If you’re headed up Interstate 24 Westbound from Nashville to some exotic destination like St. Louis or Cairo (Illinois, not Egypt) you should consider a visit to Paducah, Kentucky! Yes, it’s home to the National Quilt Museum and some really cool mural art on their flood walls, but the city also has a growing downtown cocktail scene with some very cool places for craft beer. That’s what we’ll focus on here (sorry quilters, maybe next time…)
While Paducah is quite a way from the actual Kentucky Bourbon Trail, there are some places that are embracing the Kentucky bourbon heritage with some great offerings and reminders that Paducah has a long history with bourbon.
Located along the historic Paducah riverfront, Barrel and Bond boasts an impressive collection of over 1,600 bourbons to taste. Their owner also founded the Paducah Bourbon Society. It’s fun to just explore the bottles on the shelves, some of which you won’t see very often. Oh, and they have fantastic flights and cocktails like Manhattan and Old Fashioned.
Just up the street, FoxBriar Cocktail Bar also has a nice selection of bourbon, and they make some great classic cocktails! This is a more intimate space, which makes sense since it’s also attached to a boutique hotel upstairs.
If you want a classic bistro feel with some great cocktails The Johnson Bar is a #tipsypick! The evening we were there we had an excellent charcuterie board and a very good Sazerac, among other things.
For a little more upscale dining experience, along with a great selection of bourbon and cocktails, Freight House is located in the historic train depot a few blocks from the main street.
And there’s always room in the historic downtown for a good no-fuss locals bar. Bully Gorilla Bar is just that.
You can also take a “forgotten spirits” downtown walking tour and find out more details about all the bourbon connections in Paducah that you don’t know about. We haven’t tried it yet, but it sounds fun!
Now let’s talk about breweries for a minute. We love when craft breweries make use of historic buildings that might otherwise sit empty or be torn down. There are two great examples in Paducah!
Paducah Beer Werks is a brewery and restaurant near the riverfront located in the old Greyhound Bus Station – how cool is that? They’ve managed to blend some of the industrial and art deco aspects of the building into a cozy atmosphere. They also have a nice covered patio area outside. The beer menu is extensive and they have good food.
Not to be outdone, Dry Ground Brewing Company is located in the old Coca-Cola bottling and distribution center, known simply as “The Coke Plant.” In fact, they were the first tenant when the renovations to the 1939 art deco gem were complete. Dry Ground has a steady offering of staples on the beer menu, and they do some tasty creative limited brews. The patio is a great place to just hang out.
And lastly, if you need more proof that bourbon is still around, there’s Silent Brigade Distillery. They’re located on Broadway within walking distance of all the bars. They focus on flavored moonshine, but we hear the bourbon is worth a try. We’ll let you know when we visit next time!
Paducah may be #offthetipsypath but it’s worth putting on your radar for a weekend.
As always, let us know what you’re thinking … and drinking!
