK Fan]

Malone’s looks fantastic! Thanks for the links.

@kyjeff1 appreciate the info, Bardstown def seems like a cool place.

Jeff’s right. Bardstown is cool.

Bourbon tour

 

[IUfanBorden]

2. Can you take tours of Rupp on the weekend?

Yes----Mall hours are 8am-7pm.

 

[CB3UK]

I live in Lexington GE, so holler at me if you need anything.

Rupp Arena is in a civic center. The center is open but the arena won't be unless a game is going on. We just redid the entire building so at least driving by it and checking it out from both the High Street and Main Street side by Triangle Park is at least worth your time.

Right across the street from Rupp is Tony's (link: https://tonysoflexington.com/gift-c...eTjkvpmhrIyyp4q_Eu2wpxPDepB-PCnoaArgJEALw_wcB) and down Vine Street is Jeff Ruby's ( link https://www.jeffruby.com/lexington?...foYYUOh9ERQkserCyyqpzpXDlSjbtlk0aApBgEALw_wcB ) Both are excellent high end steakhouses so be prepared to spend some coin, but you and your lady will love them. Malone's mentioned above is also an excellent choice. Just wanted to offer two options that are downtown close to Rupp.

I'm not sure about horse farm tours. I live here so it's not something I ever do. Usually you have to make reservations in advance. A quick Google search showed me we actually have Horse Farm Tour agencies here...I honestly didn't know that. Id check with one of them.

I'd recommend the Woodford Reserve tour because the drive out there from Lexington takes you through scenic horse farm country. Just gorgeous especially in the fall. Also, the Town Branch distillery is downtown here in Lexington basically across from Rupp Arena. I've not done that tour as I'm not a fan of their bourbon.

I'd recommend (haha yet again something very close to Rupp Arena) Justin's House of Bourbon if you want to find some quality bourbon and rare stuff. They've got all manner of good bourbons for sale in there.

I think that covers all your questions. RailBird has been growing in popularity. I know last year or the year before they had a hell of a time with parking and traffic. I may pick up some tickets myself just haven't decided yet. It's always a blast and yall will have fun.

If you have any more Lexington questions just holler at me.

 

[Random UK Fan]

Also, check out staying at Gratz Park Inn. More quaint.

 

[Necessary Roughness]

FYI, asking for "Freddie" at Buffalo Trace will have them add a tour of the gay sex club in the basement. Don't do it if you aren't into that sort of thing.

Thanks a lot, @kyjeff1 !

 

[Kevin Bryan]

Buffalo Trace is my favorite, mostly because they make most of my favorites: Pappy, Eagle Rare, Stagg, Weller, E.H. Taylor, Blanton's, etc.

For steak - Malone's, Ruby's, or Tony's.

 

[Kevin Bryan]

FYI, asking for "Freddie" at Buffalo Trace will have them add a tour of the gay sex club in the basement. Don't do it if you aren't into that sort of thing.

Thanks a lot, @kyjeff1 !

"Freddie" is actually @lurkeraspect84

 

[Courtsensetwo]

Yes----Mall hours are 8am-7pm.

Ironic the TAH is named after a mall tycoon but Rupp is actually in a strip mall.

 

[Courtsensetwo]

Buffalo Trace is my favorite, mostly because they make most of my favorites: Pappy, Eagle Rare, Stagg, Weller, E.H. Taylor, Blanton's, etc.

For steak - Malone's, Ruby's, or Tony's.

Can you get me a bottle of Pappy's?

I actually thought that Beam was the most educational tour as well as Makers

 

[Kevin Bryan]

Can you get me a bottle of Pappy's?

I actually thought that Beam was the most educational tour as well as Makers

I live in Florida now. I got my brother a bottle of Pappy 23 probably 15 years ago for Christmas. This was before the heist. I got it for $300, and sometimes now it sells for $10K plus. Most people prefer the taste of 15 or 20 over the 23 though. Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year is the easiest to get and it's pretty good.

 

[Sound.Slave]

Drive to Louisville and check out the Wendy's on Cane Run Road.

 

[Courtsensetwo]

I live in Florida now. I got my brother a bottle of Pappy 23 probably 15 years ago for Christmas. This was before the heist. I got it for $300, and sometimes now it sells for $10K plus. Most people prefer the taste of 15 or 20 over the 23 though. Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year is the easiest to get and it's pretty good.

I have a bottle of Stagg Barrel proof 130. Haven't opened it yet.

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

Malone’s looks fantastic! Thanks for the links.

@kyjeff1 appreciate the info, Bardstown def seems like a cool place.

It is probably too corny for a non-Kentuckian but My Old Kentucky home is worth seeing. The Stephen Foster story is good also.

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

I live in Florida now. I got my brother a bottle of Pappy 23 probably 15 years ago for Christmas. This was before the heist. I got it for $300, and sometimes now it sells for $10K plus. Most people prefer the taste of 15 or 20 over the 23 though. Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year is the easiest to get and it's pretty good.

I am a bourbon drinker and no bottle is worth $300. That is alcohol abuse or more specifically bourbon drinker abuse!

Blanton has priced me out of their product. It was a very good reasonable priced bourbon at $50.00 a fifth, but it is way, way too expensive now.

As long as Makers, Knob Creek, Bulleit, Wild Turkey et.al. are available at a good price I will get them and not be ripped off by some others that are no better than the ones named above.

Just my opinion! Plus I am keeping it. I am an old grumpy, stuck in the mud, bourbon drinker that wants to keep my money.

 

[GE Nole]

@CB3UK Jeff Ruby’s is 2 min walk from where he ended up booking hotel, so we have a reservation for Saturday night (June 1)! Looking forward to it.

@Random UK Fan think we are hitting up one of those burger places from your list for lunch.

Still looking into Bardstown. Y’all been having nice weather?

 

[Courtsensetwo]

I am a bourbon drinker and no bottle is worth $300. That is alcohol abuse or more specifically bourbon drinker abuse!

Blanton has priced me out of their product. It was a very good reasonable priced bourbon at $50.00 a fifth, but it is way, way too expensive now.

As long as Makers, Knob Creek, Bulleit, Wild Turkey et.al. are available at a good price I will get them and not be ripped off by some others that are no better than the ones named above.

Just my opinion! Plus I am keeping it. I am an old grumpy, stuck in the mud, bourbon drinker that wants to keep my money.

Blantons is a joke. It is good but no better than many that are on every shelf. The scarcity mystique has created an unearned reputation.

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

@CB3UK Jeff Ruby’s is 2 min walk from where he ended up booking hotel, so we have a reservation for Saturday night (June 1)! Looking forward to it.

@Random UK Fan think we are hitting up one of those burger places from your list for lunch.

Still looking into Bardstown. Y’all been having nice weather?

Hot and humid. You would think you are in Florida today.

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

Blantons is a joke. It is good but no better than many that are on every shelf. The scarcity mystique has created an unearned reputation.

Totally agree. I was told that the Japanese love the stuff and buy up the production.

 

[Kevin Bryan]

@CB3UK Jeff Ruby’s is 2 min walk from where he ended up booking hotel, so we have a reservation for Saturday night (June 1)! Looking forward to it.

@Random UK Fan think we are hitting up one of those burger places from your list for lunch.

Still looking into Bardstown. Y’all been having nice weather?

Everything at Ruby's is fantastic, and the prices reflect it. If you opt for any of the steaks I'd suggest crowning it with "Collinsworth" (yes, named for Cris Collinsworth 😂). It's king crab, asparagus, bordelaise, and bearnaise. 🤤🤤 Can't go wrong with any of the sides either, but the creamed spinach is crazy good. Doesn't seem like something like that would be so good, but it is.

 

[CB3UK]

@CB3UK Jeff Ruby’s is 2 min walk from where he ended up booking hotel, so we have a reservation for Saturday night (June 1)! Looking forward to it.

@Random UK Fan think we are hitting up one of those burger places from your list for lunch.

Still looking into Bardstown. Y’all been having nice weather?

Exactly what KB said in his post above mine. Ruby's is excellent, but yes it's definitely pricey. Hope you enjoy your time here man! 🍻

 

[kyjeff1]

Blantons is a joke. It is good but no better than many that are on every shelf. The scarcity mystique has created an unearned reputation.

A joke? I haven't found a better single barrel yet. The nose and finish of Blanton's is top notch.

I hate that it's hard to find and ridiculously expensive, but to me, it's the best single barrel there is.

 

[GE Nole]

Everything at Ruby's is fantastic, and the prices reflect it. If you opt for any of the steaks I'd suggest crowning it with "Collinsworth" (yes, named for Cris Collinsworth 😂). It's king crab, asparagus, bordelaise, and bearnaise. 🤤🤤 Can't go wrong with any of the sides either, but the creamed spinach is crazy good. Doesn't seem like something like that would be so good, but it is.

Great tip thanks. My wife loves asparagus and bearnaise so that sounds like a winner. I am surprising her (her bday is June 5) so she hasn’t seen menu. But I was perusing and think we will likely split a few things. Get a sushi roll, a steak, maybe 3 sides, and some dessert. Was looking at the Mac and cheese, but I’m a huge creamed anything guy so that creamed spinach sounds delish.

 

[GE Nole]

Exactly what KB said in his post above mine. Ruby's is excellent, but yes it's definitely pricey. Hope you enjoy your time here man! 🍻

Thank you! Reservation is a high top in the bar-ish area. Maybe I’ll tell you my shirt and you come by for a drink that night and ask for my autograph, make a big scene. Rivals legend! Haha.

Honestly, I bet if someone came up and freaked out and asked for a pic, others in the restaurant would pretend they know who it is because of FOMO and ask for a pic.

 

[CB3UK]

Thank you! Reservation is a high top in the bar-ish area. Maybe I’ll tell you my shirt and you come by for a drink that night and ask for my autograph, make a big scene. Rivals legend! Haha.

Honestly, I bet if someone came up and freaked out and asked for a pic, others in the restaurant would pretend they know who it is because of FOMO and ask for a pic.

Ruby's is definitely the kind of place that draws the movers and shakers around here. I'm no baller so getting down there is a rare treat for me. I'd also highly recommend Merrick Inn if y'all have the time. Absolutely outstanding, but again, high dollar.

 

[Kevin Bryan]

Great tip thanks. My wife loves asparagus and bearnaise so that sounds like a winner. I am surprising her (her bday is June 5) so she hasn’t seen menu. But I was perusing and think we will likely split a few things. Get a sushi roll, a steak, maybe 3 sides, and some dessert. Was looking at the Mac and cheese, but I’m a huge creamed anything guy so that creamed spinach sounds delish.

That Mac n cheese is legit too. 🤤 If you ever get up to Cincy def check out The Precinct. It’s the first restaurant Ruby ever opened and is in a former police station built in 1901. Super cool building that’s on the national register of historic places. He has 3 restaurants in Cincinnati but that one is the best. Food is great at all of them but the ambiance there is amazing.

 

[I am stupid]

Weather wise it's perfect right now. Every 3 hours it changes.

 

[CB3UK]

lol yep. Relatively nice out this afternoon, now we've got thunder lightning and pouring rain

 

[GE Nole]

That Mac n cheese is legit too. 🤤 If you ever get up to Cincy def check out The Precinct. It’s the first restaurant Ruby ever opened and is in a former police station built in 1901. Super cool building that’s on the national register of historic places. He has 3 restaurants in Cincinnati but that one is the best. Food is great at all of them but the ambiance there is amazing.

That sounds bad ass.

 

[Courtsensetwo]

A joke? I haven't found a better single barrel yet. The nose and finish of Blanton's is top notch.

I hate that it's hard to find and ridiculously expensive, but to me, it's the best single barrel there is.

Enjoy

 

[kyjeff1]

Enjoy

I'm interested in your opinion on what the best single barrel is.

I tried orange label Weller (single barrel) and it's $1,300.00 a bottle, it tastes exactly the same as the green, black, white and blue labels do, but nobody says it's overpriced garbage and most people haven’t even seen a bottle of orange label.

But let me know what your top 5 single barrel bourbon's are.

 

[Courtsensetwo]

My current fav SBs (in part because i have them) are McKenna, Four Roses and Bowman.

I will give you a tip on another non sigle that I love is Craig Toasted Barrel. A two step process that works for me as a sipper. It is sweet though, so heads up.

 

[Rod Dangerfield]

Owned by the citizens of South Carolina.

 

[kyjeff1]

My current fav SBs (in part because i have them) are McKenna, Four Roses and Bowman.

I will give you a tip on another non sigle that I love is Craig Toasted Barrel. A two step process that works for me as a sipper. It is sweet though, so heads up.

Meh, you can't say Blanton's sucks, then list Four roses and Bowman. Bowman is what most go after when they can't get Blanton's, because it's almost identical in every way.

As for Four Roses, select is really the only one that's any good in my opinion, their single barrel isn’t in the same league as Blanton's.

I haven't had McKenna or Craig.

If you could get Blanton's for the price it was meant to be sold at ($59.00), I think you would feel differently about it. Good bourbon will always get jacked up in price.

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

Meh, you can't say Blanton's sucks, then list Four roses and Bowman. Bowman is what most go after when they can't get Blanton's, because it's almost identical in every way.

As for Four Roses, select is really the only one that's any good in my opinion, their single barrel isn’t in the same league as Blanton's.

I haven't had McKenna or Craig.

If you could get Blanton's for the price it was meant to be sold at ($59.00), I think you would feel differently about it. Good bourbon will always get jacked up in price.

I am cheap.

I love good bourbon; however, after it gets past $75.00 a fifth I have problems with "MY" taste. My wallet is more important than the taste of bourbon. In Bowling Green a Texas fifth of Makers Mark is $43.00. If it tastes better than Makers Mark it had better be really good.

McKenna and Craig is good stuff. Of course I am a drunk and I simply love good bourbon, but you can't fvck me over on the price.

My grandfather was Kentucky Distiller # 62. It is in the family DNA i.e. the taste of good whisky.

 

[kyjeff1]

I am cheap.

I love good bourbon; however, after it gets past $75.00 a fifth I have problems with "MY" taste. My wallet is more important than the taste of bourbon. In Bowling Green a Texas fifth of Makers Mark is $43.00. If it tastes better than Makers Mark it had better be really good.

McKenna and Craig is good stuff. Of course I am a drunk and I simply love good bourbon, but you can't fvck me over on the price.

My grandfather was Kentucky Distiller # 62. It is in the family DNA i.e. the taste of good whisky.

I think we need to separate cost from what is deemed good bourbon though.

I think we all agree that Pappy, Blanton's and Weller are wayyyy overpriced, but just because the black market is gouging the customer, doesn't mean the bourbon is bad, it actually means the opposite. If Blanton's sucked, they wouldn’t jack up the prices on it.

 

[Courtsensetwo]

Meh, you can't say Blanton's sucks, then list Four roses and Bowman. Bowman is what most go after when they can't get Blanton's, because it's almost identical in every way.

As for Four Roses, select is really the only one that's any good in my opinion, their single barrel isn’t in the same league as Blanton's.

I haven't had McKenna or Craig.

If you could get Blanton's for the price it was meant to be sold at ($59.00), I think you would feel differently about it. Good bourbon will always get jacked up in price.

I didn’t say Blantons sucks I said it is good.