A (sweet!) 16: Courier Journal's Bourbon Bar Showdown enters Round 2. Here's how to vote

Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal
·6 min read
Courier Journal Bourbon Bar Showdown: Round of 16 Bracket
Courier Journal Bourbon Bar Showdown: Round of 16 Bracket

It's a (sweet!) sixteen. The Courier Journal's Bourbon Bar Showdown, where we want you to pick between competitors to decide which is Louisville's favorite bourbon bar, has entered round two, with 16 bars facing off against each other.

The online bracket-style competition, which was compiled using a random match-up generator, will run over five rounds now through March 27, with the champion bar announced on March 29.

You can vote up to eight times per day at CourierJournal.com. Here's what to know:

Which bars are in round two of the Courier Journal's Bourbon Bar Showdown?

Matchup 17: Porch Kitchen and Bar vs. Merle's Whiskey Kitchen

Porch Kitchen and Bar

280 W. Jefferson St., porchlouisville.com, Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5-10 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5-10 p.m.

Porch Kitchen & Bar in Louisville, Kentucky
Porch Kitchen & Bar in Louisville, Kentucky

Porch Kitchen and Bar in downtown Louisville at the Marriott Hotel serves comfort food and an impressive bourbon and cocktail menu.

Merle's Whiskey Kitchen

122 W Main St., merleswhiskeykitchen.com, Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight

Merle's Whiskey Kitchen on 122 W. Main St. in downtown Louisville. Feb. 17, 2023
Merle's Whiskey Kitchen on 122 W. Main St. in downtown Louisville. Feb. 17, 2023

This downtown bar was were recently named one of America’s Best Bourbon Bars and features a wide selection of bourbon plus draft beers, cocktails, and mixed drinks. Merle's Whiskey Kitchen is also certified by the Stave & Thief Society and is on the Urban Bourbon Trail. It features six hand-picked barrels, including ones from Buffalo Trace, Jefferson's Reserve, and Maker's Mark 46.

Matchup 18: Doc Crow's Bourbon Room vs. 21st In Germantown

Doc Crow's Bourbon Room

127 W. Main St., doccrows.com, Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

A wall of rare bourbons lines the wall where customers enter inside the new Doc's Bourbon Room space beside Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar on Main Street. Jan. 29, 2020
A wall of rare bourbons lines the wall where customers enter inside the new Doc's Bourbon Room space beside Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar on Main Street. Jan. 29, 2020

This bar in downtown Louisville, which sits in the space behind Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar, boasts "the widest selection" of bourbon found in Kentucky, according to its website.

21st In Germantown

1481 S. Shelby St., 21stgermantown.com, Hours: Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday-Saturday, 4 p.m. to 4 a.m., Sunday, 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.

21st in Germantown at 1438 Shelby St. in Germantown neighborhood of Louisville. Feb. 17, 2023
21st in Germantown at 1438 Shelby St. in Germantown neighborhood of Louisville. Feb. 17, 2023

This Germantown bar and restaurant is located in a historic building and serves burgers and sandwiches, wings, tenders, mac & cheese balls, sides and two desserts. The bar serves beer and cocktails, has an extensive bourbon collection and the venue hosts regular live music and karaoke events.

Matchup 19: Old Seelbach Bar vs. Neat Bourbon Bar

Old Seelbach Bar

500 S 4th. St., seelbachhilton.com/dining, Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 5-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.

The Seelbach Hotel at 500 S. 4th Street, shown on Aug. 23 2021, is one of the sites that was important in the women's suffrage movement in Louisville, Ky.
The Seelbach Hotel at 500 S. 4th Street, shown on Aug. 23 2021, is one of the sites that was important in the women's suffrage movement in Louisville, Ky.

This authentically restored, early 1900s bar features an expansive bourbon collection at the historic Seelbach Hilton Hotel in downtown Louisville.

Neat Bourbon Bar

1139 Bardstown Road, neatbottlebar.com, Hours: Monday-Friday, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., Saturday, 11 a.m., to 12 a.m., and Sunday 1-10 p.m.

Neat Bourbon Bar & Bottle Shop on Bardstown Road. Nov. 9, 2021
Neat Bourbon Bar & Bottle Shop on Bardstown Road. Nov. 9, 2021

Neat Bourbon Bar is a vintage bourbon bar and bottle shop located on Bardstown Road in the Highlands. This bar will offer a plethora of different bourbons at a $5-10 price point all the way up to a "black card" experience for more rare and expensive bottles.

Matchup 20: Silver Dollar vs. Gertie's Whiskey Bar

Silver Dollar

1761 Frankfort Ave., whiskeybythedrink.com, Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 5-10 p.m., Friday, 5-11:30 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This historic Frankfort Avenue bar and restaurant embodies all things bourbon, with its slogan "Whiskey by the drink." The Silver Dollar serves bourbon flights, classic cocktails, wine, beer and non-alcoholic drinks.

Gertie's Whiskey Bar

821 E Market St., gertieswhiskeybar.com/speakeasy, Hours: Monday, 4-10 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday, 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., Friday-Saturday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday 2-10 p.m.

The Gertie’s Old Fashioned from Gertie’s is a homemade brown butter bounded bourbon, pecan syrup and bitters.
The Gertie’s Old Fashioned from Gertie’s is a homemade brown butter bounded bourbon, pecan syrup and bitters.

This speakeasy in the NuLu Marketplace serves more than 100 bottles of whiskey and 11 single-barrel selects chosen by chef Matt Bolus, who also heads a bar in Nashville. All cocktails at the Gertie's are $14 and include classics like an old fashioned, margarita, vesper and spring sangria. The bar also serves about a dozen kinds of beer and wine.

Matchup 21: Barn 8 vs. Watch Hill Proper

Barn 8

10500 W Hwy 42, Goshen, hermitagefarm.com/food-bourbon/barn8-restaurant/, Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 5-10 p.m.

Barn 8 at Hermitage Farm is one of the handfuls of bars around Louisville that buys vintage bottles from private sellers to offer as part of its collection. It boasts a large collection of bourbon, including Knob Creek, Buffalo Trace and Mitchter's.

Watch Hill Proper

11201 River Beauty Loop, watchhillproper.com, Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.

The inside look at Watch Hill Proper in Norton Commons.
The inside look at Watch Hill Proper in Norton Commons.

Watch Hill Proper opened in mid-2022 in a sprawling, 5,200-square-foot space in Norton Commons. The front waiting room has a name —The Fermenter — and its own bar. Inside, leather chairs are spread out in lounge seating, with low light and bourbon barrels on display. Parties are seated and waited on by barkeepers at their seats.

Matchup 22: North of Bourbon vs. Taj Louisville

North of Bourbon

935 Goss Ave., facebook.com/NorthofBourbon, Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight, Friday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

North of Bourbon bar and restaurant features a southern-inspired menu, cocktails, beer, and more than 300 bourbons.
North of Bourbon bar and restaurant features a southern-inspired menu, cocktails, beer, and more than 300 bourbons.

This bourbon bar and restaurant features a southern-inspired menu, cocktails, beer and more than 300 bourbons. The crawfish boudin balls are a North of Bourbon staple, but the seasonal shrimp yakamein is a top seller. Synonymous with New Orleans drinking culture, the dish — made with gulf shrimp sausage, local spaghetti, Louisiana chili crisp, scallions, crispy onions, and shrimp broth — is said to cure a hangover.

Taj Louisville

807 E. Market St., gotolouisville.com/directory/taj-louisville/, Hours: Monday-Friday, 4 p.m. to 4 a.m., Saturday-Sunday, 12 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Taj Louisville sits in the heart of Louisville's NuLu neighborhood. It's known for its late-night hours and commitment to bourbon cocktails.

Matchup 23: Proof on Main vs. Outlook Inn

Proof on Main

702 W. Main St., proofonmain.com, Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The hotel bar at Proof on Main was named one of the 10 best by USA Today. The Gold Rush cocktail might have helped.
The hotel bar at Proof on Main was named one of the 10 best by USA Today. The Gold Rush cocktail might have helped.

Proof on Main at 21c Hotel in downtown menu boasts a menu that showcases a unique, modern approach to locally-sourced cuisine. It also has an extensive bourbon list and cocktail program.

Outlook Inn

916 Baxter Ave., instagram.com/outlookinn_louisville, Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. to 4 a.m.

The Outlook Inn at 916 Baxter Avenue in Louisville's Highlands. Feb. 17, 2023
The Outlook Inn at 916 Baxter Avenue in Louisville's Highlands. Feb. 17, 2023

The Outlook Inn is a local neighborhood tavern that has been owned and operated by the same family since 1974 and has operated as some type of tavern since 1860. It's known for its top-notch Bloody Marys and a "secret" bourbon menu for those in the know.

Matchup 24: Sidebar at Whiskey Row vs. Hell or High Water

Sidebar at Whiskey Row

129 N 2nd St., facebook.com/SidebarLou, Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, 12-10 p.m.

Inside Backside on Whiskey Row.
Inside Backside on Whiskey Row.

This sophisticated spot for premium burgers is also known for its big menu of bourbon and beers in historic digs. According to its website, you can order a Barrel Aged Cocktail or Classic Bourbon Cocktail from its extensive menu.

Hell or High Water

112 W. Washington St., hellorhighwaterbar.com/offerings, Hours: Wednesday, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m., Thursday-Saturday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

To find Hell or High Water, you first have to find Hello Curio, a "curated gallery" that marks the entrance to the speakeasy in downtown Louisville. It's a tiny room located on the back side of Whiskey Row, with a white globe illuminating its entrance. It serves a large variety of cocktails and bourbons, including its single-barrel collection of Russel's Reserve and Fort Hamilton.

How can I vote in the Bourbon Bar Showdown?

The competition includes five rounds, with each lasting five days. Round two, involving eight matchups, starts at 5 a.m. Thursday (March 2) and end at midnight Monday (March 6). The full schedule is below.

Pick a bar from each pairing. You can vote up to eight times per day.

What is the Bourbon Bar Showdown voting schedule?

Each round of voting runs from 5 a.m. Thursday to midnight Monday. Round results will be announced Wednesdays. The winner will be announced March 29.

  • Round 2: 16 bars; Voting March 2-6. Results announced March 8

  • Round 3: Eight bars; March 9-13. Results announced March 15

  • Round 4: Four bars; March 16-20. Results announced March 22

  • Round 5: Two bars; March 23-27. The winner announced March 29

How were the bars selected?

The bars were selected by members of the Courier Journal newsroom based on a variety of criteria, including the number of bourbons offered, the variety of bourbons offered, and private barrel programs.

Reach Features Editor Kathryn Gregory at kgregory@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: How to vote in Courier Journal Bourbon Bar Showdown Round 2