Are You Ready For Revival?
Brad Bonds has dust in his blood…so to speak. Brad and his business partners Shannon Smith and Katie Meyer will open Revival Vintage Bottle Shop in Covington, Kentucky on August 7. A short time ago, Brad learned something surprising and suitable about his ancestry. His great grandfather, Urey Pollard, owned pre-prohibition saloons in Princeton and Hopkinsville, Kentucky and even had his own brand of whiskey. Brad was just recently able to find a whiskey jug used by great grandpa.
Brad, a self-described “professional dusty hunter”, is the curator at Revival. His first taste of vintage whiskey was actually his first taste of whiskey. Back in the ‘90’s Brad got into mom and dad’s liquor cabinet and found a 1975 Maker’s Mark...when he was just 15. Then about a decade ago he stumbled across a Rebel Yell handle from 1982. That launched not only an interest in vintage spirits, but an entire career for him.
As Brad became involved in Bourbon groups in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky he met Shannon and Katie. Shannon owns a successful law practice and serves on the City Commission in Covington. Katie has deep experience in the hospitality industry and as a community development strategist. This trio had been crafting the idea for Revival since last fall. Brad’s knowledge and dusty collection combined with the entrepreneurial spirit of Shannon and Katie was the perfect blend to start this venture. That the three share a love for Bourbon and the Covington community certainly makes this more than just a business opportunity. It is also a passion project.
Life Cycle of the Bourbon Bro
Bourbon fans seem to follow a pattern. Brad calls it the “life cycle of the Bourbon bro” (I wish I could have taken credit for that line). Discovering Bourbon is stage one. Whether it’s too much white label while tailgating or a pour shared from the bottle of a friend, everybody starts somewhere. Stage two is seeking out allocated bottles and pours. Then, once we realize the frustration in allocated whiskey and the secondary market we turn to store picks. The final stage in the life cycle of the Bourbon bro (or gal), according to Brad, is dusties.
“While Revival will be perfectly suited for the dusty hunter, we offer unique opportunities for Bourbon lovers no matter where they are on that ‘life cycle’”, Brad said. “We do believe, however, Revival is opening up just as more and more ‘bros’ are hitting that ‘dusty stage’”.
Tasting Experience
Revival will offer some very attractive and surprisingly affordable tasting experiences. There are three flight groupings (Bronze, Silver and Gold). Each offers four, half-ounce pours of bottles available at each “level”. Priced at $40, $60 and $100, respectively, the price obviously goes up as the options on the flight include more rare whiskeys. A staple on the tasting experience menu will be the “Vintage Bourbon of the Day”. This is a half-ounce pour of a select dusty for only $5!
The tasting experience at Revival is not limited to Bourbon. Vintage bottles of a variety of spirits will be available to sample or purchase. These include tequila, gin, rum and brandy.
Dust for Sale…and More
Revival is, of course, more than just a tasting room. They also offer vintage bottles for sale. What is in the showroom at any one time, however, only makes up about 10% of the total inventory. The Revival team is working on loading the complete inventory onto their website (follow link) so that hunter-customers can find what they are searching for. Some of the bottles available include Willet distilled in the 50s, Old Grand Dad from National Distillers, vintage Jack Daniels, Jim Beam decanters, Old Fitzgerald from the 60s and 70s, and Turkey dusties, just to name a few.
Constantly re-building inventory is a key to Revival’s continued success. “We hope through word of mouth and social media that people will think of us when they stumble across grandpa’s collection. I am always looking for new ‘old’ bottles”, Brad said
In addition to vintage spirits, Revival will also carry some “niche expensive brands”, as Brad put it, in addition to some highly allocated bottles. Revival is also working with various distilleries to do their own barrel picks and develop a private selection inventory, too.
Constant State of Revival
As if starting a new store and tasting room weren’t enough, the Revival team will be continually looking to diversify what they have to offer. Initially, that will be launching a membership program. Members will be eligible to attend private tasting events and socials. Brad will be conducting education classes (both in-person and via Zoom) that will be available to members and the general public. Course topics will range from “how to hunt” to history of brands to blind tastings. As a member of the local Bourbon scene, Revival is looking to partner with other businesses to provide unique events for customers.
Revival is also part of the “revival” of downtown Covington. Located at 5 East 8th Street, Revival’s neighbors include the Madison Event Center, Libby’s, Braxton Brewery and Rich’s Proper Food & Drink. Just around the corner from Revival is Hotel Covington, which is currently expanding the hotel and also adding an urban distillery. Revival will be a unique addition to this growing area.
Brad, Shannon and Katie will be ready for you on August 7. Are you ready for Revival? Can I get an amen and a hallelujah!?
