Lexington ice cream shop among 3 KY spots up for ‘Best Ice Cream in America’ title
Three Kentucky ice cream parlors will compete in The64’s tournament to determine who has the best ice cream in the country.
Lexington’s Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream made the bracket alongside The Comfy Cow and Dairy Del of Louisville.
Voting begins when the round of 64 kicks off on Thursday, July 16. Votes are cast on The64.com, a website that takes the “time-honored tradition” of sports tournament brackets and applies it to everyday debates. There, the “Best ice cream in America” bracket was created.
Championship voting will open on July 31 and close on Aug. 3. Participants can vote for about three days with voting opening at noon Eastern Time and closing three days later at 2:59 a.m.
Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream
What began at the Lexington family-owned Thai Orchid Cafe in 2010 grew to what it is today known as Crank & Boom.
The first storefront was opened in the distillery district in 2015. It’s this inaugural location that is competing in the bracket.
Their mission consists of three pillars: create joy, ignite laughter and inspire compassion. The shop uses local ingredients in some of their flavors, such as Hosey’s Honey from Midway and Windstone Farm blackberry jam.
The ice cream parlor has a second Lexington location on Clays Mill Road and a Summer pop up location in Frankfort at The Stave.
The Comfy Cow
The Comfy Cow was founded in Louisville in 2009 and has carried the ice cream tradition in the city ever since.
The ice cream shop’s only storefront is located off of Westport Road and Herr Lane.
The shop said they operate to provide the best overall experience for the community in which they put the people before the ice cream.
To accomplish this, The Comfy Cow promises customers they will use the best ingredients, to provide a space that could be a “home away from home,” and to always remain local through neighborhood hiring and locally sourced as much as possible.
Dairy Del
Located in the heart of Louisville on S. Shelby Street, Dairy Del Treatery has been serving the community with ice cream since 1951.
Dairy Del sells ice cream in a multitude of fashions including the standard soft serve, milkshakes, sundaes and waffle bowls.
Beyond the extensive ice cream menu, Dairy Del also serves cake, burgers, chicken, sandwiches, nachos and other “crowd favorites.”