A Drinker's Guide to Augusta, Kentucky
Driving into the quaint river town of Augusta, Ky., you’d never know oodles of history were tucked away into its meek 1.6 square miles of land and water. There’s likely 10 stories for each of the town’s nearly 1,200 residents — and even then you’d only be scratching the surface. Augusta was a popular trading post along the Ohio River, making it an ideal place to manufacture goods — especially whiskey, wine and tobacco. But more on that in a bit. The mere facts about this small Kentucky town are fascinating.
Augusta was built on a Native American burial mound, and archeologists believe there might be as many as 10,000 remains still buried. It is also home to Kentucky’s oldest jail still standing, as well as two homes that were an integral part of the Underground Railroad. A Civil War battle was fought in Augusta in 1862, and while the Union lost and the townspeople resorted to hand-to-hand combat, the tough resistance made the Confederate army rethink its strategy of continuing north to Cincinnati.
Finally, Augusta is perhaps best known for being the homeplace of the late Rosemary Clooney, who grew up nearby in Maysville, Ky., and bought a home on Augusta’s Riverside Drive in 1980 as a safe haven far from Hollywood. In fact, her brother, journalist Nick Clooney, and his wife Nina moved there in the mid-1970s and raised their two kids — one whose name you might recognize: George.
According to residents, George visits often, and his mother still runs a popular antique shop in town.
What’s your pleasure, wine, whiskey, or perhaps just visiting historical sites? Baker Bird is regarded as one of the most historic spirits sites in America. That’s not shocking given the town’s reputation, now is it? Home to the largest and oldest wine cellar in the country, this working winery and distillery is well worth a visit. Open on weekends, the National Historic Site offers winery tours where you’ll learn about a time when half the country’s wine was produced in Augusta. There are also cellar tours, and tastings. Check out our feature story on Baker-Bird Winery and B. Bird Distillery to learn much more.
The Augusta Ferry is one of the oldest ferry services still ushering folks back and forth across the Ohio River today. The Jenny Ann runs 7 days a week from 8 am to 8 pm between Augusta and Higginsport, Ohio. A one-way trip will cost you $5 if you’re in a vehicle, and it’s free if you’re on foot. With a history that dates back to 1798, this is a fun way to experience what it must have been like way back when.
The Augusta Pub, also known as the Augusta Irish Pub, is exactly the low-key neighborhood watering hole you’d expect to find in small-town America — well, besides the extensive bourbon list and a major claim to fame. They created the award-winning Kentucky Rain cocktail in honor of former Augusta resident George Clooney. The recipe calls for Clooney’s Casamigos Blanco Tequila, blue curacao, Mist Twist and a Casamigos-infused cherry, and it’s every bit as sweet and irresistible as the actor himself.
The Beehive is also a bustling farm-to-table, upscale restaurant nestled along the Ohio River in a building that dates back to 1796. Of course bourbon is the main star of the show in the bar area, and the competent bartenders can whip up a pristine Old Fashioned in no time. Chef João Fernandes of Portugal leads the team in the kitchen, and his menu runs the gamut from street tacos to grilled honey-bourbon salmon and Pasta Bolognese. The restaurant partners with more than 10 local farms in the area to provide fresh, sustainable ingredients. It’s also where you can exclusively purchase bottles of Buckner’s Single Barrel bourbon.
A new distillery in town, tastings of their offering, Buckner’s Single Barrel bourbon can be arranged at Beehive Augusta Tavern. In the fall of 2022 the distillery will open in a converted 35,000 square foot building that was once a carriage manufacturer. Milling, mashing and distilling will all take place at this historic site, along the riverfront.
Nina’s
208 Main St. | 606-756-3715
Owned and operated by George Clooney’s mother, Nina Clooney, this little antique/Hollywood memorabilia/knickknack boutique is just as charming and inviting as you would imagine. The day we stopped in, Nina was perched behind the counter, greeting everyone who came inside and warning them that her credit card machine had gone kaput and it was cash-only. She told us she opened Nina’s about a decade ago to give her something to do and a place to put all her stuff. “This is my store of stuff,” she joked. We left that day with two official Obama watches and a surrogate mom. Sorry, George, I’m stealing her.
Singer and legendary actress Rosemary Clooney was born and raised in Maysville, Ky., not too far from Augusta, and in 1980, she bought this house to escape from the Hollywood scene from time to time. The nonprofit museum is home to the largest collection of “White Christmas” memorabilia, and it also features costumes, posters, letters, family photos and much more.