New hidden speakeasy-style wine bar in Distillery District is one for the books

Nearly a century after speakeasies first rose to prominence during the Prohibition era, one local business owner is reviving the concept in Lexington’s Distillery District with her own unique spin.

On Valentine’s Day weekend the Book Club launched inside District 7 Social with a speaking engagement led by Richmond-based author Wes Browne and wine pairings tied to the characters and plot twists within his latest novel, “They All Fall The Same.”

According to owner (and wine connoisseur) Rebecca Burnworth, the idea to tie together the two hobbies initially came about as a joke in response to her limited experience attending book clubs.

“Any book club that I’ve ever been invited to might include a little talking about books, but it’s mostly just an excuse to get together and drink wine,” says Burnworth. “It’s my funny way of presenting wine and bringing it down from pretentious to approachable.”

How To Enter The Book Club?

Patrons can find the speakeasy by taking the hallway back toward District 7’s kitchen until they see a large bookcase on the left containing a golden lizard figurine serving as a door handle that, when pulled, reveals the hidden bar. Walking inside feels almost like entering the wardrobe in a C.S. Lewis book, going from the buzz of TVs, chatting and clanking of duckpin bowling inside District 7 to the warm and cozy ambiance of Book Club.

It’s also much better use of the room, which was previously an underutilized bakery and dessert space prior to the transformation.

“We figured out that we needed a quiet corner because duckpin bowling, while fun, can also get a bit loud,” says Burnworth. “I told myself that if I got one of the package licenses the state released last year that I would open a wine bar, and I got it.”

Book Club’s Wine Menu

Since getting her license and opening the bar, Burnworth has built up a hefty collection of about 50 low intervention wines from small producers in France, Croatia, Spain, stateside and beyond. While most glasses fall within the $11-$20 range and the bulk of bottles average between $15-$100, she does have a few more exotic choices reaching up to $500 a bottle available as well.

She also features a selection of small-batch canned wines and a rotating sub-menu of wines dubbed “Rebecca’s Picks” that contains a selection of her personal favorites.

“The picks are reflective of what’s really knocking my socks off at the moment,” says Burnworth. “Trying them all has also made me realize how wines can help to tell the story of a region similar to someone like Silas (House) doing the same in one of his books. I’m just trying to find wines that are ‘terroir,’ a French word meaning ‘of the land,’ and look forward to continuing to share that journey with our patrons.”

However, despite Book Club’s fixation on wine, it’s far from the only spirits and drinks it serves. Burnworth also keeps a handful of bourbons behind the bar along with CBD creations, non-alcoholic beverages and Italian sodas — carbonated water topped with flavored syrup and whipped cream. Although the wine attracts a more female-oriented clientele, Burnworth insists there’s no gate-keeping inside the Club, with the wide array of concoctions available a representation of that.

“There’s a lot of men and women alike who love a good bourbon just as much as they do a fine wine, we just wanted to really lean into the feminine to give ladies a place to call their own with this concept.”

Book Club Wine Room

Where: 1170 Manchester St #160

Hours: 4-10 p.m. Thursday, 4 p.m.-12 a.m. Friday-Saturday, 4-9 p.m. Sunday, by appointment Monday-Wednesday

Online: Instagram.com/Book_Club_Wine_Room

This story was originally published June 4, 2025 at 4:55 AM.