Today is the soft opening for Art Eatables, a new chocolate shop on Fourth Street in downtown Louisville featuring the small-batch bourbon truffles of Kelly Ramsey.
Kelly calls herself “the Cocktail Chocolatier,” and with good reason. Her chocolates are not the bourbon balls that your favorite aunt makes at Christmas – or, for that matter, the ones that have made a certain company in Frankfort famous. Most bourbon balls use one type of bourbon and lots of sugar. When you bite into one, you get a bit of chocolate and then a blast of bourbon burn.
Kelly’s truffles showcase a variety of bourbon brands. She tailors the chocolate to each one, enhancing the flavor of the bourbon rather than masking it. If you know your bourbon, you can tell without checking the label which one you’re trying, because these truffles taste just like the brand they’re made with. And if you’re not a bourbon aficionado, the truffles are a great way to start to appreciate the complexities and nuances of this native American spirit.
After juggling candy-making with her full-time job at a bank for a year or so, she decided to take the leap and open her own shop. Each of her truffles is still handmade, and each has a signature finish. They are packaged beautifully. Stop by and see – and taste – for yourself.
Art Eatables is at 631 S. Fourth St. Normal hours are 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, but for today’s soft opening they’ll be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit the website here.
