3.5 stars. Why 3.5? 1. Their prices are effing ridiculous. All Pappy's start at $100 a glass? Then how come I can get a 23-year at Giusseppe's for $40? That's still more than I want to spend, but it's far more reasonable. 2. Their bourbon selection is head-spinning. I've never seen so much anywhere, ever. The menu could be much better organized. It's very hard to read and at the prices they're charging, cluing customers in before they order would be a thoughtful touch. It's a nice place with a great selection, but at those prices and with so many other far more affordable places with decent selections, I doubt we'll be back. read more

The Bluegrass Tavern has the most extensive bourbon selection on hand in the world(138, i think), which is fitting since most are made within walking distance of the bar. The decor is very Kentucky with polished bourbon barrels for tables and shwag from every distillery around. Drinks are fair priced and made by the most skilled bartenders in town. Unfortunately, the place becomes a bit of a crowded hallway on the weekends. No worries; just another reason to start early! read more

The largest selection of bourbon that I've ever seen in a bar. Having said that, I'd never spend another dime in this place, due to the lack of courtesy given to us by the bartender, whose name was Jeff, I heard someone say. I was in Kentucky for a family funeral and instead of just sitting around the house, my cousin and I decided to go have drinks somewhere and we ended up here. When we walked in, Jeff walked over and said "What'll it be, girls", to which I replied "guy and girl" and then he shrugged his shoulders and said "whatever". We should have left at that point and In retrospect, I wish we would have, but we wanted to try some bourbon and was already there. Being rank amateurs, we did have some questions about certain bourbons, which he answered. We ended up spending $35 on bourbon shots and I gave him a $5 tip anyway and didn't even get a thank you. I have no idea where southern hospitality went but it's definitely not in this place. If you're in town, coming in from out of town or just interested in sampling bourbon, I'd suggest going anywhere but here. read more

Not only was the bartender very rude and dismissive, when I posted my review on Facebook it was reported and taken down. That tells me everything I need to know about this establishment. I thought maybe the service (rather the lack thereof) was a fluke, something management needed to correct in one singular person. The way my friend and I were treated was awful and really ruined our nights; we couldn't imagine that this was a norm. What I found is that the awful behavior of the bartender from Friday night is reinforced and protected. I saw other bad reviews for them but when I went back to their page, they had all been taken down. I actually made a yelp account just to post about this. read more

If you like bourbon, you'll be happy here. If you also like wearing gingham shirts and pleated chinos, you might as well move in. After hitting up the Bourbon trail all day, I was a little bourbon-ed out, so I asked for a Hendricks and tonic. Nothing crazy, but I got SERIOUS attitude with the bartenders "this is a bourbon bar, sweetheart" response. I know, I get it. Fine. Do you have ginger beer? I prefer it over ginger ale with my bourbon. He literally rolled his eyes. So I followed suit with the folks around me and ordered it with Coke, despite how the Coke masks the flavor so much. Whatever, when in Kentucky, I suppose. It's a decent space but the attitude was a bit much for me to handle. Add in the totally homogoneous crowd and you've got a 3 star joint in my eyes. read more

My father and I just completed a bourbon tour and we were lucky to read about the Bluegrass in the top 55 bourbon bars in the USA. It did not disappoint, it had a speakeasy feel as soon as you walked in. Working with Chris behind the bar, tried some excellent bourbons he recommended and he worked with us so we were able to try many different ones. My dad ended the night with an old fashion, it was excellent. Good crowds, our bourbon bar crawl started and ended in the same place. Great times, when in Lexington it's a must stop in. read more

Bluegrass Tavern - The start of a great night - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Great bourbon bar! Def recommend doing their bourbon tasting for someone who has never tried bourbon before. The staff will guide you to something you'll enjoy. Awesome bartenders and staff! Fun fact: They have the largest selection of bourbon in the state of Kentucky!!! read more

Thumbs up! Love BT, located at the pavillion and within steps of other bars so it is at a great location..... - Always a great crowd- not too packed at nights and during the evenings, just the right amount of people to create a buzzzzzzzz - Nice selection of drinks, had a bourbon barrel last night before I lost track of drink (HAH) and thoroughly enjoyed it (thanks yall!) - speedy service yeehaw! - last but not least i really appreciate the decor and seating- barrels and stools make for a MEMORABLE experience, and really promotes a low key interaction with your friends that i think is unique to BT. There isn't really another place like it that I am aware of!! yipppeee..... read more

Always a favorite of mine during TNL and on the weekends. The ambiance is casual and they typically play live music to boot. They serve a great deal of local ales & ciders and the service has always been pleasant. Definitely a staple in downtown Lexington. read more

Mind blowing selection of bourbons. Very laid back and fair prices. If you enjoy bourbon it would be very easy to chill in here for hours sipping on some very rare selections. Even if you're not into bourbon, give it a try...the bartender will find something for your palate. read more

Bluegrass Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Bartender was so nice. I did not have a clue what to order and he made me feel really confortable an got me a Basil Hayden other an orange twist. I could actually drink it straight!! So much to learn about bourbon here!! Thanks Robbie!! read more

Bluegrass Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

One of the best bars in town! Over 900 bourbons and the bartenders are so knowledgeable on drinks. Found this place by chance but I'm a customer for life! read more

Before downtown Lexington had "cool" places to drink, this was my choice for a night out because I knew I would get a good drink and be away from the college crowd. Over the last few years as more businesses popped up in downtown, Bluegrass Tavern has turned into a downtown classic for a wider range of people. Yes, it does get crowded but quality of drinks makes up for it. I have never had problems with service at the bar. For me, this place means great memories..good service, delicious drinks and lots of fun! I especially enjoy summer nights here because they start incorporating fresh fruits such as blueberries into their cocktails! read more

very cool bourbon bar, relaxing and somewhat intimate. I only wish the bartender was more personable and hadn't spent the entire evening with another couple who had ordered a more high end glass of bourbon...but hey I get it; lock in a big tip read more

I went to this bar with high expectations and this bar blew those out of the water. The bourbon here is excellent, with amazing deals and prices. The bartenders treated me like I was a princess. I felt like I have never been to a better bar in my life. Someone did blow up the bathroom, but I won't let that ruin my night. I highly recommend this establishment. Thanks for treating me like an avid customer! EVERYONE GO TO THIS BAR I PROMISE YOU WILL ENJOY IT! read more

Great drinks and very knowledgeable bar tenders. We came on a Saturday night and they had live music which was awesome. This is definitely the best bar we visited while staying in Lexington. I highly recommend to the Bourbon connoisseur! Cameron on guitar was unbelievable!! read more

Great selection of bourbon but unhelpful bartender. We wanted to chat and get advice about what to order but our bartender seemed annoyed having to discuss bourbon with us. read more

This is the worst bar in Lexington. The bartenders are extremely rude and condescending. I have been ignored while standing at the bar for over ten minutes multiple times. I was appalled at the service here. The bartenders were more concerned with talking to each other than serving drinks. If you want an overpriced drink served with complete disdain surrounded by a horrible crowd, then this is your place. read more

This place could be better with some fine tuning. It has issues with keeping fully stocked because every damn time I go in there, they are out of something I try to order. On the other hand, it's a cool spot with a great location and decent pricing. But please don't question me for requesting a brandied cherry and a dash of bitters in my 354 bourbon. It's how I like it and your cocky attitude pisses me off. Hombre. Anyways... I've been here plenty of times to truly judge it and I gotta say, it's just alright. The selection is vast on paper but I'm sure a lot of those shown aren't actually being poured due to being out of the product. read more

Service is always slow. Some times way too hot, some times smells funny. Over all lot of good bars in Lexington, this one could be too. But its not on my list right now read more

My wife and one of her best friends were walking in front of this establishment when a drunk patron grabbed them. My friend and I were two or three paces back and saw the incident take place. We confronted the patrons when the "bouncers" intervened and said that nothing happened and told us that we needed to carry on. We continued to the next bar where the ladies recounted their experience. We went back to confront the people responsible for touching my wife and the bouncers continued to defend the drunk asses that were outside harassing my wife and other women that were walking by. They told them to go inside so that I couldn't confront them. Let it Happen Bluegrass Tavern! You read more

I really enjoy this place .. They have some awesome drinks , especially if your a bourbon fan ... The door guy is a nice guy and very friendly ... Def a great place to have a good time and have great drinks ..WILL BE BACK THANKS read more

Simply put, this is one of my favorite bars in town. The staff is awesome, the atmosphere is cozy (even on those crazy saturday nights), and their bourbon selection is awesome. Try ordering the '114' read more

This is a bourbon bar and it's a good one, for a town so close to all the major bourbon manufactures this is the only true bourbon bar I know of in Lexington. This is not a music bar or a social bar its a bourbon bar so if you enjoy bourbon this is the bar for you. read more

The bourbon selection is mind blowing. The Old Fashioned I had was the best One I have tried!! The service is excellent: knowledgeable, friendly, casual. The prices were incredible. It has a very laid back atmosphere with live music at nights. Very enjoyable!! read more

They tried to kill me. I ordered a drink there one night while out with my friends. When I was almost done with my drink I notice a tingling sensation in my throat. It was dark outside so I had to look for some better light. Of course there is a crushed cherry in my drink---I'm highly allergic to them. Not a maraschino cherry, but the real kind. The drink never has cherries in it and they did not inform me they were going to put one in. They should have asked me first if I wanted one in my drink. NEVER AGAIN! read more

A large selection of bourbons to choose from. A true bourbon bar. Get really crowed on the weekends. Located by the 5/3 Pavillion, so if the weather is nice, you can wonder out and sit outside. Great place to hang out with friends. read more

If you prefer being treated as an outsider, not worthy of the attention a normal customer would receive! Definitely swing by the Bluegrass Tavern. After a subpar dinner at a restaurant across the street, my wife and I followed some questionable reviews to the Bluegrass Tavern. Believe the negative reviews! The first bartender informed me there was no menu to view and to, "just order what you want!" There's a impressive Bourbon collection with no information about pricing! How wonderful??? If you've seen a collection like this before, you know everything is expensive! And ordering without pricing is the equivalent of telling a used car dealer you're okay with what ever they charge! The Old Fashioned was bland. We just moved on to beer and ordered from a young lady who seemed amicable. Ignore this place if you're interested in Bourbon. read more

The bartender was more concerned with his personal cell phone then addressing new customers. Bad service made is leave.

Loved this place. It was not too crowded on a Saturday night, before Easter. Good atmosphere and good bar tenders. I am not really sure how to grade bars, since I do not drink much; but with it being one bar that does not have much of a crowd, surely makes it great. read more

Best bourbon bar in Lexington. Mark was working the night we were there. Very knowledgable and made some great suggestions on bourbons to try. Felt a little but like a kid in a candy shoppe. If you want great selection of bourbon and someone that's knows them well. , stop here and enjoy. I highly recommend the Bluegrass! read more

With over 500 different bourbons on the shelf I would say that this is Mecca. Some of the harder to find bottles can get a bit pricey, but that comes with the territory. Ask the bartenders what is good in your "price range." These guys really know what they're talking about and love to help out. Definitely my favorite spot downtown. *wink* read more

This is a classic whiskey bar. As a Lexington establishment, it's just natural that 90% of their whiskeys are from the bluegrass state. The barmen are skilled at their craft; their recommendations were spot-on! The atmosphere is old school tavern, void of any of today's hip or fashionable trappings. On my next trip to the Lexington area, this is a 'must stop'! C.W. St. Louis read more

Beyond our bartender who was indifferent to the fact that we were there, it was a nice place to start our bourbon trail. They have drinks for all tastes (and budgets). My husband had a good craft brew, while I had two nice bourbons and their signature Buffalo Trace bourbon Old Fashioned. All of the drinks were great. By the end, I was happy to speak with a friendly bartender, but was so annoyed at ours (and getting hungry) so we left. Hopefully if you go, you find a pleasant face behind the bar. read more

Great place, but on the smaller side. WONDERFUL bourbon selection, and very knowledgable bartenders. Chris, one of the bar keeps, can talk your ear off about bourbon and always has a great suggestion for you. I will keep coming here years to come. read more

Thumbs up on this bar. In a fun downtown location near many other bars. This place has an incredible bourbon selection. The bartenders are pretty quick so getting a drink isn't very difficult. The cocktails here are so so but not terrible. The tastee bourbon makes up for any shortcuts in cocktail making. They also have real darts which is nice. So if you were just out touring bourbon country all day this is a nice place to party at night. read more

Not my favorite. Expected more from the reviews. Bartender was a little pretentious. If you aren't into bourbon this is not a great spot to try. read more

Terrible service! No menu for bourbon, and the bartender prices the product after you quiz him for what he has. Ironically, the night I was there every shot of good product was $100. I'll pass! There are plenty of spots to enjoy rare bourbon where they how to treat customers. This isn't one of them! read more

They have a ton of bourbon and barkeeps will make solid recommendations. It's great to be in the Bluegrass and sip on some hidden gems not widely available outside of KY. Get there early if you'd like to sample bourbons in a relaxed atmosphere, otherwise this place can be crowded and loud. Overall one of the best bars in downtown Lexington. read more

amazing! the best selection of bourbons imaginable coupled with incredibly knowledgeable staff makes this a real treat. when they offer hershey's kisses with the bourbon, say yes. read more