COVINGTON, Ky. (June 14, 2023) – To commemorate National Bourbon Day on June 14 and to celebrate its fifth anniversary, The B-Line® welcomes five new bourbon-centric stops to Northern Kentucky’s self-guided bourbon tour. These include Pompilio’s in Newport, Ky., Revival Vintage Spirits and Bottle Shop, Lisse Steakhuis and Knowledge Bar & Social Room in Covington, Ky., and Caproni’s on the River in Maysville, Ky.
In addition, The B-Line® is introducing new merchandise and holding a variety of events and specials to commemorate the day.
“We launched The B-Line® in 2018 as a way to remind people that Northern Kentucky is the gateway to Bourbon Country,” said meetNKY President and CEO, Julie Kirkpatrick. “It celebrates the businesses that are passionate about being part of the Commonwealth’s rich bourbon heritage, representing and elevating Northern Kentucky on an international scale. There’s no better way to celebrate National Bourbon Day, a holiday created to recognize the high standards for distilling and celebrating ‘America’s Native Spirit’ than by adding these five new spots for visitors and locals to enjoy!”
The B-Line® was created to help capture the bourbon-curious audience of millions of people who drive down I-75 or fly into CVG annually to visit Kentucky’s famed Bourbon Trail, of which there were 2.1 million in 2022.
“Revival is known for our vintage, rare and eccentric collection of spirits, which is a perfect addition for The B-Line®,” said Shannon Smith, co-founder of Revival Vintage Spirits and Bottle Shop in Covington. “We look forward to showcasing what Northern Kentucky has to offer to bourbon fans who come to us from all over the world to experience our region's own rare and eccentric nature.”
The new additions to The B-Line® bring the number of bourbon bars, craft distilleries and bourbon-centric restaurants throughout Covington, Newport, Independence, Sparta, Augusta and Maysville, Ky., to 23. A full list of participating establishments can be found on The B-Line’s website.
"On this B-Line stop expect to experience history, tradition, hospitality, a continued passion for family, a little Hollywood and great Italian food," said lead bartender for Pompilio’s, Kristin Knollman. "The bar at Pompilio’s dates back to 1886, was the first bourbon bar in Northern Kentucky and houses a vast and growing bourbon selection. Once alcohol became legal again, Pompilio's earned and still holds the first liquor license awarded in Kentucky after prohibition. Pompilio's has provided visitors from around the region and nationally with classic cuisine and great spirits for over 90 years. With a heritage almost as rich as bourbon itself, this new B-Line stop is the perfect backdrop to create your own traditions."
There are seven, strict criteria the new stops have to agree to in order to be a part of The B-Line®. These include things like fostering a culture around bourbon through continuing education and stocking certain types of bourbons. Restaurants must have at least 50 labels of bourbon (with a preference for Kentucky Bourbon) while bars must stock at least 100. Weekly bourbon-infused food and drink specials are also a requirement. For bars, they must also host bourbon-related events and offer specialty flights.
Distilleries must be a member in Good Standing with the Kentucky Distillers Association and be part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® or Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour®. Full details on qualifying for The B-Line® can be found on meetNKY’s website.
In conjunction with the new additions and National Bourbon Day festivities, The B-Line® also launched a new line of merchandise, designed by BLDG, including t-shirts featuring bourbon-centric puns, hats, and glasses. People can receive this new swag by completing their B-Line® passport by visiting each stop along Northern Kentucky’s bourbon trail. (Passports can be acquired at any official B-Line location.) To redeem a passport, visit meetnky.com/redeem.
To top off National Bourbon Day fun, stops along The B-Line® also are offering specials and hosting events to celebrate. For the latest list of B-Line National Bourbon Day events and specials, visit thebline.com. To learn more about meetNKY visit meetnky.com.
# # #
About meetNKY: meetNKY drives quality of life and economic growth for Northern Kentucky through tourism marketing and destination development. Learn more at meetnky.com/.
About The B-Line® First introduced in early 2018, The B-Line® was created to help capture the millions of bourbon-curious people who travel along I-75 or fly into CVG Airport annually to visit Kentucky’s famed Bourbon Trail™. As of 2023, the line is comprised of 5 craft distilleries, 9 bourbon bars, and 9 bourbon-centric restaurants. For more information on The B-Line® visit thebline.com.