The Bourbon Affair in Findlay Ohio

The county seat of Hancock County is home to a posh yet inviting speakeasy bar called The Bourbon Affair. Neatly nestled in the city’s business district, the bar is located on Crawford Street, which was once lined with empty storefronts and dilapidated buildings. Today this street is thriving with bars, restaurants and a brewery, and it is gaining a reputation as Findlay’s own version of Bourbon Street. The Bourbon Affair is an essential stop for locals and out-of-town guests.

Started in 2015 by Ryan and Staci Leonard, the bar exceptionally replicates a 1930s-style speakeasy.

“It was born out of Ryan and I being empty nesters and our love for bourbon,” says Staci. “We had made several trips to Kentucky’s famed Bourbon Trail and wanted to bring an aspect of that back here to Findlay. There was an unfilled niche for this type of bar, and we wanted to create something that was both relaxed and refined.”

She and her husband both work full-time jobs outside the bar. Both agree the endeavor gives them an opportunity to give back to their community and to share their passion.

While the neighborhood outside is bustling with the sounds of a city bringing itself back to life, inside the bar no detail is overlooked — down to the white shirts and vests the bartenders don as uniforms. Syrups and bitters are house-made. The extensive cocktail list includes classics such a Manhattan but also avant-garde cocktails, including my personal favorite: Luke’s Bourbon-N-Smoke. Watching the cocktails being made with such acumen and flair makes each savory sip only fitting for such a work of art.

The beautiful bar made from harvested ash trees from the Leonards’ property is uniquely lavish and welcoming. The dress code for the patrons ranges from suits and ties to shorts and flip-flops.

Stepping into a bar with over 100 varieties of bourbon and whiskey on the shelves can be intimidating for a novice of the brown spirits, but 30 seconds talking with head bartender Luke Kish — whose beard is just as impressive as his drinks — will assuage all your hesitations.

“I enjoy making drinks and talking to people about bourbon because I have such a passion for it,” he says. “There is no judgment here, because no two palates are alike so people are naturally going to like different things.”

Ryan Leonard echoes that sentiment: “Bourbon education is a part of our mission. We offer flights and tastings to allow folks to find which variety best suits them. We also offer a full bar and are just as happy serving a Jack & Coke as a seasonal cocktail.”

When asked about what lives in the Leonards’ personal liquor cabinet, they said it rotates. “The hunt for new and exciting bourbons is half the fun,” says Ryan.

Bars, much like bourbons, are not created equal. The Bourbon Affair takes you back to an era and style of drinking that exemplify a touch of class with a slight bourbon burn on the back end. A true American classic, bourbon is experiencing a renaissance. The spirit with humble beginnings as corn and creek water is storming its way back onto cocktail menus across the country. But look no further than Findlay to find your next favorite bourbon cocktail.