I recently went home to Kentucky due to a family emergency. I'm the type of person who likes to try to find the good in every bad situation, no matter how hard it may be. I guess the one good thing that came out of it is that I got to spend time with my family, which was nice. I haven't seen them in over a year now.
During my time at home I explored a lot with my mom. When we had the chance that is. We managed to find some pretty cool things and even met some pretty awesome people. All within a half hour of where I grew up. I guess it goes to show that every town has it's own hidden gems, even small ones.
Easily my favorite place that we found was this little shop in the historical part of Frankfort, not far from the old capitol. It's called Kentucky Knows! Now, if you've followed my blog for a while, you know that I am absolutely obsessed with coffee. Well, Kentucky Knows roasts their own coffee. That's cool and all, but there's something that really makes them stand out.
They allow their coffee beans to "sleep" in bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace Distillery. If you've ever been to Kentucky then you know that Kentucky is known for Horses and Bourbon. So you can only imagine how delicious the coffee is after being aged in these barrels. The coffee that is sold is always no more than 7 days old. So you know you're always getting the freshest coffee around.
You get to try a free cup when you come into the store.
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Tony Davis, the owner, is a kind, welcoming and warm.
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| Tony Davis, the owner of Kentucky Knows |
When we first walked in, he gave us a little tour and told us about the process of the coffee aging and told us about his woodworking. We stayed and talked to him for over an hour. At no point did we feel rushed or that he wanted us to leave. We felt completely welcome to stay as long as we wanted.
He is a Marine Corp veteran. The discipline and patience he gained through his experience in service definitely shows in the amazing art he creates from the bourbon barrels after the coffee has aged. He makes absolutely amazing things. Everything is custom made to his customer's liking.
One of my favorite things he makes is his Kentucky Knows guy. Tony told us that he has always been within the barrels, that it just took them to let him out.
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| A barrel with the Kentucky Knows logo |
Tony is planning to expand Kentucky Knows. He hopes to have live music for the community to enjoy, amongst many other great plans. So keep an eye out as he grows his business.
If you're ever in Kentucky, I highly recommend stopping by. It's definitely worth it! He creates so many things that I haven't shown you. So what are you waiting for? Go to Kentucky Knows!
www,kentuckyknows.com
Phone: 859-621-5261
337 West Broadway St
Frankfort, Ky 40601
