Meet Meredith Koko: Restaurateur & Bourbon Queen

Urban Stillhouse is an approachable fine-dining destination in St. Pete, FL, and Somerset, KY, that beckons gourmands and bourbon aficionados the world over. But it’s not just the perfectly-cooked steaks they’re coming for. It’s the experience and the story of the bourbon brand behind the restaurant. We chatted with owner Meredith Koko about how the fascinating story of the U.S. horse soldiers changed the trajectory of her career and her family’s lives.

Pin

Bourbon Country to Manhattan … and Back South Again

Meredith grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, but like many restless teens, she bolted the minute she could. “I left the day I turned 18, went to Manhattan, as one does, and I had a very successful 15-year run there,” she recalls. Her time in the city was defined by late nights, big names, and hospitality at its highest levels — first in nightlife and then running her own PR firm for high-profile restaurants and DJs.

That New York polish gave her a discerning eye. “I knew exactly what a good experience should feel like, what it should look like from top to bottom,” she says. But as she was walking home one night, her father called with an idea: “He said, ‘I think we’re going to start a bourbon company.’ I thought he’d lost it,” Meredith laughs.

A few months later, Meredith flew down to St. Pete to check out a warehouse her family wanted to turn into the tasting room. At 20,000 square feet, it was hardly a modest venture. “I said, ‘This isn’t a tasting facility. This is something else.’ And my whole New York life seemed to end right then. My lease was up, my business partner was ready for the suburbs, so I moved to Florida and never looked back. That was seven years ago.”

Building Urban Stillhouse

Today, Urban Stillhouse in St. Petersburg is a 16,000-square-foot monument to bourbon, hospitality, and Southern cuisine. Meredith credits her stepmother with the sweeping design vision: “They traveled all over the world to learn how to make bourbon. The big fireplaces are from Ireland, the leather and heavy wood come from Montana, and the beams are reclaimed from barns in Kentucky.”

The result is a space that feels like a ski lodge crossed with a bourbon library, right in Southside St. Pete. Guests walk in to the scent of open fire, the glow of a fireplace, and retail shelves stocked with Horse Soldier bottles and bourbon-infused goods. Upstairs, a private club provides an intimate, fireplace-lit retreat to sip from a library of hundreds of rare spirits beyond bourbon and whiskey.

Pin

Meredith calls the restaurant’s approach “casual fine dining.” She explains, “Fine dining comes with a lot of stigma and a stuffier experience. Here, you’re still getting elevated dishes, but in a space where you can relax. It’s approachable.” The most special part about eating here? The opportunity for an intimate tasting experience to learn about Horse Soldier Bourbon before your meal.

The Story Behind Horse Soldier Bourbon

Horse Soldier Bourbon isn’t just another celebrity-endorsed craft spirit. It’s rooted in a history few can match. After the 9/11 attacks, a group of U.S. Special Forces soldiers — including co-founder Scott Neil — were the first into Afghanistan. With language barriers and no modern transport available, they partnered with Afghan allies and rode horses through treacherous mountains to dismantle Taliban strongholds. The mission, immortalized in the film 12 Strong and the documentary Legion of Brothers, remained classified and uncelebrated for nearly a decade.

When the story was finally declassified, Meredith’s father, a veteran himself, met a few of the U.S. Special Forces (a.k.a. the Horse Soldiers) at an event out West. An idea was sparked that continued growing as they drove home from Montana to Florida, stopping at every veteran-owned distillery along the way. Working with this special group of vets, they’d honor this untold story and forge a future in bourbon.

Pin

Today, every Horse Soldier bottle carries that history — literally. “Every bottle is pressed with a piece of the towers,” Meredith says. “Our mold was made from melted-down steel from the World Trade Center. It’s authentic. It’s real.” That authenticity, along with award-winning, super-smooth bourbon, has paid off. Horse Soldier is now one of the fastest-growing bourbon brands in the U.S., bolstered by a strategic partnership with E. & J. Gallo that has expanded distribution nationwide.

Expanding the Legacy: Somerset, Kentucky

In addition to St. Pete, Meredith and her family have their eyes fixed firmly on Kentucky. Somerset, a small town on Lake Cumberland, is home to the second Urban Stillhouse and Horse Soldier’s soon-to-open massive new distillery. Backed by a $300 million investment and support from the state, the facility will officially join the famed Kentucky Bourbon Trail in July 2026.

Pin

What Makes the Experience Special

For Meredith, the magic of Urban Stillhouse isn’t just the bourbon, the design, or the story; it’s the people. “I don’t even know how we got so lucky,” she says of her team. “Our management has been with me since before COVID. Chef Kenny is unbelievable, and everyone — from events staff to servers — has hospitality running through their veins.”

Education is also key. Guests can sit for a bourbon 101-style tasting, complete with nosing, sipping, and the story of the Horse Soldiers. Servers are trained to guide guests based on flavor preferences. “Bourbon is no longer just guys playing poker with cigars,” Meredith insists. “If you’re a lemon tart person or a sweet person, our mixologists can tailor a cocktail to you. Bourbon is more versatile than people realize.”

Even the food bears bourbon’s mark: open-flame grilling with barrel staves, sauces enriched with Horse Soldier Bourbon, and a menu that reflects both Florida and Kentucky roots.

Pin

Meredith Returns to Her Southern Roots

Though she once thought she’d never leave New York, Meredith says returning to the South has felt like a tender homecoming. “I’m from Louisville, and that’s where I’m at peace. The South runs through everything we do — from the dishes to the cocktails.”

Outside of work, she finds balance on the water, whether boating in Tampa Bay or relaxing on Lake Cumberland. “I’m a big exercise person. I’ve got a wonderful boyfriend, a big family, and I love to eat. We’re big wine people, too.”

Her father’s advice continues to guide her: “Don’t be afraid of failure. If you’re going to fail, fail fast. Do it quickly and move on.” Personally, she adds, life is simply too short not to enjoy. “You lose people, and you see how fast it all goes. What is it for if you’re not enjoying it?”

Pin

Pop into either Urban Stillhouse location. You may meet Meredith, and you’ll undoubtedly meet her team of bourbon gurus. You can pick up a bottle of Horse Soldier Bourbon here.

**********

Discover even more Southern stories worth sharing. Follow us on Instagram!