Savoring Bourbon, and Its Storied History, in Northern Kentucky
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The Story of Bar B’s: How a Beer Store Became Kentucky’s First
There’s one bar that’s almost as iconic as the Kentucky Derby, and that’s Bar B’s in Lexington.
Not only is Bar B’s the unofficial “house” for bourbon, it’s arguably the oldest bar in the state, with roots going back to the mid-1800s.
Bar B’s is the oldest continuously operated bar in Kentucky.
It’s also the longest continuous running bar in the state.
If you ever wanted to know exactly why Bar B’s was founded in what looks like every single Kentucky bar, the short answer is a long time ago, back in the 1860s, just after Kentucky was created.
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad ran a line through the area, and once the line was built, it became the main commercial hub for Lexington and its surrounding area.
“We had everything: saloons, stores, restaurants, lodging, everything you’d need to start a successful business that would have been worth a lot of money if you had enough capital to build the business,” says Tom Stoddard, owner of Bar B’s.
It wasn’t until a few years later, in 1870, a man by the name of James F. White, from Lexington, decided that the area was too small for the big hotels he believed would be built there due to the growth of downtown.
“He thought Lexington needed a hub, and Lexington needed a hub to be a place to live and a place to do business,” Stoddard explains.
In order to build and operate a profitable bar, White realized he needed to focus on one key aspect: a beer store.
“He came up with the idea that he wanted to have as many different kinds of beers as he
