By Brian G. Miller
Doc’s Bourbon Room on Louisville’s Whiskey Row, which hopes to become the nation’s biggest whiskey bar, will open to the public Wednesday, February 5 with an early morning ribbon cutting, complimentary coffee and pastry samples, plus giveaways and door prizes during the day.
If the phrases “early morning” and “bourbon bar” don’t seem compatible, relax: the new 80-seat restaurant will also house a full-service coffee shop. Doc’s Bourbon Bar, in addition to serving small plates and desserts, will eventually serve more than a thousand different bourbons. The new location at 129 W. Main Street is next door to Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar and is under the same ownership. Doc’s Bourbon Room plans to offer guided tastings along with workshops on whiskey history and craft.
The coffee shop will open at 6:00 a.m. and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer will lead the ribbon-cutting at 8:00 a.m. The bar and kitchen open at 4:00 p.m. with a full menu of food, wine, beer, and cocktails.
“We want to bring an experience previously unavailable in Louisville, showcasing what makes Bourbon Country so rich and interesting – and taking it to the next level through education,” says General Manager Brad Lawton. “There’s so much history here on Whiskey Row. We want to honor and contribute something new to a constantly growing community.”
The new restaurant will serve shareable starters and desserts. Differentiating from its BBQ-centric predecessor, Doc’s Bourbon Room will take an elevated twist on classic pub fare – with dishes such as beef tartare, lamb flatbread, fingerling poutine, and fresh-baked pretzels.
Doc’s Bourbon Room News Release
And it sounds like the coffee shop will get a lot of attention as well.
“Our goal is to earn the reputation of being the go-to place for people to start their day and stop in for an afternoon pick-me-up because they can rely on consistent quality and quick, friendly service,” said Coffee Shop Manager Daniel Martin. “We will have something for everyone; traditional yet high-quality drip coffee, velvety espresso to enjoy on its own or crafted into a latte, pour-overs of our favorite single-origin coffee from Onyx Coffee Lab, an extensive list of fair trade teas, and an array of freshly baked goods from local vendors.”
For more information, see Doc’s Bourbon Room website here.
Photo provided by Doc’s Bourbon Room.