Sniffing out the perfect pairing at Audrey’s Wine + Bourbon

Audrey’s Wine + Bourbon // Photo by Jordan Baranowski

For many people, the quarantines of the COVID pandemic brought about some interesting hobbies. Some of us got really into sourdough. Some of us indulged our green thumbs, took up knitting, or invested in a pottery wheel. Husband-and-wife duo Howard and Laura Turley fell down the rabbit hole of flavor-pairing a unique combination: wine and whiskey. 

What started as a happy little breakthrough soon became a drive to share their discovery with others, culminating in the couple’s opening of Audrey’s Wine + Bourbon in Waldo just a few weeks ago.

“We experimented with a lot of new flavors during Covid,” Laura Turley recalls. “One night, after finishing dinner, we poured a bit of bourbon to share and still had some wine in our glasses. Everyone knows about pairing wine with food, but we were really impressed with the way the bourbon and wine brought out new flavor profiles in one another.”

After repeating their experiment a few times—you know, for science—the Turleys discovered it was no fluke: Wines and bourbons had notes that could be accented by the other. “It didn’t take us long at all to think we might have a unique style of cocktail bar on our hands,” Howard says. “Doing some research online, you’ll see occasional mentions of playing wine and bourbon off one another. But, as far as we know, Audrey’s Wine + Bourbon is the only bar in the country specializing in this pairing.”

The team at Audrey’s knows that people are likely to be skeptical of a wine and bourbon pairing, so they’ve worked to refine the process and to make Audrey’s Wine + Bourbon a sophisticated, welcoming cocktail experience regardless of how you’re enjoying it. Located at 404 W 75th Street (just west of the corner of 75th and Wornall), Audrey’s is an intimate space built for quiet, relaxing conversations.

Audrey’s Wine + Bourbon // Photo by Jordan Baranowski

“We were very inspired by the prohibition era and the jazz age,” Laura says. “But we didn’t want to lean into it too hard because we still wanted to be accessible. Audrey’s is dark and moody, but we’ve got a lot of windows and a sense of fun and playfulness. We live in Waldo and love it here, so we wanted to provide a space that has something new to offer that still fits into the fabric of the neighborhood.”

That means no TVs, live jazz every Thursday night, and a vibe that invites exploration and conversation. That means a curated wine, whiskey, and cocktail list that doesn’t overwhelm. And that means a staff that is as eager to share wine and bourbon pairings as the Turleys are.

Audrey’s Wine + Bourbon has a few prefab flights that highlight some different ways the drinks can bounce off one another. Each flight comes with a 5-ounce glass of wine and three different 1/2-ounce whiskey pours. The menu and servers can help explain the types of flavor profiles that are being highlighted. In addition, the team at Audrey’s is prepared to help patrons discover their own pairings and offer recommendations.

Audrey’s Wine + Bourbon // Photo by Jordan Baranowski

Outside of the flights, Audrey’s also has several cocktails on offer—a few specialties and several classics that can be made with the different spirits behind the bar. There are also NA options—just a few currently, but the Turleys plan on introducing more as they are developed—and they are working on offering a few premade sweets and snacks from nearby purveyors.

“We don’t want to stretch ourselves too thin,” Howard says. “We’ll have a few meat and cheese snack options from our neighbors at Salumi Rose and a few sweets on hand, but Audrey’s is a place you’ll want to come before or after dinner.” In addition, he namedrops several Waldo neighborhood bars to pop to if you want a beer, but says there are no real plans to dive into that realm.

Audrey’s Wine + Bourbon // Photo by Jordan Baranowski

The concept of Audrey’s might sound like a big swing for the Turleys, especially considering it’s their first bar. They do have experience in the hospitality industry in Waldo, operating 75th Street Events just down the street. That said, Howard and Laura Turley don’t feel like they’re reaching too hard.

“Ultimately, we’re trying to put together the kind of bar we’d want to visit,” Laura says. Though they’ve only been open a few weekends—Audrey’s had a soft opening in early February before its official opening night on February 12—Laura says they’ve heard great feedback so far and are already planning adjustments and tweaks as the weather starts improving, including updated cocktail menus and exploring lesser-known bourbons and whiskies.

All we can say is this: Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it. Waldo is a veritable sea of townie/neighborhood bars, so it’s great to see a new concept shaking things up. After all, who doesn’t want whiskey, wine, and jazz in the heart of Waldo?

Audrey’s Wine + Bourbon is located at 404 W 75th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64114. It is open Wednesday and Thursday from 4:00 – 10:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4:00 p.m. – midnight. It is closed Sunday and Monday.