A storied 19th century church in downtown Louisville becomes The Last Refuge, a striking new venue from Bob Dylan’s Heaven’s Door Whiskey that blurs the lines between reverence and revelry. Occupying some 20,000 square feet, the space transforms the ecclesiastical into the immersive, offering a place where bourbon is elevated to near-sacramental status.
At the helm of the transformation is Amanda Jacobs (of Amanda Jacobs Design), a rising name in Kentucky’s design scene, whose vision brings both theatre and restraint. Her approach nods to the the building’s past, whilst also amplifying it (there’s a Dylan reference here, for those not just looking at the pictures) through the retention of original stained-glass windows and vaulted ceilings that remain untouched; their grandeur balanced by moody colour, Victorian-era detail, and plush, layered textures. A custom-sized House of Hackney wallpaper anchors the space, guiding the palette through every room and corridor.
Limewashed plaster walls add depth and a certain ghostly patina, while iron chandeliers, vintage furnishings, and carved woodwork add weight and warmth to a space that matches the mysticism and mystery of the whiskey brand’s co-creator.
Over 1,200 whiskey and bourbon expressions are curated behind the bar, with reverence given to rarity, breadth, and storytelling. A once-defunct stairwell now leads guests to a former sanctuary, repurposed as a performance space where live music plays beneath soaring arches. It’s here the venue becomes fully itself — church, bar, stage — inviting guests to settle into something that’s both intimate and monumental. The food, while not the centrepiece, is definitely worthy of mention, with elevated Americana dishes that won’t interfere with a night’s worth of sipping. After all, this is what the patrons are here for.
Jacobs resists heavy-handed references to Dylan himself. Instead, his spirit lingers in the atmosphere; in the aged wood, quiet corners, and unpolished elegance of it all. By no means a tribute, The Last Refuge is a quiet act of devotion to bourbon, to beauty, and to the kind of presence where past and present can raise a glass together.
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@amandajacobsdesigninc
The Last Refuge Louisville Photography, Kate Leichhardt.
