What Southern goods should I bring back from Kentucky?

February 28, 2013 10:36 AM

I was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and am flying back from New York for a short visit for the first time in a while. I've recently become really interested in Southern housewares and goods, like Jack Rudy Cocktail Co., and I was wondering - what things can I only get in the South that I should bring back North?
posted by 235w103 to shopping (37 answers total)

Moonshine jelly.
posted by erst at 10:38 AM on February 28

My friend from Louisville brings back Bourbon Fudge every time he goes home, much to all of our happiness. Not sure where he gets it or anything, though.
posted by brainmouse at 10:38 AM on February 28

This might be a more of a 'Georgia' answer than a 'Kentucky' answer, but I always buy canned boiled peanuts.
posted by Alison at 10:39 AM on February 28

Headache powders!
posted by something something at 10:41 AM on February 28 [6 favorites]

Confederate flags. Pecan pie. Firefly spirits (especially the banana pudding liqueur if you can find it). Spicy chow chow for hot dogs.
posted by oceanjesse at 10:43 AM on February 28 [2 favorites]

Duke's and whatever else is the local mayonnaise.
posted by brujita at 10:48 AM on February 28 [3 favorites]

Derby Pie for Louisville. If you head further south, you need a pecan roll from Stuckey's.
posted by jbickers at 10:48 AM on February 28 [2 favorites]

Bourbon that you can't find locally!

Bourbon [Fill in the blank]

(The Fudge sounds delightful!)
posted by PlutoniumX at 10:59 AM on February 28 [1 favorite]

Ale-8-One soda.

Sassafras tea concentrate (chain groceries should have it with the tea bags).
posted by momus_window at 11:05 AM on February 28 [1 favorite]

ALE-8 FOREVER. it's similar to a ginger ale, maybe a little fruitier?

(to be fair, you can sometimes get this at boutique sandwich/burger shops. but my god, i miss the luxury of walking into a gas station and buying ale-8 whenever i wanted.)

also, only drink it out of a glass bottle. them's the rules, i don't make 'em.
posted by kerning at 11:06 AM on February 28 [2 favorites]

Do they have Cheerwine in Kentucky?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:20 AM on February 28

If you can pack some Bluegrass Brewing Company beer, do it. Hell for Certain if you can find it.
posted by deezil at 11:23 AM on February 28 [1 favorite]

Yeah, Ale-8-One. Alternately Cheerwine, if that's your thing.
posted by pullayup at 11:23 AM on February 28

Cheerwine, that's a Carolina's thing, but I can get it at Kroger.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:24 AM on February 28

It isn't highbrow, but I've smuggled Ski out of the South on a fairly regular basis.
posted by Tchad at 11:50 AM on February 28

It's not like you'd be unable to get spectacular cured meats in New York, but there are some spectacular southern hams and slab bacons, and "local color" is a great excuse to buy some.
posted by aimedwander at 11:51 AM on February 28

You may also want to get a jar or two of "Big-B Barbecue". I think you can only get it along the IN/KY border between Evansville and Louisville. They don't seem to have a website, though.
posted by Tchad at 11:58 AM on February 28

Beer: Against the Grain brews better than Bluegrass Brewing Company, IMHO. If you can take a growler or more of their stuff, you would be golden. What's more southern sounding that Bo & Luke? It's a Russian Imperial Stout that would be sure to put some hair in one's chest at 14% alcohol by volume. They have so much variety, from saisons, to milk stouts, scotch ales, that you'd be able to hunt for anyone's taste. Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale or Stout seem easy to find around the state, so they should definitely be worth exploring their availability up north.

Bourbon: Whatever you prefer. I really enjoy Angel's Envy, which is aged in port. Blanton's is another classic. Bulleit or Buffalo Trace will do "in a pinch." People really seem to enjoy Jim Beam or Kentucky Tavern, but I wouldn't call those worthy of a "premium experience."

Food: MUTTON. Aka sheep. Beef brisket and boston butt. Burgoo. If you know a recipe for Hot Browns, be sure to make some.
posted by Giggilituffin at 12:05 PM on February 28

Interesting bourbon, Ale-8, good country ham, bourbon balls, and yes to the bourbon fudge (the Gethsemani monks know their stuff!), oh and I'm a big fan of the Mingua Brothers beef jerky. The last two you can get shipped thankfully :)
posted by pennypiper at 12:05 PM on February 28

Boiled peanuts.
posted by nathancaswell at 12:17 PM on February 28

Growing up near Louisville and now living in California, I miss the following:

Ale-8-One
Skyline Chili
Duke's Mayo
Big-B Barbecue sauce
posted by banannafish at 12:17 PM on February 28

Not sure what kind of BBQ y'all eat in Kentucky but I used to bring back pounds of Eastern NC pulled pork when I lived elsewhere. It keeps well. Texas Pete. Cheap cigarettes?
posted by scose at 12:19 PM on February 28

I've never seen BC Powder up North.
posted by reptile at 12:24 PM on February 28

Whenever I visit family in Louisville I bring a box of bourbon balls back to the office.
posted by PussKillian at 12:37 PM on February 28

(Just F everyone's I, you can order Duke's online.)
posted by trip and a half at 12:38 PM on February 28 [1 favorite]

Handicrafts and I'm thinking particularly of the furniture and objects from the workshops at Berea, KY. There are also specialty baskets, carved wooden toys, etc.
posted by Anitanola at 1:19 PM on February 28

Cellar Door has bourbon fudge! They are located in the Butchertown Market.
posted by Young Kullervo at 2:12 PM on February 28

Handicrafts and I'm thinking particularly of the furniture and objects from the workshops at Berea, KY. There are also specialty baskets, carved wooden toys, etc

Husbunny went to Berea College! I've been there. It's cute!

It's also about 6 hours away from Louisville, (across the Daniel Boone Parkway) off of I-75, Louisville is off of I-65.

Head off to the local farmer's market and see if there's anyone there doing preserves and pickles. That's always interesting.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 2:12 PM on February 28 [1 favorite]

When I'm in the deep south, I bring back grits. I don't know if you can find good grits in Kentucky - I had to go to Arkansas a number of times, and they were difficult to find.
posted by gteffertz at 3:02 PM on February 28

I am posting from Louisville (and I grew up in Berea, ).

My recommendations:

* Bourbon is a given
* I second the recommendations of beer from Bluegrass Brewing Company and/or Against the Grain.
* If you're going to be downtown, go to A Taste of Kentucky at 400 West Market Street. Their # is [phone] and they're open 10a - 5p M - F. They have a bunch of Kentucky Proud products, like Rebecca Ruth candies, Finchville Farms country ham, Weisenberger Mills grain products, and a lot more.
* Go to the Louisville Slugger Museum and get a souvenier baseball bat.
* You could also drop by the Muhammad Ali Center and hit their gift shop.
posted by magstheaxe at 3:20 PM on February 28 [1 favorite]

Could have sworn there was a Berea College Craft store somewhere downtown, but I can't find info online. Might ask the hotel staff (if you're staying at a hotel downtown).

Oh, I forgot: Bybee Pottery! I think the Taste of Kentucky store might have some. If not, they have a shop in the suburbs, in Middletown.
posted by magstheaxe at 3:32 PM on February 28 [1 favorite]

I've found that LiquorBarns usually have a good selection of local products.

These may be more Frankfort specific, but I would recommend (you can find all from LiquorBarn):
-Weisenberger Mill products, such as their grits or spoonbread mix (my mother went to school with the Weisenberger children)
-Rebecca Ruth candies - I think I prefer the Kentucky pull candy to the Bourbon balls
-Van Winkle 12 year 'Lot' B - they are slowly running out of this amazing lot, and it may be getting hard to find
-I think this was already mentioned, but Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.
-Products from Gethsemani Farms, made by 48 monks from Trappist, KY
posted by lizjohn at 4:06 PM on February 28

Lifelong Kentuckian here. Berea is not 6 hours from Louisville. It should only take about an hour and 45 minutes if you take 64 east to Lexington and then pick up 75 south to Berea.
posted by honey.orange.honey at 4:42 PM on February 28 [2 favorites]

Team Louisville! Sounds like someone needs to hit up Bardstown Road! How about a happy bag that has Kizito Cookies, some BBC brews, chess pie squares from Ermin's, a burger with secret sauce from Ollie's trolley, some Cardinal gear, a "Heavy Hitter {Lawyer Darryl Isaacs}" tee shirt and a "Keep Louisville Weird" tee shirt, all wrapped up in a LEO weekly? For extra points you can go steal a painted cement animal from Lynn's Paradise Cafe (closed due to scandal) and the sign from ear-X-tacy (closed due to economy). @Luvl
posted by MidSouthern Mouth at 11:49 PM on February 28 [1 favorite]

Cheap cigarettes and any other tobacco products. Your New Yorker friends who smoke are paying through the teeth compared to Kentucky residents.
posted by Sunburnt at 8:11 AM on March 1

Chess pie
Bush canned black-eyed peas
posted by I'm Brian and so's my wife! at 5:56 PM on March 1

Lifelong Kentuckian here. Berea is not 6 hours from Louisville. It should only take about an hour and 45 minutes if you take 64 east to Lexington and then pick up 75 south to Berea.
posted by honey.orange.honey at 7:42 PM on February 28

Native Berean living in Louisville signing in to confirm this. I make that drive about once a month. It takes me exactly 1 hour 45 minutes if traffic is average. Where the heck did that 6 hour figure come from?
posted by magstheaxe at 5:59 AM on March 12