What does The Bar at Willett Distillery in Bardstown have in common with the Chandelier Bar in New Orleans; Lone Wolf Lounge in Savannah; Apothecary in Dallas; Devil’s Toboggan in Bozeman, Montana and John Brown’s Underground in Lawrence, Kansas? These watering holes are among the 20 semifinalists vying for the title of Outstanding Bar in the 2025 James Beard Awards.These prestigious culinary awards, named in honor of the renowned New York chef and pioneering television food personality, are given annually, and are considered the Oscars of the food and beverage industry. Although awards for America’s best chefs and restaurants have been handed out since 1990, a separate category honoring the country’s best bars wasn’t introduced until 2012 with the inaugural award being presented to Please Don’t Tell cocktail lounge in New York City.
The Bar at Willett is the only one of the 20 nominees associated with a distillery, and when first notified of its nomination in January, General Manager and Beverage Director Andrew Pope admitted to “being stunned.” “Since we’re located in such a small market, the Beard Awards weren’t even on our radar,” Pope says. The annual awards, which are national rather than regional in scope, generally focus attention on larger cities with vibrant cocktail and bar cultures such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, Dallas and Miami. Bardstown, even though the acknowledged Bourbon Capital of the World, traditionally hasn’t been the first place spirits experts look to for that trendsetting cocktail bar. In fact, the organization rarely looks to the Bluegrass State for any of its nominees. The only Kentucky winners in the 25-year history of the Beard awards have been Julian Van Winkle in 2011 for Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional; Beaumont Inn in 2015, a winner in the America’s Classics Best Restaurant/Chef category, and Louisville chef Edward Lee for his cookbook “Smoke & Pickles” in 2019.
This is The Bar at Willet’s first nomination, although Willett Master Distiller Drew Kulsveen has been nominated for a Beard award on five previous occasions in the category of “Outstanding Wine, Spirits or Beer Professional.” According to an official press release, The Bar at Willett’s nomination is a “reflection of its commitment to excellence in hospitality, craftsmanship and education designed to deliver an unparalleled guest experience.” As part of this unparalleled experience, the family-owned and operated distillery bar relies on a unique in-house, curated ice program used only in the Kentucky Bourbon industry. It allows the bar team to create complex cocktails with continuity in dilution, temperature and texture. It also relies on an elevated menu by chef John Sleasman, a master at creating imaginative small plates using a plethora of local and regional ingredients. Visitors love pairing a vintage bourbon flight with menu choices such as smoked trout dip with twice-baked saltines, Rock Shrimp with corn, poblano, squash and pepper, and Panisse, chickpea flour fries, a popular street food from the south of France.
Of course, no dish is as popular as Willet’s signature egg salad sandwich, a yummy concoction of egg yolk jam, egg yolk shavings and lightly smoked Duke mayonnaise on a toasted brioche. If you didn’t think you could get excited about an egg salad sandwich, you haven’t had Sleasman’s version. To be nominated for a Beard Outstanding Bar award, establishments must demonstrate consistent excellence in the selection and preparation of drinks, and maintain an exceptional atmosphere and hospitality while representing the values of the James Beard Foundation. Pope and his staff’s stunned reaction to the news of their nomination has given way to a well-deserved sense of pride in being recognized along with bars in much larger cities. Finalists will be announced at the beginning of April, and come June 16 in Chicago, The Bar at Willet hopes to be among the four still in the running for James Beard’s Outstanding Bar Award.
And all of us here in Bardstown hope to toast our hometown favorite with one of their signature cocktails – a Sherry Cobbler or Orchard Punch or one of their vintage pours – neat or over that special ice.
For more information about The Bar at Willett Distillery or other Bardstown attractions, go to VisitBardstown.com.