B-Line located in Northern Kentucky a perfect place to create your own unique experience centered around three Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour Distilleries and five bourbon-centric bars. Along the Ohio river, but a short distance from the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Disclosure: We were hosted by the Northern Kentucky CVB, which provided some complimentary experiences and hotel stays. All thoughts, opinions and typos are my own.

I know what you’re thinking some the best bourbon paired with some amazing food yes that is correct. During a recent visit to Covington I had the chance to enjoy a weekend checking out what hype is all about regarding The B-Line. Please believe the hype. Here is a quick guide on how to make the most of short trip to the area and maximize your B-Line experience.

Where To Stay- (Arriving Friday Afternoon)

Embassy Suites Cincinnati Riverfront an all-suite hotel on the
Covington-Cincinnati riverfront with amazing views of downtown Cincinnati. Check in and enjoy a nightly manager’s reception from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm. From 6:00 am-10:30 enjoy a fresh cooked to order breakfast each morning. (the photo below is the view from our river view suite)

Photo Credit Embassy Suite by Hilton

I recommend making a reservation and having dinner around 8:00 p.m at Bouquet Restaurant & Wine Bar. Bouquet is a very nice upscale farm-to-table bistro with extensive bourbon menu and a delicious food. There’s something for everyone pick from small plates, entrees, and desserts. Bouquet’s utilizes the best products from over fifty farmers and purveyors.

We’re still raving about our experience here’s what we ordered:

Deviled Crab Dip with oyster mushrooms and buttermilk biscuit crumble for starters.

After dinner drinks in Mainstrasse Village at any of the B-Line bars: Wiseguy Lounge Bourbon Haus 1841, or Old Kentucky BourbonBar is the perfect night cap.
Saturday

After breakfast a little before noon head on over to New Riff Distilling which is a 7 minute drive from the Embassy Suite by Hilton. I recommend purchasing advance tickets to for the Bonded Tour which includes a tasting of 3 spirits, distillery guided tour, and your ticket cost can be applied toward your purchase in the gift store if you spend over $25. The tour will last about an hour and the tasting is roughly 20 minutes. We had a fun time and decided we couldn’t leave empty handed. The New Riff Bourbon 100 proof was very smooth and the Bourbon Balls were irresistibly tasty. While at New Riff grab your B-Line Line Guide and Passport so you can get it stamped at every stop.

New Riff Distilling

The mission is simple: to someday be counted among the world’s great small distilleries. Becoming one of the great small distilleries of the world is a long term play, with no exact ring to win, or title to be declared. Founded in 2014 by Ken Lewis, a visionary Kentucky liquor retailer and entrepreneur, New Riff is led by a team of corporate refugees ranging from craft beer to politics and more. Independently owned by one family, and that independence, the freedom from outside pressures and interests has allowed us to make an unforeseen declaration for quality: for perhaps the first time since the inception of the Bottled in Bond Act in 1897, a Kentucky sour mash whiskey distillery has committed itself exclusively to that quality standard, the world’s highest. New Riff crafts a range of whiskeys Bourbon, Rye, and eventually Malted Rye and a host of specialty recipes as well as Kentucky Wild Gin.

Tousey House Tavern

By 2:00 pm you should be hungry and ready for a late lunch Tousey House Tavern has delicious crab cakes, a mouth-watering ribeye sandwiches, and a variety of other menu items to choose from.

I was just sharing with you our favorites. Tousey House Tavern is a house that was made into a restaurant very modern with a nice open patio offering additional seating. Free parking is located across the street reservations are highly recommended. I noticed there appeared to be a number of people that visit the Tousey House Tavern often what a wonderful place to fellowship.

“A Restaurant serving good food at fair prices is a gift of civilized fellowship to the community, a meeting place, a source of nourishment, a center for socializing.”

You may have seen my raves on social media about the Bourbon Cream Boone County Distilling Co is where I purchased it after the tasting and tour experience. The Bourbon Cream is delicious over ice, blended with a boozy shake, or added into a cup of coffee. The Straight Bourbon was pretty smooth so we picked up a bottle to share when we have guest over.

The tour and tasting booth take about an hour. This year Boone County Distilling will celebrate their four year anniversary and for the first time barrel their first batch of bourbon barreled back in 2015.

Boone County Distilling

In 1833 in Kentucky’s Boone County, a region of proud limestone hills that gradually fell to their knees at the banks of the Ohio River, a man named William Snyder made a decision that would impact the region 182 years later: He decided to buy a flour mill. Within three years he had begun operating a distillery in conjunction with the mill. Soon, his whiskey business was one of the largest in the nation, and far exceeded his profits in flour. While we might consider Snyder an extraordinary man, he was typical of those with a pioneering spirit back in the day. They saw opportunity, and took risks. For them, the biggest risk was in doing nothing.

It’s in a similar pioneering spirit that Boone County Distilling Company is now making authentic bourbon whiskey in the northern hills of Kentucky. Their brand is a living tribute to those that came before, men like Snyder and others, including Col William Appleton, J.C. Jenkins and James Gaff. Julius Freiberg and Levi Workum. Their stories infuse the Boone County brand with truth and determination. They are all part of the story.

Exploring the B-Line was more than just a trip to eat and drink. For us it was about supporting local business owners and highlighting locations that have a passion for their local community. Sharing an honest review about the experience and providing knowledge when traveling helps others prepare their itinerary. The spirit of Kentucky has been good to us the folks are very welcoming so if you’re looking for a getaway check out https://www.meetnky.com/ or https://findyoursippingpoint.com/ and start planning your trip.