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Sip bevvies at the oldest bar in Louisville

Get a drink at the oldest bar in Louisville
Presented by a LOUtoday Partner
exterior shot of Mellwood Tavern, a three-story, red-brick building
After opening in 1885, this Clifton Heights spot has been called many names, including The Rendezvous Inn, The Mellwood Inn, and The Rush Inn. | Photo by LOUtoday
Louisville’s relationship with liquor goes way back. Downtown’s Whiskey Row earned its moniker in the 1840s, and in 1885, the bar we know as The Mellwood Tavern opened its doors. Nearly 140 years later, it is the longest continually operating tavern in Derby City.

Patrick Gregory and Scott Crowder purchased the property in 2016. Though the building has since undergone some renovations, its historical charm remains.

“The space has kind of been taken back to its original glory,” Patrick said. “The original hardwood floors have been restored, [and] we took the plaster off the walls to expose the original brick. It’s a real authentic space.”

Today, the spot is a popular go-to for beer, whiskey, and fried chicken. “We’re really well known locally for fried chicken,” Patrick exclaimed. “We’ve been named in Leo Weekly a couple of times, [ranking] third in the city for best chicken overall. … It’s our number-one seller.”

If you want to sample some of The Mellwood Tavern’s chicken, be sure to head to 1801 Brownsboro Rd. on a Tuesday or Thursday, as those are the only days the fried bird is offered as a dinner special.

crowd standing in front of musicians playing on an outdoor stage

The Mellwood Tavern’s Summer Concert Series features a different band each week, followed by Louisville’s long-time favorites, The Pranksters.

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Photo by Drake Whitney

Of course, most customers flock to the Clifton Heights joint for drinks. Patrick and Scott heavily support the local craft beer scene. They do tap takeovers with local breweries and have a partnership with Gallant Fox. When it comes to whiskey, Patrick says Old Forester has been a fan favorite.

To accommodate the growing demand for whiskey, a second-floor whiskey bar and lounge is slated to open within the next few months. “I think it could open as early as Labor Day,” Scott said. Well, we know where we’ll be that weekend.

This content is sponsored by Heine Brothers Coffee. As Louisville’s original coffee roaster since 1994, they take pride in the city just as much as the coffee. Order ahead and Drink Up.
LOUtoday thanks our sponsors. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content.
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Events
Tuesday, July 11
  • Pokémon Trivia! | Tuesday, July 11 | 8-10 p.m. | Chill BAR Highlands, 1117 Bardstown Rd., Louisville | Free | Showcase your Pocket Monster know-how for a chance to win themed-prizes.
Wednesday, July 12
Thursday, July 13
  • Little Feat | Thursday, July 13 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Iroquois Amphitheater, 1080 Amphitheater Rd., Louisville | $150 | Hear tunes from this California rock band that has been leading people in joyful dance since 1969.
Friday, July 14
  • Silent Disco: Taylor Swift Night + Friends & Foes | Friday, July 14 | 7-11 p.m. | Hi-Wire Brewing, 642 Baxter Ave., Louisville | $12-$15 | Draw on your cat eye, forget your reputation, and come dressed as your favorite T-Swift music video character for a night of quiet dancing.
Saturday, July 15
  • Misters for MS | Saturday, July 15 | 6-11:30 p.m. | Louisville Marriott Downtown, 280 W. Jefferson St., Louisville | $100 | Support the National MS Society with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction + a performance by the Misters as they present live auction packages.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Opening
  • If you haven’t heard by now, Publix is coming to LOU. The first location at 2500 Terra Crossing Blvd. is expected to open later this year, but now there’s a website to keep you updated. Future Publix shoppers can sign up to receive emails about the grand opening + product offerings.
Biz
  • Antz Yent Wettig and Jon Clark — brothers and co-owners of Germantown’s Zanzabar — are planning to break ground on a new business. Dubbed Bar of Soap, the laundromat with arcade games will be located across the street from Zanzabar and feature classic, coin-operated arcade games. (The Courier-Journal)
Civic
  • The application deadline for Louisville Metro Government’s Solar Over Louisville program has been extended to Monday, July 31. Originally scheduled for Friday, June 30, the extension will give more Louisville-area residents the opportunity to receive discounted solar installations.
Cause
Wellness
  • Heal your body from the inside out — the holistic way — at Elivate Wellness. Their wellness providers analyze + optimize patients’ hormone levels to help them reach optimal wellness (along with laser therapy treatments, expert supplement recommendations + exceptional, empowering care). Start your journey.*
City

How well do you know LOU?

Name this Louisville Neighborhood
Neighborhood quiz blanked out
Can you guess this neighborhood just based on the street names? | Screenshot via Google Maps
Do you know your Derby City neighborhoods, Louisvillians? Prove it.

We’ve got a new game ready for you, and it’s called “Name this Neighborhood.” The instructions are simple: based on the limited information in the above map, tell us which Louisville neighborhood is pictured.

We know our readers are pretty map-savvy, so we made it a bit more challenging by blocking out the names of the area’s landmarks. If you’re feeling extra brainy this morning, get extra credit by naming as many landmarks + streets as you can.

If you’ve figured it out, let us know and make sure to give us feedback on the difficulty level.
 
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The Wrap
 
Lennie Omalza

Today’s edition by:
Lennie
From the editor
I moved to Louisville just as Patrick Gregory and Scott Crowder were rebranding Rush Inn to The Mellwood Tavern — and it was one of the first Derby City bars I visited. It was fun to chat with Patrick and see how much both the space and I have grown since then. Now that I am fully engrossed in bourbon culture — and an old fashioned enthusiast — I can’t wait to check out the new whiskey bar and lounge.
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