Louisvillians are spoiled for choice when it comes to beverages. There are plenty of spots around Derby City where friends can gather to enjoy alcoholic or spirit-free beverages. And with Louisville’s proximity to the world’s bourbon capital, a good glass of whiskey is always just a stone’s throw away. But there’s only one place in town that offers a cocktail bar-and-plant shop combo, where guests can sip a drink while perusing the plant selection: Pretty Decent on Frankfort Avenue.
Husband-and-wife team John and Jeanne Douglass opened the Clifton spot in April 2023, bringing their love for plant-driven spirits and literal plants to Louisvillians. “It came from our twin passions,” John says.
The shop recently made Imbibe 75‘s annual list of people, places, and organizations expected to shape the world of drinks. Pop by and see what makes it so unique!
Pick a Plant
As soon as you step through the front door, it’s clear that Pretty Decent isn’t your typical bar. A plethora of plants fill the front area, which leads to round tables with comfy seating and a solid maple bar in the back. The walls are adorned with designs by local artist Sarah Tidwell, featuring whimsical iterations of an armadillo, cacti, and other flora.
“The space itself [speaks] hospitality,” says John, who has worked in the industry for over 30 years, including as a beverage program manager for Michelin-rated restaurants. “[It’s] like, ‘welcome into our home.’ … It’s warm and cozy. It’s not a dark, tavern-style bar.”
Soft lighting allows guests to browse various plants and plant products, including everything from succulents and friendship plants to pots and shears. It’s all curated by Jeanne, who is a Kentucky Master Gardener.
Before opening Pretty Decent, Jeanne spent a significant amount of time traveling throughout the Commonwealth to connect with small-scale plant propagators. This ensures that the plant selection supports independent producers and boasts as much of the local pedigree as possible.
Enjoy a Drink
John’s approach behind the bar follows the same ethos. “Plant shop and plant-driven spirits is kind of the glue that holds … the concept together,” he says, explaining that the flavors offered at the bar focus on plant-sourced spirits, including tequila, mezcal, rum, and pisco.
But John doesn’t just fill his shelves with popular brands that boast celebrity backings and magazine ads. He curates Pretty Decent’s selection by taking the time to truly get to know the liquids he’s pouring into customers’ cups.
“[I’ve taken] three different trips to Oaxaca in the last year,” he says, “[and] I have another one coming [up] to Jalisco to learn about Raicilla, which is a different Mexican spirit. [Traveling and] educating myself [is] a way for me to be a better conduit between the people who are making the products in Mexico and the people who are drinking [it] in Kentucky.”
Learn a Little
Anyone who has been to Pretty Decent knows just how well-versed John is on each item on the menu. He can offer details about every ingredient in a cocktail and tell you exactly where the bar snacks came from.
He and Jeanne happily share their knowledge — informally from their respective areas of the space and formally in the form of bar and plant classes. John teaches various classes about spirits and cocktails and provides a quarterly advanced agave spirits class for industry pros. The classes he offers will continue to evolve; the more he learns, the more he can teach others. “The mezcal classes almost always change,” he says, “based on how we change with what we learn. When we meet somebody new [in Mexico] and are excited about it, we become excited to bring that into our classes.” He explains that his classes often focus on a single producer or family of producers so he can teach people about the product while telling its origin story.
Jeanne’s classes cover the plant-parent gamut, with sessions catering to everyone from first-time owners to longtime plant lovers. Her Hanging Moss Art Class, which allows attendees to design their own work of living art, has been especially popular. “It’s very relaxing and fun as well,” Jeanne says. “I see that as something that will continue as a signature class, [with] materials that will change seasonally.”
She adds that new ideas are in the works, and she’s keeping themes for upcoming classes open-ended. “It could be anything from a plant club [that] focuses on a particular plant [every] month, [to] building terrariums that are their own living ecosystems.”
Grab a Gift
For guests who want to take a little something back to their loved ones, the shop also offers a variety of goodies to give as gifts. This includes custom-made, mezcal-scented candles produced by Maddox and Rose in NuLu and a selection of wines with local meal-pairing recommendations. Jeanne also creates gift baskets with plant and wine combos.
No matter your reason for popping into Pretty Decent, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll get to chat with John or Jeanne before you leave. “It’s just the happiest time … when we know [everyone],” Jeanne says. “[Knowing guests’] faces and names is really important to us.”
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