Bardstown’s two dedicated cocktail bars sit a few minutes apart downtown, and they suit different nights. The Volstead Bourbon Lounge, behind an unmarked alley door at 107 E. Flaget Ave., is a speakeasy-style bar with roughly 1,000 or more bourbons, affordable cocktails and no reservations. Liam Ash Cocktail Emporium, at 131 N. Third St., is a polished lounge built around theatrical cocktails with fire, smoke and fresh garnishes, plus charcuterie and small plates. Go to the Volstead for the bourbon wall, Liam Ash for the show, and, if you have the evening, both.
The two bars at a glance
| The Volstead Bourbon Lounge | Liam Ash Cocktail Emporium | |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 107 E. Flaget Ave. (alley entrance) | 131 N. Third St. |
| Style | Speakeasy, lounge side and bar side | Elegant craft cocktail lounge |
| Best for | Deep bourbon pours, a quiet nightcap | Showpiece cocktails, date night |
| Bourbon list | Nearly 1,000 to 1,200+ bottles | Full bourbon and wine menus, no count published |
| Food | Drinks-focused | Boards, small plates, flatbreads; wings Fri-Sat |
| Reservations | Not accepted | Recommended, not required |
| Opens | About 3 p.m. most days | 2 or 3 p.m. most days; noon Saturday; closed Monday |
| Price | Reviewers call it affordable | $$-$$$ on Tripadvisor |
The Volstead Bourbon Lounge: the hidden door and the big list
Finding the Volstead is part of the fun. The address is on East Flaget, but you go in through a plain door off the back alley, and a hidden-door mechanism lets you into the bar. Reviewers love the speakeasy routine, and the name nods to the Volstead Act, the law that enforced Prohibition. The space, which once housed the now-closed Blind Pig speakeasy, has two moods: a retro lounge side with velvet and leather seating, and a more laid-back bar side.
The draw is the shelf. Restaurantji’s listing puts the collection at nearly 1,000 bottles, while Visit Bardstown’s listing says more than 1,200. Rare and hard-to-find bottles are part of it, and favorites that come up include Four Roses Small Batch Select and Angel’s Envy Port Finish. Pricing is all over the map in a good way: some everyday bottles pour surprisingly cheaply, while the rarities are priced like rarities. The menu is on a QR code, and there’s no WiFi, which keeps the room pleasantly unplugged.
On the cocktail side, reviewers single out:
- the peach bourbon slushie, the drink people tell their friends about
- a bacon-bourbon old fashioned
- a chocolate and cherry old fashioned
The Volstead gets warm reviews, with a 4.9 on Restaurantji from more than 170 reviews and a 4.6 on Tripadvisor. Reviewers praise knowledgeable, friendly bartenders, legit cocktails at a fair price, and a room quiet enough to actually talk after a day of distillery tours. The one recurring gripe is from purists: a 2023 reviewer was unhappy with how a basic Old Fashioned was built, down to the well ice. If you care about technique, order a neat pour and let the list do the work.
Hours vary between listings. Most show a 3 p.m. opening daily (some say 4 p.m. on Sundays), about 10 p.m. closing on weeknights, and late nights on Friday and Saturday, to midnight or 1 a.m. Check the Volstead’s Facebook page or call (502) 294-1624 before a late plan. No reservations, so come early on festival weekends.
Liam Ash Cocktail Emporium: fire, smoke and small plates
Liam Ash opened in May 2024 and has quickly become the town’s showpiece cocktail room. Liam Ash’s own page describes drinks built on fire, smoke, fresh garnishes and interactive presentations, with house-made infusions and seasonal releases. Reviewers mention fall releases such as an apple cider tequila drink and chocolate-inspired cocktails, alongside well-made classics like the Old Fashioned and the Sazerac. It is run by owner Will Hardy, with general manager and executive bourbon steward Nikki King, and full bourbon and wine menus sit behind the cocktail list.
Food makes it a real option for a light dinner:
- charcuterie boards and small plates
- flatbreads and sausage balls
- wings on Friday and Saturday, in honey buffalo, bourbon BBQ or lemon pepper dry rub
The full menu runs only Friday and Saturday; Sunday through Thursday the kitchen offers a limited menu, and Saturday brunch has been replaced by small plates. One detail reviewers enjoy is French press coffee served with an hourglass timer, a nice move if you want to slow down.
Reviews on Tripadvisor average 4.9 from a small sample, with bartenders praised by name, a room described as elegant but relaxed, and staff who will steer you to something else if a pick doesn’t land. There’s a boutique next door, and the bar hosts after-hours events and tastings with distillery partners. The review count is still small, and prices sit a notch above most downtown bars.
Hours, from the bar’s own page: Sunday 2 to 8 p.m., closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 3 to 9 p.m., Thursday 3 to 11 p.m., Friday 2 to 11 p.m., and Saturday noon to 11 p.m. Reserve through the online form for weekend evenings.
Which one should you pick?
- Choose the Volstead if you want to explore bourbon itself: rare pours, a huge list and a casual, clubby room.
- Choose Liam Ash if you want a cocktail experience, something to eat, and a setting for a date.
- Choose both if you’re downtown for the evening. Start at Liam Ash with a board and a smoked cocktail, then finish with a neat pour at the Volstead.
For the wider scene, including distillery bars and historic taverns, see the full guide to Bardstown bourbon bars and tasting rooms, and for ideas past sundown, Bardstown at night.
A downtown evening, stop by stop
Both bars are a short walk from Court Square, so you can build a whole evening on foot.
- Early evening: a guided flight at Circa 1856, Chicken Cock’s tasting room on Stephen Foster Avenue.
- Dinner: a hot brown or burgoo at the Old Talbott Tavern across the street, or a burger at Scout & Scholar on West Flaget.
- Cocktails: Liam Ash on North Third.
- Nightcap: the Volstead’s alley door on East Flaget.
If you’d rather sit down for a steak before drinks, The Rickhouse under Spalding Hall is a few blocks west.
Parking, getting home and staying safe
Park once and walk. Street parking on North Third and Flaget works, and the public lot at 113 E. Flaget Ave. is steps from the Volstead. Both bars are 21 and over, so carry ID even if you’re clearly past the age.
Don’t drive after a night on this list. Bourbon at barrel strength adds up fast, and a flight counts. Stay downtown within walking distance, or line up a sober driver or a ride before you start. Arrange the ride home before closing time rather than hoping to find one after. The page on drinking responsibly in Bardstown has the rules and options, and Visit Bardstown’s bars page lists the rest of the town’s nightlife.
