This premiere bourbon club is opening in east Louisville, and memberships are $1,200+

A premiere bourbon club is about to open near Louisville. And it's incredibly bougie.

Watch Hill Proper, 11201 River Beauty Loop, Prospect, Kentucky, opens on April 8 in a sprawling, 5,200-square-foot space in Norton Commons.

The front waiting room has a name —The Fermenter — and its own bar. Inside, leather chairs are spread out in lounge seating, with low light and bourbon barrels on display. Parties are seated and waited on by barkeepers at their seats.

"There are other bourbon clubs around, but not like we have done," said co-owner Tommy Craggs. "Watch Hill Proper doesn't offer beer, vodka, or gin. For us, American whiskeys are absolutely what we're doing, which separates us from other bars."

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This premier bourbon club will have an extensive whiskey collection of more than 1,500 unique bottles, a wine list, and a unique cocktail program. Executive chef Michael Crouch leads the kitchen, serving items like tartare dishes ($17-$22), a-la-carte charcuterie (market price), and dishes like a salad, lobster hush puppies, and Bolognese meatballs ($11-$19). Cocktails are $12 to $16.

Craggs said the club's cocktail list and wine list make the drinks "appealing to everybody," even if you're not a bourbon lover. The staff at Watch Hill Proper is trained on the club's whiskey list and able to suggest drinks tailored to each patron's tastes.

The bourbon club is also planning to expand already, adding an additional 500-square-feet to its kitchen so the menu can be expanded from about eight small plates to include full entrees like duck confit, pasta dishes and steaks.

"We'll be able to put out some amazing food come May," co-owner Josh Howes said. "And I think that's going to make our bar a world-class bar, between the whiskey, cocktails, wine, and really amazing food."

The club is open for everyone to visit the Fermenter's bar, relax inside, or be seated on the outdoor patio. But only members can make reservations at the club, so the large back room will only be available to walk-ins on a first-come, first-serve basis. Membership also provides discounts on drinks, early access to barrel picks, and invitations to member-only events, among other perks.

If you're interested in visiting Watch Hill Proper more than a few times a year, Howes and Craggs recommend memberships — and they're going fast. Of the 300 available memberships, nearly 200 have already been claimed.

A single local membership runs $1,200 plus $900 annual dues and a local and spouse membership is $1,500 with $1,200 annual dues. Young Professionals under 30 get a discount with membership running $900 plus $600 annual dues for one person or $1,125 plus $800 for two. There are also corporate and non-local options.

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Watch Hill Proper members can make reservations for priority access to the club, get a 20% discount on all bourbon, whiskey and cocktails, invitations to 50 events a year, and access to tastings, single-barrel offerings, a spirit locker and more. Members may bring up to seven friends at any time by making a reservation through the website or app.

"You don't have to be a member to enjoy the club, we want to be sure everyone knows that," Craggs said. "But if you're 21 and over, there's something for you here. We are so happy this is in Louisville. The city and state deserve this."

To apply for a membership, visit watchhillproper.com.

Watch Hill Proper will be open Monday to Thursday from 3 p.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to midnight.

Features reporter Dahlia Ghabour covers food, dining trends and restaurants in the Louisville area. Send tips on new places or story ideas to dghabour@courier-journal.com or follow on Twitter @dghabour.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Watch Hill Proper bourbon club opens in Norton Commons in Louisville