barturtle Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Five restaurants join Urban Bourbon Trail Joining nine other bars and restaurants, Asiatique, Buck's, Corbett's, Equus & Jack's Lounge and Ramsi's Café on the World are the latest stops on the Urban Bourbon Trail Passport program.“The buzz about it has fueled its popularity and growth and really demanded its expansion,†says Stacey Yates, vice president of marketing and communications at the Greater <nobr style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" id="itxthook0w0nobr" class="itxtrst itxtrstnobr itxthooknobr">Louisville</nobr> Convention and Visitors Bureau, of the 3-year-old program. “Our chief concern was maintaining the authenticity. You're not going to see large chain restaurants be a part of this ... it defeats the purpose. “We spent the last year putting our heads together … we looked at our criteria and fine-tuned it,†says Yates. “It had become a local <nobr style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" id="itxthook1w0nobr" class="itxtrst itxtrstnobr itxthooknobr">restaurant</nobr> rumor that you needed 50 bourbons and bingo you were in it. But it's hard to define what a bourbon bar is.†Based on feedback from many of the 1,500 participants who have completed the passport program, Yates says she observed there's a bourbon bar for everyone. “That led us to say, ‘who are we to say what a bourbon bar is?' as long as they're willing to serve the minimum of 50 items and have three items on menu with bourbon, have interesting bourbon cocktails and have bourbon flights. Staff should be knowledgeable, not trying to pass off Jack Daniels as bourbon. It's important to really be able to talk about heritage.†To ensure program participants are having an “authentic and wonderful experience with Louisville hospitality,†Yates says, “we're going to have mystery shoppers go out (to check on the restaurants) because now we're recognized.†More information: www.justaddbourbon.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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