Sense of Place:
A key part of the city experience
In association with
HMSHost’s Book & Bourbon Southern Kitchen at Louisville International Airport has become an official stop on Kentucky’s Urban Bourbon Trail – making it a vital part of Louisville’s Bourbon culture.
Toasting the first Urban Bourbon Trail stop at Louisville International Airport (from left to right): Louisville International Airport Executive Director Dan Mann; HMSHost Executive Vice President of Restaurant Development Stephanie Havard; Urban Bourbon Trail/Louisville Tourism representative Katie Kubitskey and Louisville Metro Government Louisville Forward Chief Mary Ellen Wiederwohl.
What better way to become part of the local bar and restaurant scene than to be recognised as an official stop on a cultural trail.
That’s exactly what has happened to HMSHost-run Book & Bourbon Southern Kitchen at Louisville International Airport, which was specially created to celebrate Kentucky’s rich bourbon heritage.
The bar/restaurant has been recognised as an official stop on Kentucky’s Urban Bourbon Trail.
The trail, which is supported by Louisville Tourism, is Kentucky’s version of a self-guided pub tour where participants get a passport and collect stamps at official participating bars and restaurants. Part of the criteria to become a stop on the trail is to offer over 50 different bourbons and to support Louisville’s significant Bourbon culture.
Book & Bourbon certainly earns it place. It highlights over 85 bourbons, including several rare labels, in a “contemporary speakeasy” atmosphere. Customers are encouraged to engage with staff to learn about tasting notes and distilling history.
Book & Bourbon Southern Kitchen offers over 85 different bourbons in a “contemporary speakeasy” atmosphere.
“It is a great honour to be part of the Urban Bourbon Trail, a Louisville tradition that highlights the city’s best local bourbon bars and restaurants,” said HMSHost Executive Vice President Restaurant Development Stephanie Havard.
“We are excited to invite anyone interested in the trail to visit us in the airport for the full Book & Bourbon experience and to get their passports stamped while they take part in Kentucky’s bourbon heritage.”
After making a purchase, guests receive a stamp in their passport and with six stamps they can claim an Urban Bourbon Trailblazer t-shirt available at the Louisville Visitor Centre.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer commented: “Thanks in part to Bourbonism, our city is welcoming more than 16 million visitors annually, and with the addition of Book & Bourbon Southern Kitchen to the Urban Bourbon Trail, it’s never been easier for guests to responsibly enjoy our native spirit.”
A Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned is the featured cocktail for the Urban Bourbon Trail.
As an official stop on the trail, guests can pick up passports, including a new annual edition, at Book & Bourbon Southern Kitchen and begin their Urban Bourbon Trail journey at the airport. A Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned is Book & Bourbon’s featured cocktail for the Urban Bourbon Trail but guests interested in getting their passport stamp can make any food, beverage or retail purchase within the restaurant to qualify.
We applaud this achievement and the way in which HMSHost has captured Sense of Place with Book & Bourbon. As a reinforcement of its credentials, the concept was named Airport Food & Beverage Offer Best Reflecting ‘Sense of Place’ at the 2017 Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards.
The Moodie Davitt e-Zine | Issue 249 | 11 October 2018