Neat Bourbon Bar and Bottle Shop
On Sunday, my besties came into town from Northern Kentucky as we had been planning a visit to Neat Bourbon Bar and Bottle Shop in the Highlands for quite some time. Our first stop was Publix of course for a PubSub. This was the second PubSub for me in a week. The first time we spent 90 minutes in the deli line and I’m happy to report we only spent 45 minutes in line on Sunday.
The first time we went to Publix they were out of sriracha and couldn’t make the sriracha chicken sub for me so I ordered the jerk turkey sub instead. This time the sriracha was back and I ordered the sriracha chicken sub. I couldn’t help but notice that the deli workers weren’t quite in sync. My pretty lady ordered an Italian sub. She likes that it’s 26 grams of protein and bursting with flavor. Towards the end of the deli line, it wasn’t as well-coordinated. I recall there being slight confusion on what dressing to put on the Italian sub. We should have Googled Italian PubSub so we could have communicated it to the staff. My bestie thought there should have been two different people wrapping sandwiches and weighing them. Having one person wrap, weight, and print the price sticker slowed the line down.
We had heard that 90 Publix employees traveled to Kentucky to train the new Louisville team. It was obvious they were no longer at this new Publix. I’m confident the newly trained Publix subartists will find their groove soon.
We grabbed chips and drinks, checked out, and took the elevator upstairs to enjoy our subs. It was bright and airy with plenty of seats. I was pleasantly surprised to see a sink outside the restrooms for people to wash their hands before eating. We enjoyed the view outside and watching everyone down below do their grocery shopping. I’m definitely taking my pretty lady back to enjoy a meal in the upstairs dining area. She loves people watching going about their daily lives and interacting with others. I have no doubt the bustling rush periods will keep her highly entertained for a good while.
Before we left Publix we had to check out their bourbon selection. The lady working was so happy to see us and even offered to throw away my empty Dr. Pepper bottle. She made us feel welcomed and appreciated! Publix has a great selection of bourbon from top-shelf to affordable options. Chicken Cock Whiskey caught my eye. I like their bottle and look forward to trying that one soon.
We headed on down to the Highlands to experience Neat. We have been following Neat on Instagram for a while and had a feeling what it would be like. My buddy Mark and I enjoyed checking out their bottles (vintage and new) in the shop next to the bar. I smelled Pho and noticed the guy working was enjoying an early dinner. Anyone who likes Pho and bourbon is someone I want to strike up a conversation with.
The bottle lockers were handcrafted and the warm yellow-toned lights showcased the bottles perfectly. The entire display was eye-catching, and stylish and looked secure. We enjoyed checking out all their storage lockers and were impressed with their selection.
Next door is Neat Bourbon Bar and immediately when I walked in I felt the chill vibe. There’s something special about leather tufted sofas that lend to a warm and welcoming ambiance. We sat down in swivel-cushioned chairs and checked out the menu. When we were ready to order we decided to sit at the bar to enjoy our drinks and admire the impressive bourbon display.
After the Italian PubSub, my pretty lady was craving something sweet. She ordered the Old Fashioned Infused Ice Cream with oat milk, J.T.S. Brown BIB bourbon, vanilla, bitters, and a cherry. When she sees J.T.S. Brown it always catches her eye. John Thompson Street Brown, Sr. is buried in Cave Hill Cemetery and is a featured final resting place on her Bourbon Legends Tour (www.bourbonlegendstour.com). She loves telling people J.T.S. Brown BIB pairs well with Snickers. She’s not wrong. LOL.
I sampled Michter’s Celebration South Mash (2022) and Wild Turkey Generations. My buddy Mark has a refined palate and always provides exceptional tasting notes. He has helped me a great deal in articulating my tasting notes. We always have a great time together and our time at Neat was fun.
The ambiance, vibe, and bourbon selection truly exceeded my expectations. The bartender was a fantastic conversationalist. And if you’re wondering if there is a hook in the restroom there is! My pretty lady was sure to check the restroom while we were there.
Have you been to Neat and what did you think? Hit me up on IG @bourbondappergent or comment below!
