Maysville's Many Bourbon Bars Are Only an Hour and a Half Away

You’ve been on the Bourbon Trail, but you need a little more bourbon, don't you?

Luckily, the B-Line, Northern Kentucky’s bourbon tour, starts just south of the Ohio River. The B-Line has a huge presence in Northern Kentucky, including New Riff and several whiskey-oriented bars like Bourbon Haus 1841, but if you live in the Cincinnati area, you can go there any time. So why not take a day or two and explore the B-Line in Maysville, Kentucky, the southern gateway to the line?

Head an hour and a half south and discover some of the best bourbons the world has to offer. Not only can you sample bourbons at a variety of bars and restaurants, but you can also learn about the distilling process and bourbon history.

Bourbon was declared America’s native spirit by Congress in 1964. It is made of 51% corn and must be stored in new charred oak containers and cannot contain any additives. While it doesn’t have to be made in Kentucky, the limestone-tinged water of Kentucky makes the best bourbon in many experts’ opinion. Maysville has the Old Pogue Distillery (715 Germantown Rd), which is the 3rd oldest registered distillery in Kentucky.

The Old Pogue Distillery is run by the fifth and sixth generations of Pogues, with the original recipe which dates back to pre-Prohibition. At the distillery, you can go on a 40-60 minute tour, sample bourbon, and pick some up for sale.

You can also head to the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center (215 Sutton St) and go to the Old Pogue Experience. This museum exhibit covers the history of the Pogue family (all the way back to the 1791 Whiskey Tax Rebellion), the peak of bourbon making in the 1800s, Prohibition, and all the way to present day. You'll see artifacts from the Pogue family’s history and try Old Pogue’s Master Select and Old Maysville Club bourbons for $5.

The other stop on the B-Line in Maysville is Chandler’s Bar (212 Market St), next to the restaurant Chandler’s on Market. It carries not only Old Pogue, but many other Kentucky bourbons, both common and rare.

Not far down market is O’Rourkes Pub (123 Market St) and The CroweBar (220 Market St). Both feature live bands, happy hour, and a wide variety of beers in addition to bourbon (in case you need a break from bourbon). You can even visit the New Maysville Brewing Company while you're in town for some original brews to round out your trip.

Need a place to stay, a bite to eat, or enjoy other activities? Check out our recent round-up of what to do during an overnight trip to Maysville.

Want to put together an itinerary? Visit the Maysville Tourism Department or email them at info@cityofmaysville.com and they will be happy to help!