Lexington Bourbon Week: 24 special cocktails featuring Kentucky spirits

The third annual Lexington Bourbon Week returns Nov. 6 to Nov. 15 with specialty cocktails at restaurants and bars around town.

The 10-day celebration of Kentucky’s native spirit is produced by Smiley Pete Publishing and presented by Give 270, which raises money for non-profit organizations through weekly raffles of sought-after bourbons.

This year, 20 restaurants and bars will serve two dozen unique, off-menu bourbon cocktails featuring one of the event’s partner bourbons: Castle & Key, Bespoken, James E. Pepper or Never Say Die.

Participating local restaurants and bars include Athenian Grill, Azur, Barrel 53, Belle’s Cocktail House, Bespoken Spirits Lounge, Coles 735 Main, Chevy Chase Inn, Drake’s Eppings on Eastside, Goodwood, Granddam at The Manchester, Honeywood, The Kentucky Castle, The Lost Palm, Malone’s Merrick Inn, Mileta, Nic & Norman’s, OBC Kitchen, Paddock Bourbon Club, Rackhouse Tavern, The Thirsty Fox and more.

Here’s what each restaurant is offering.

Athenian Grill The Odyssey

Bespoken bourbon, bitters, simple syrup, ouzo rinse, lemon garnish in chilled glass for $12. Athenian Grill, 3801 Mall Road #120. Open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Athenian Grill Tales from Thermopylae

Bespoken rye, Metaxa, sweet vermouth, ouzo, Angostura bitters, citrus bitters, orange peel & cherry garnish for $14. Athenian Grill, 3801 Mall Road #120. Open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Azur Mind your Nanners

James E. Pepper 1776, pecan and banana liqueurs with cinnamon simple syrup. Served up with a brûlée banana slice for $15. Azur, Lakecrest Circle #550. Open Monday through Thursday 4 to 9 p.m., Friday and Satuday 4 to 10 p.m., Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 2:30p.m., 4 to 10 p.m.

Belle’s Cocktail House Kentucky Breakfast

Brown butter-washed, pecan-infused barrel -proof James E. Pepper bourbon, barrel-aged maple syrup and black walnut bitters, garnished with orange peel and a cherry. Price not available. Belle’s Cocktail House, 156 Market Street. Open Thursday through Saturday 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Bespoken Spirits Lounge Autumn Mule

Bespoken bourbon, apple cider and lemon juice, topped with ginger beer and garnished with apple, cinnamon stick and a lemon twist for $10. Bespoken Spirits Lounge, 101 W. Loudon Ave. #132. Open Wednesday noon to 7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m.

Chevy Chase Inn Be Spoken Redeye

The best bourbon cocktail only needs two things: a great bourbon and a glass! The Redeye takes this up a notch by pairing a pour of Bespoken Bourbon with a pint of Chevy Chase Lager, for $9. Chevy Chase Inn, 833 Euclid Ave. Open Monday through Thursday 2 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday 3:30 p.m. to midnight.

Coles 735 Main Bluegrass Shakedown

Never Say Die bourbon, house-made spiced honey syrup, Wisebird “Pommeau,” lemon, candied-ginger rim for $14. Coles 735, 735 East Main Street. Open Monday through Thursday 4 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4 to 10 p.m.

Drake’s Smoked Old Fashioned

Castle & Key bourbon, simple syrup, angostura bitters, black walnut bitters; served smoked for $8. Drake’s, 1880 Pleasant Ridge Drive (Hamburg), 390 E. Brannon Road (Nicholasville; Brannon Crossing) and 3347 Tates Creek Road. Open daily 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Eppings on Eastside Not Dead Yet

A riff on a classic tiki drink called “the undead gentleman,” with Never Say Die Bourbon, grapefruit juice, lime juice, house-made toasted fall falernum and Angostura bitters, shaken and served in an absinthe-rinsed martini glass for $14. Eppings on Eastside, 264 Walton Ave. Open Tuesday through Thursday 4 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4 to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Goodwood Square Meal

Sweet and spicy cocktail featuring Bespoken Bourbon and Goodwood hot sauce, garnished with cucumber for $12. Goodwood, 200 Lexington Green Circle, Suite 110. Open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Honeywood Nutty by Nature

Toasted pecan infused Old Pepper Bottled in Bond, house apple bitters & local maple for $14. Honeywood, 110 Summit At Fritz Farm #140. Open Monday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

James E. Pepper Distillery Bourbon Flight

Enjoy a curated tasting featuring Decanter Gold, Decanter Single Barrel, Decanter Barrel Proof for $22. James E. Pepper Distillery, 1228 Manchester Street Unit 100. Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Kentucky Castle Pepper Peach Punch

James E. Pepper bourbon mixed with our homemade peach punch, topped with ginger ale and garnished with a lime wedge for $15. The Kentucky Castle, 230 Pisgah Pike in Versailles. Open daily 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday through Thursday 5 to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 5 to 9 p.m.

Lost Palm Summer Solstice

A Riff on a Mai Tai, 1776 James E. Pepper Rye, Allspice Dram, Orgeat, Passionfruit Syrup, Lime Juice for $16. Lost Palm, 941 Manchester Street. Open daily 4 to 11 p.m.

Malone’s Pecan Old Fashioned

Castle & Key bourbon, pecan syrup, angostura bitters, black walnut bitters for $9. Malone’s, 3347 Tates Creek Road (Lansdowne), 3735 Palomar (Palomar) and 1920 Pleasant Ridge (Hamburg). Open daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Manchester - Granddam Lounge Midnight Rain

A Riff on a Boulevardier: Midnight Rain made with 1776 James E. Pepper Rye, Campari, Sweet Vermouth, Patron XO Coffee Liqueur, Aperol Aperitivo for $16. The Manchester Hotel’s Granddam, 941 Manchester Street. Open Sunday through Wednesday 4 to 11 p.m., Thursday and Saturday 4 p.m. to midnight.

Merrick Inn Bespoken Breakfast Old Fashioned

Bespoken Twice Toasted Bourbon, breakfast-infused whiskey, banana Liqueur and black walnut bitters, finished with house-made candied bacon and a caramelized banana for $13. Merrick Inn, 1074 Merrick Drive. Open Monday through Saturday 4 to 11 p.m.

Mileta Pepper Harvest

James Pepper 1776 Rye, Blood Orange Liqueur, black pepper syrup, Amaro Nonino, lemon juice, orange bitters, black sesame-infused coconut oil garnish for $15. Mileta, 3565 Nicholasville Road, Suite 932. Open Wednesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Nic & Norman’s Blackberry Derby

Bespoken Bourbon, house-infused blackberry mint syrup, agave, lemon juice and blackberries for $13. Nic & Norman’s, 135 W. Main Street. Open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

OBC Cherry Cinnamon Toast Crunch Boulevardier

Cinnamon Toast Crunch milk-washed Castle & Key bourbon, Lillet Rouge dark cherry reduction, Italian amaro and aperitif, fruit and aromatic bitters for $10. OBC Kitchen, 3373 Tates Creek Road. Open Monday through Thursday 3 to 10 p.m., Friday 3 to 11 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Paddock Bourbon Club Paddock Sidecar

James E. Pepper bourbon, lemon juice and Grand Gala orange liqueur, shaken and served in a coupe with a brown sugar rim. Price NA. Paddock Bourbon Club, 319 S. Limestone. Open Monday through Friday 3 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Rackhouse Tavern/Campbell House Bespoken Campfire

Bespoken Bourbon, rosemary honey, lemon for $14. Rackhouse Tavern, 1375 S. Broadway. Open Monday through Friday 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday 4 to 11 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 11 p.m.

Thirsty Fox at Zim’s Cafe Oh My Gourd

Bespoken Toasted Bourbon, Fieldtrip Squash Amaro, honey ginger syrup, nutmeg, lemon, served up with cinnamon for $14. Thirsty Fox, 215 W Main Street #50. Open Monday through Friday 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday 4 to 11 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 11 p.m.

This story was originally published November 5, 2025 at 4:30 AM.

Janet Patton

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-379-5233

Janet Patton covers restaurants, bars, food and bourbon for the Herald-Leader. She is an award-winning business reporter who also has covered agriculture, gambling, horses and hemp. Support my work with a digital subscription