Northern Kentucky is not to be overlooked if you are on the quest for a unique bourbon themed adventure.
You can experience the perfect compliment to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, before or after, in Northern Kentucky, located a short B- Line away.
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How to Find Your Sipping Point on The B-Line in Northern Kentucky
The beauty of the B-Line is that you can go as fast OR as slow as you want to.
You can try to make as many stops as possible in one day or you can stretch it out over time. Giving you something to look forward to over a longer period of time.
Either way that you choose, you are definitely going to have a good time!
How to Earn Free B-Line Swag
Want to be rewarded for your quest for all things bourbon?
Step 1: Download the Line Guide
Step 2: Collect stamps from at least two distilleries, two bars, and two restaurants.
If you are feeling extra ambitious, cross all of them off the list for bragging rights.
Next: Submit the redemption form and you’ll earn free B-Line swag!
(You must be 21+ to participate)
B-Line Operation Criteria: Establishment must have been opened consistently for at least one full year and be locally owned in the Cincinnati region or Commonwealth of Kentucky. The establishment must also have a local Northern Kentucky address.
Distilleries on the B-Line Bourbon Trail Craft Tour
- Boone County Distilling Co. – 10601 Toebben Dr, Independence, KY
- The Old Pogue Distillery –715 Germantown Rd, Maysville, KY
- New Riff Distilling –24 Distillery Way, Newport, KY
- Neeley Family Distillery – 4360 KY-1130, Sparta, KY
- Second Sight Spirits -301 Elm St, Ludlow, KY
Bourbon-centric Bars on The B-Line
B-Line Bar Criteria:
- Must stock at least 100 labels of Bourbon with a preference for Kentucky Bourbon
- Must stock all local varieties of The B-Line distilleries
- Offer Bourbon Flights and specialty Bourbon cocktails
- Host Bourbon related events when available
- Complete Stave and Thief Establishment Level Certification through Moonshine University
The B-Line Bars
- Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar -629 Main St, Covington, KY
- Prohibition Bourbon Bar at Newberry Bros. Coffee – 530 Washington Ave, Newport, KY
- The Globe – 12 E 5th St, Covington, KY
- Wiseguy Lounge – 603 Main St, Covington, KY
- Rich’s Proper Food & Drink – 701 Madison Ave, Covington, KY
Restaurants on The B-Line
Restaurant Criteria:
- Must stock at least 50 labels of Bourbon with a preference for Kentucky Bourbon
- Must stock all local varieties of The B-Line distilleries
- Offer Bourbon Flights and specialty Bourbon cocktails;
- Host Bourbon related events when available;
- Have at least one signature Bourbon infused menu item
- Complete Stave and Thief Establishment Level Certification through Moonshine University (completed before the start of the calendar year)
The B-Line Restaurants
- Bouquet Restaurant – 519 Main St, Covington, KY
- Tousey House Tavern – 5963 N Jefferson St #9596, Burlington, KY
- Chandler’s on Market – 212 Market St, Maysville, KY
- Purple Poulet – 603 6th Ave, Dayton, KY
- Coppin’s at Hotel Covington – 638 Madison Ave, Covington, KY
Choose Your Own Adventure On The B-Line
I’m sharing more about a few of the stops on The B- Line that our group enjoyed in one day, during a media visit.
Take the Bonded Tour at New Riff Distilling
24 Distillery Way, Newport, KY
Learn more about the bourbon distilling process from grain to barrel at one of the stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour.
During the tour, you’ll explore the process for fermentation, distillation, bottling, and barreling. New Riff has been distilling and creating a new riff on bourbon since 2014.
Tour guests also get to see the beautiful multi-purpose event space which might come in handy if you have a special event coming up.
Bourbon Tasting at New Riff
Let’s be honest, the best part of a bourbon tour is ALWAYS the tasting. After your tour ends, comes the best part, the tasting.
Our group was also very fortunate to be joined by Cincinnati’s favorite bartender/owner, Molly Wellmann.
Molly is a fantastic storyteller and does a great job of sharing the interesting stories behind a craft cocktail.
We enjoyed several bourbon tastings including New Riff Bourbon and Single Barrel. Their gin was also a pleasant surprise because I normally do not like gin.
The Bonded tour at New Riff lasts between 45-60 minutes. On the day of your visit, the tour ticket price can also be applied to the gift shop for purchases of $25 or more.
Admission for the Bonded tour is $10, available Tuesday-Sunday 12pm-4pm.
Barrel Proof Tour at the New Riff West Newport Whiskey Campus
1104 Lowell Street, Newport, KY
You can experience the “back of house” at the New Riff West Newport Whiskey on a Barrel Proof tour.
This tour is only offered twice a month so make sure that you reserve a space early due to its very limited availability.
During the tour, you will walk through their barrel warehouses that can hold over 20,000 barrels of whiskey.
You’ll get a greater appreciation for the production process if you happen to see the bottling hall in action.
Be on the lookout for “Rick” the Rickhouse cat who takes his bourbon security job very seriously.
My favorite part of the tour was when we got to take in the angel’s share and enjoy a taste thieved directly from a barrel.
The tasting room is also really pretty and perfect for a special intimate event.
The Barrel Proof Tour includes the tour, samples and a tasting glass that you can take home.
$10 of your ticket price may be applied to gift shop purchases of $25 or more on the day of your visit.
The tour takes place at the West Newport Warehouse Campus every other Wednesday at 6pm and is $20 per person.
Lunch at Tousey House Tavern
5963 N Jefferson St #9596, Burlington, KY
Enjoy elevated southern cuisine in the former home of Erastus Tousey dating back to 1822.
Through the years the former home has served several purposes under different ownership including tavern and livery, hotel, boarding house, gift shop, consignment shop, and restaurant.
Kentucky Classics on the Menu
During your visit, I recommend trying some of the Kentucky classic menu items. Tousey House is known for its Fried Chicken that is gently rolled in their secret herbed flour then fried.
Fried Green Tomatoes
Tousey Hot Brown
A Kentucky favorite!
Oven-roasted turkey, country ham, melted cheese, and mornay sauce over toast points. Topped with pecan-wood smoked bacon and tomato.
Goetta Egg Rolls
A unique take on a local favorite, goetta.
Tour and Tasting at Boone County Distilling Co
10601 Toebben Dr, Independence, KY
Boone County Distilling Co is inspired by fabled pioneers with a local history and their unmistakable craftmanship.
During the tour you’ll learn about some of those legendary distillers.
The brand’s “Made by Ghosts” tagline and bottle design nods to the original “Registered Distillery 8” with an “8” linking the words “Boone” and “County”
Boone Country Distillers started with sourced whiskey in 2015 and now they are making their own.
Reservations are highly recommended but they do also take walk-ins.
You can purchase your tour/tasting online or when you arrive. Tours are available Tuesday – Sunday
Boone County Distillery’s products include: Eighteen 33, 12yr Single Barrel Eighteen33, Tanner’s Curse, and Tanner’s Curse Rye.
If you are a fan of Bourbon Cream, you will definitely LOVE the bourbon cream at Boone County Distillery.
Tour and Tasting at Neeley Family Distillery
4360 KY-1130, Sparta, KY
Located across the road from the Kentucky Speedway, Neeley Family Distillery is an experience you don’t want to miss!
Neeley Family Distillery makes Moonshine, Bourbon and Whiskey using techiniques and recipes that have been kept in their family for eleven generations.
If you are in town for a NASCAR race you defintiely need to make a stop at the distillery, pre-race.
Celebrating their roots from Eastern Kentucky, the Neeley family has a WILD history when it comes to distilling, including feuds and shootouts.
You’ll learn more about that on the tour. There is also lots of memorbilia that you can view sharing more about the lineage of the family.
The Neeley Family has been distilling and bootlegging illegally for eleven generations until 2015, when the family business became legal for the first time ever.
Our tour was led by Eleventh Generation distiller, Royce Neeley, who is the Lead Distiller and possibly the youngest Distillery Owner in the World!
Eleventh Generation Distiller
Royce uses Pot Stills, Cypress Fermenters, Sweet Mash, only the finest local grains, the freshest Kentucky Limestone water, and the Neeley Family Yeast Strand which is propagated at the distillery with his family’s recipes.
Tours are $10 and you can book a tour online. Walk-ins are also welcome but parties of 10 or more need to call ahead in advance. Tours take place every hour on the hour and the last tour is one hour before closing.
If you are really lucky, you might even meet “Pawpaw” during your tour.
Coppin’s Restaurant and Bar at Hotel Covington
638 Madison Ave, Covington, KY
Located inside a hotel that was the former Coppin’s Department store, Coppin’s is the perfect ending to a great day on the B-Line.
Coppin’s offers a dining atmosphere that is perfect for a group gathering or a date.
Entrees at Coppin’s
The Sustainably-sourced menu items are described as a fusion of Northern sophistication meets Southern comfort.
As far as the menu goes, I honestly don’t think that you can go wrong with whatever menu item you choose.
I opted for the Striped Bass and our table shared their signature fritters, Mac n’ cheese, califlower, and deviled eggs.
For drinks you will find plenty of options with local craft beers, cider and sodas along with wine and cocktails on draft.
I highly recommend saving room for dessert at Coppin’s.
During our visit, we enjoyed a dessert that was very similar to a Derby Pie. It’s basically a nutty chocolate chip cookie pie made with bourbon topped with ice cream.
This delicious dessert is definitely a Kentucky staple!
After your meal, you won’t have to travel far if you decide to stay overnight at Hotel Covington.
How to Save on Your Stay in Covington
Additional Bourbon Themed Itineraries For The B- Line and Beyond
Do The B-LINE In 3 DAYS
14 Stops in 3 days with this itinerary.
4 Days On The B-Line
This itinerary combines 4 days of favorites from The B-Line AND the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Take A Long Bourbon Weekend
Use Northern Kentucky as your base and then choose your own bourbon adventure with this itinerary
Thanks again to the Cincinnati Experience for hosting our media tour.
Top things to do on a bourbon themed adventure in Kentucky. Learn more about the distillery tour at Buffalo Trace in Frankfort. More Bourbon Adventures to Try in Kentucky
Discover Bourbon and Beauty in the Bluegrass State
Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour in Frankfort
