One of the best distillery visits ever. Don't be put off by all the kitchy Australian-themed decor,…read morelike the kangaroo statue in front (selfie op), the koalas on the gin bottles, and the attempt at an Australian accent by the non-Australian bartender. (The owner is Australian but not the bartender.) You get used to it. There were a few preselected tasting flights offered. I don't know if the customer can choose their own selection but I wouldn't be surprised. They seemed pretty accommodating, letting me sample a couple of gins for free (but this was after I spent over $150 on bourbons). The bartender gave me so much info (tasting notes, history, etc.) before I even decided on my flight. I was really intrigued by the gins but I was in Kentucky for whiskey so I got the premium flight that features their higher end bourbon and whiskey offerings. Pretty expensive at $30 but it was 5 1/2-ounce pours so that's a lot of product. After getting my flight I took it to one of the tables to relax, sipping and comparing, reading my book, and enjoying the ambience. Such a pretty, colorful interior, the metal building spruced up with natural wooden tables, neon signs, and the large bar area with its dark purple walls, granite countertop and artfully illuminated bottles. The music soundtrack was great, eclectic and varied. A sign said scan the QRC for the soundtrack, so it's apparent they put some real thought into it. During the 1/2 hour or so I was there I was visited by no less than 3 staff members plus my original bartender, asking how I liked the bourbons, etc. Not just to be polite. They all asked probing questions: which one is my favorite, what do I taste, how do they compare, etc. All this attention was surprising (too many staff on a slow day?) but welcome, and forced me to contemplate what I was drinking more carefully. I liked everything and couldn't decide on one so I ended up with two 375ml bottles. One was the Cigar Lounge, 9 years, finished in barrels used for Cognac, Amburana, Jaca, Madeira, and Maple. One of the visiting staff suggested I take it into the humidor and try it again because it "really changes it." I'm not a cigar smoker but the wood-lined, walk-in humidor was pleasantly aromatic and I guess it did change the taste of the whisky, not that it needed any improvement. After finishing my flight it was time to eat. There's a resident food truck on premises (Billibong Provisions) selling Australian meat pies and not much else. I moved to the outside seating area and got a chicken/vegetable. It was very good with a flaky buttery crust and ample filling. And the iced coffee I had with it was excellent too. I was really intrigued by their gins. They offer 5 kinds, all made with different blends of Australian herbs. Each label featuring a cartoon koala engaged in different leisure activities (at a bbq grill, on a surfboard, chilling in a hammock, etc.) Having consumed over 2 ounces of spirits I couldn't do another flight though I really wanted to. But the bartender gave me two micro-pours for free. (She would have kept going but I reluctantly stopped her.) One was the RBF (Resting Beach Face), made with salt bush, oyster shell, sea parsley, and Tasmanian peaberry. Yummy. All the descriptions were so intriguing. Wish I could have tried them all.

Larrikin Distillery has become a regular stop for us anytime we're in the area, and for good…read morereason. The bourbon is excellent, but somehow the hospitality manages to be even better. It's Australian-themed, veteran-owned, and has exactly the kind of atmosphere that makes you walk in planning to have one drink and leave wondering how you became emotionally attached to a distillery. The whiskey is seriously good, the people make you feel like an old friend, and there's always a reason to come back (plus they often have their dogs representing- BONUS). If you like great bourbon, great conversation, and a place with actual personality, Larrikin is absolutely worth the stop. Fair warning though folks, one visit may result in a permanent addition to your bourbon travel itinerary.

Great place. Most imaginative bourbon and spirits selection of any place within 50 miles. Don't…read morecome here expecting the typical bourbon tasting experience like you would have at the big guys ( I.e. Woodford, Four Roses, Wild Turkey). David gives you the breadth of his knowledge of the industry and what he has learned over his many years of experimentation. This man is a true scientist of the industry and should be recognized as such. Don't overlook this place.

There's an old saying: "When someone tells you who they are, believe them". I can't think of a…read morebetter representation of this quote. I don't believe just anyone would enjoy this venue. Frankly it's a bit on the junky side. Most everything is covered in black (yeah I know). The tasting room is teeny tiny, itty bitty, small. The bathrooms are..... well, they're outside. You will not find a flower garden, fountain or artwork. You may see chickens or billy goats. I saw both. Our server was (Emma), a charming young gal with freckles that can clean a pot still, explain the grain bill of her product, and give you the business if so deserved. I've been to a few distilleries in the area and found the products selected for tasting conservative? Whiskeys that most people would find okay. Ha.... Not here. This distillery is where you will find your father's or grandfather's bourbon. It's in your face in the best way. I'm not going to cover the whiskeys I liked best but I will say there was absolutely no disappointment. However, the biggest surprise was the Rum. I'm not a rum guy but this deserves to be consumed neat. Being a total tourist and new to this area, I didn't discover this place till my last day. Noob mistake. After tasting I ended up purchasing several bottles here, where I walked by the competition. If you are a whiskey person and you want to taste bourbon, stop by. Dave, we never met but you did deny me on a tour this morning over the phone. I guess I shouldn't have waited till the last minute. Home run on the booze! I'll plan better next time! Keep on keeping on!

My husband and I drive to Lexington at least once a month but never stop to check out the wineries…read morewhile we are on the way. We decided to try Prodigy because it was the first one we say on the road sign and it was open (a lot of places were closed due to the snow). The property is beautiful. It's very spacious and has a very nice view of an open field. We were also greeted by the sweetest cats. One walked right up to us when we got out of the car and immediately wanted to be petted. We were greeted at the tasting room by more affectionate cats and dogs! The tasting room has a bunch of decorated shelves with the bottles ready for purchase and a lot of horse themed items. We decided to go a tasting which comes with 6 different wines. The presentation was my favorite part because each wine was in a different beaker. We enjoyed the wine. My husband loved the blueberry wine so much, he bought a bottle right on the spot. We absolutely loved Prodigy and hope to come back soon.

Beautiful grounds. Eric B was amazing. Super fun and when…read morehe didn't know the answer he had a magic book to tell us! Great wines. Awesome views. Awesome vibes.

Great brewery with a laid back atmosphere and a solid beer selection. I'm not hard to please when…read moreit comes to craft beer, and I enjoyed everything I tried. One of the best parts is the location, there are plenty of great food spots within walking distance, so it's easy to make an afternoon or evening out of it. I'd definitely stop back the next time I'm in Lexington.

Groovy ambiance and dog friendly. Lauren took great care of us - including our yellow lab, Lucas…read more We ordered their hot pretzel with beer cheese and mustard.

When asked my favorite place in the world, from now on I'm going to say Wildside. It is literally…read morethe ideal getaway. Tucked away in the sprawling bluegrass hills of Kentucky, hidden between horse farms, you'll find Wildside. Complete with resident winery cats, books, local art, and community, Wildside literally has everything. I visited for a yoga event, which they host regularly, and did a wine tasting. All of the wines were delicious, but the Riesling was my favorite and I went home with a bottle. The tasting is for 4 wines of your choosing & includes a complimentary glass for you to keep.

Nice winery just a short drive from Lexington. I visited on a Sunday afternoon and had a nice…read moreexperience. There was live music and a few vendors on-site. I did a wine tasting (you choose 6 wines to sample). The sommelier was really knowledgeable about the wines and made the experience enjoyable. In addition to the tasting, I had a sangria slushie that was perfect on the warm, early Fall afternoon. The staff was friendly and helpful. Overall nice experience.

Had an absolutely great time at Blue Stallion Brewing Co. This place is a whole vibe…read more First of all, the beer menu? Impressive. There's something for everyone, whether you're a "let me analyze the hops" person or a "just give me something cold and delicious" person. Everything we tried was solid, and it's clear they know what they're doing. The venue itself is super cool. Family friendly, relaxed, not pretentious, and somehow feels both lively and laid-back at the same time. The kind of place where you can hang out for one drink and accidentally stay for three. Service was great: friendly, fast, and helpful without hovering. Exactly what you want when you're trying to responsibly sample your way through a tap list. Parking is excellent. Stress-free. No parallel parking gymnastics. No circling the block questioning your life choices. Just... parking. Beautiful. They also had a pop-up event featuring local artists, which was awesome. Apparently they host things like that pretty regularly, and I love that they're supporting local small businesses. Nothing pairs better with a craft beer than community spirit. They offer pizza, which we didn't try this time, but it looked and smelled incredible. Great beer, cool atmosphere, excellent service, strong community vibes, and parking that doesn't make you cry. 10/10, will absolutely be back.

Beer way exceptionally good. German brewing style made the difference. Be sure to try a…read moreHefeweizen wheat beer for sure!

Friday night = cocktails at my house. To my horror, I saw the empty bottle of bitters in my liquor…read morecabinet! I made the drive to Happy Hour Liquor to check it out and give an entrepreneur my business. Ondie was a great help. He asked which drink I was planning to make, and naturally I had my two-page list on hand. Together we searched the web to determine the best pick. We have something in common since we've both recently moved back to Lexington, and we agree that it rocks. Then he gave me a sneak peek of their future bourbon bar. I'm first in line when it opens! You'll find Ondie behind the bar. He made me promise to bring my list so we can concoct some libations. My new friend! Here's a tip: if you're looking for an alternative route to Nicholasville Road, take the Harrodsburg to Keene Road connection. Such a beautiful drive past a couple of horse farms.

The bourbon assortment is off the charts as is the service. Into single barrels but a little…read morehesitant to try a new one- free sample tastes of any single barrel they have in store, I've never seen that before Excellent experience and overly knowledgeable staff!

Quaint and interesting layout. Has outside and inside seating at bar or bar like room in back. Had…read morea Chicago dog with an extra big "dog". It was delicious if not a bit spicy with all of the sport peppers. Had the bourbon slushy- it's a must recommend!! Delicious!!! Wanted more! Beer was ok. The potato chips were a bit underwhelming at $2.

We loved this quick, neat little stop! We had been traveling the bourbon trail and came across Sig…read moreLuscher. I'm so glad we stopped. It's a neat little brewery with a front patio and back patio. The service was wonderful and friendly! The hotdogs were DELICIOUS! They were so unique! I would definitely stop by there again if I'm ever in the area