Nicole Stipp and Kaitlyn Soligan Owens have lovingly referred to their baby, Trouble Bar, as the Rainbow Palace of Whiskey Dreams, and, in truth, its not hard to see why. Upon entering, you step into the historic bones of the Shelby Park building and into an envelopment of floor-to-ceiling exposed brick, and while the furniture and minimal art isnt exactly the embodiment of rainbow, its the essence and the light that make you feel it. Slink down into one of the tufted, camel-hued couches with a comrade, whiskey in hand, and at almost any hour of daylight, the sun flickers off the Scarlets Bakery mural across the way, as if that mural was created solely as a tapestry for Trouble Bars large windows facing Shelby Street. Swirls of blue and pink from the mural dance in the light and bounce off the carefully-curated glasses (chosen specifically to fit a nose for a whiff, mind you), and I cant say if it has been the whiskey talking, but on more than one occasion, I tell you, Ive seen a sparkle glimmer in the air. Stipp and Soligan Owens have known one another for over 13 years, from working in politics and playing on kickball teams in D.C. to womens development in rural Rwanda to bourbon tourism through their company, Matson & Gilman, and now, Trouble Bar. They have a truly inseparable bond. Through it all, they know one thing is for certain, and it comes from a saying they picked up on their travels. Bohoro bohoro, slow down and youll get there eventually.
Stipp and Soligan Owens have been creating custom bourbon tours and classes for bourbon lovers and the bourbon-curious for three years now with Matson & Gilman, and when they stumbled upon the space that is now Trouble Bar, the women were simply in search of an epicenter for their celebrations of our native amber elixir i.e., an office space, storage for all their whiskey, a meetup point for their tours and potentially more. They both firmly believed that Louisville didnt need just another bar, but, while Stipp took Soligan Owens on a FaceTime tour of the space while she was in New England for the holidays, they couldnt help but ask each other, what if we expanded this dream? Theyd known and now worked together for over a decade. Theyd created a tourism company. Theyd been through their share of hardships and made it to this very moment. They found a build to suit space in a neighborhood that deserved this kind of presence. Weve made ourselves unbreakable, said Soligan-Owens, and just like the sprawling mural on the side of their building reads, whiskey made them do it.
Stipp and Soligan Owens knew their business expansion whether it was a large office, event space or, now, all those things and a bar likely wouldnt be on Main Street with the rest of much of the bourbon community. When they found their current space that Soligan Owens said was essentially a bombed-out shelter before their remodel, they knew their dream could thrive there. Shelby Park needs and deserves this kind of presence, she said. This is the part of Louisville we havent been able to show our (tourism) clients. In talking about Shelby Park as their new home, a friend of the women brought up retail. Soligan Owens said that retail generally comes after food and beverage. Said Stipp: Our aim is to have a slow, affordable build and bring something in that doesnt price out the neighborhood, but gives them a space that they can come in and consider their living room, and thats why we have $4 beers. Trouble Bar joins Red Top Hotdogs, a remodel of T. Eddies Bar & Grill and the soon-to-open Logan Street Market as exciting additions to the community.
In addition to its beer specials, Trouble Bar boasts an impressive but approachable bourbon list, curated flight selections all named after friends/family/bourbon industry inspo, a cocktail menu and an affordable but interesting wine list thanks to Stipps vision of carrying not-grocery store wine. I tasted the delightful libation named after fellow LEO advice columnist, Minda Honey, The Storyteller, at Trouble at the Planned Parenthood Gala official after party Old Bardstown Bottled In Bond, spicy hibiscus honey and lime juice. Beautiful and bold with some sweet heat, just like Minda. If youre served one of their flights, dont be intimidated. Stipp will hand it to you on a large, clear tray covered in a myriad of neat pours plucked with clothespins, water and ice, and you may think, What have I gotten myself into? Lucky you (and, all of us), the bartenders are trained as certified bourbon stewards for this very moment, to Sherpa you through the experience. So, sit back, relax, think Bohoro Bohoro and transcend into the glow that is the Rainbow Palace of Whiskey Dreams.