The Cincy Region is where the north meets the south and beer and bourbon come together. Did you know that Northern Kentucky is an Official Gateway® to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®? In addition, there is a bourbon tour that you can take right here in the Cincy Region. The B-Line ®  is Northern Kentucky’s self-guided bourbon tour, featuring distilleries all on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour®, bourbon bars, and restaurants with bourbon centered dishes. When you check-in at 2 distilleries, 2 bars, and 2 restaurants, The B-Line will send you free bourbon swag to celebrate! Here’s everything you need to know on how to sip and savor your way through this bourbon experience.

Getting Started

Two people's hands are are in the foreground, holding paper B-Line Guides. In the background is a bar with many bottles of bourbon.

To begin you will want to download your Digital Line Guide. This handy app will be your best friend as you plan your bourbon adventures. Not only are you able to check-in on the app to keep record of your travels, but there are also great deals to be had as well. Discounts on bourbon pours, free appetizers at restaurants, discounts on merchandise and more. If you prefer you can also pick up a paper copy of the Line Guide at any of The B-Line stops, but the discounts are only available in the digital version.

The Distilleries

A man in a black t-shirt rolls a barrel towards the camera in the rickhouse of Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta.
Neeley Family Distillery

There are seven distilleries on The B-Line, and all distilleries are members of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour®. While they have that in common, these distilleries have plenty of variety to suit everyone:  from a family that started making bourbon in 1876 to a distillery established in 2020, an 11th generation distiller that took the family business legal for the first time, 2 best friends that used to work for Cirque du Soleil, plus plenty of other amazing stories. Here are the distilleries:

  • Augusta Distillery – Augusta, KY
  • Boone County Distilling Co. – Independence, KY
  • Neeley Family Distillery – Sparta, KY
  • New Riff Distilling – Newport, KY
  • Second Sight Spirits – Ludlow, KY
  • The Old Pogue Distillery – Maysville, KY
  • Pensive Distilling Co. – Newport, KY

The Bars

A close up of two drinks being poured over large, square ice in rocks glasses.
Three Spirits Tavern

Not just any bar can become part of The B-Line. In fact, 8 of the 9 bars on The B-Line were named in the most recent “America’s Best Bourbon Bars” by The Bourbon Review (the 9th one wasn’t open at the time of the list publication). One of the requirements for becoming a bar stop on The B-Line is keeping a minimum of 100 different varieties of bourbon available to the customer. From dark speakeasys, to bustling sports bars known for their smoked meats, to bourbons from your year of birth (and older!), The B-Line bars are here for everything from casual Saturday afternoons or swanky after dinner cocktails. Here are the bars:

  • Knowledge Bar & Social Room – Covington, KY
  • Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar – Covington, KY
  • Prohibition Bourbon Bar – Newport, KY
  • Revival Vintage Spirits and Bottle Shop – Covington, KY
  • Rich’s Proper Food & Drink – Covington, KY
  • Smoke Justis – Covington, KY
  • The Globe – Covington, KY
  • Three Spirits Tavern – Bellevue, KY
  • Wiseguy Lounge – Covington, KY

The Restaurants

A hamburger and fries from Augusta Beehive Tavern.
Augusta Beehive Tavern

The 9 restaurants of The B-Line provide a range of delicious food options. Casual or fine dining, Italian, Southern, Farm to Table and more. There’s something for every palate among The B-Line restaurants. In addition to delicious food, B-Line restaurants offer a minimum of 50 different varieties of bourbon and at least one bourbon centered dish on their menu. The restaurants are:

  • Beehive Augusta Tavern – Augusta, KY
  • Bouquet Restaurant – Covington, KY
  • Caproni’s Restaurant – Maysville, KY
  • Coppin’s Restaurant – Covington, KY
  • Libby’s Southern Comfort – Covington, KY
  • Lisse Steakhuis – Covington, KY
  • Pompilio’s Restaurant – Newport, KY
  • Purple Poulet – Newport, KY
  • Tousey House Tavern – Burlington, KY

Getting Around

A black, passenger van sits on the street. In front of it are two small coolers. The image on the van says TourWithUsKy and has a picture of the state of Ky.
TourWithUsKy

Most of The B-Line stops are situated inside the urban core of Northern Kentucky and are largely walkable. However, there are options for stepping up your experience.

The Rewards

    A man sits facing away from the camera. The back of his shirt reads "If you hold a glass of bourbon to your ear you can hear the weekend". Behind him is another man, facing the camera and looking at the first man.A marble coaster with "The B Line" printed on it sits in front of an empty rocks glass etched with "The B Line".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We know, getting to see all these amazing distilleries, sample delicious bourbon, and getting your fill of exquisite food is a reward all of its own. However, if you check in or stamp your line guide at two restaurants, two bars, and two distilleries you can get your pick of fun and functional bourbon swag. Current offerings include:

  • T-Shirt – 4 designs
  • Whiskey Stones
  • Marble Coaster
  • Engraved Rocks Glass
  • Trucker Hat
  • Engraved Glen Cairn

 

That’s the basics of what you need to know about The B-Line. Thirsty for more? Find more information on each stop, suggested itineraries, and much more bourbon information on The B-Line’s website. Ready to start your adventure? Check out our great hotels to book your basecamp.