On a bustling evening, golden light glistens off the windows of Bottles & Barrels and string lights along the patio cast a warm glow that mirrors the energy inside. Locals gather at tasting stations, sampling bourbon, wine, craft beer and cocktails, while laughter and conversation ripple through the space. Jimmy Ellsworth, the store’s heart and soul, greets each customer with a smile, turning strangers into friends. The lights, the atmosphere and the care in every pour reflect the same warmth that defines Ellsworth’s vision: a shop built on connection as much as on quality drinks.
Ellsworth grew up in Kansas City but found a home in Elkhorn in 2002 after meeting his wife, Becky Wortman, a native whose family of dentists, coaches and teachers anchors the town’s history. “I came for love and stayed for the people,” Ellsworth says.
With 20 years in the beer industry, from merchandising at Coors Distributing Co. to leading sales at Boulevard Brewing Co. and Molson Coors, he built a career on expertise. Yet at 46, an insatiable desire led him to leave a secure job to pursue his passion. “I wanted to take a chance at building something that was unique and engaging for our community, a place that can bring everyone together,” recalls Ellsworth.
Bottles & Barrels redefines the liquor store experience with a “try it, love it, buy it” model, allowing guests to sample spirits, beers, cocktails and wines before purchase. Simply check in at the front counter to open a tab, just as if you were at a bar, except you’re in the middle of a liquor store, and receive your tasting card. The store features two tasting stations with 16 spirits on tap, including a rotating selection of eight bourbons, two wine stations with 16 wines to sample, and a tap wall with 20 beers and six pre-batched cocktails to pour.
“It’s about creating an experience that’s tailored to our guests and providing options for them to select from across all categories,” Ellsworth says. The store, located where Omaha, Elkhorn, Gretna and Millard converge, proudly supports locally brewed beers and has a tremendous selection of regional craft breweries. You can mix and match 16-ounce craft beers, along with an outstanding assortment of Belgian and German import singles. Beer not your thing? Don’t worry. They recently introduced "Cocktail Corner," serving six pre-batched cocktails on tap, plus a weekend pop-up cocktail bar offering specialty drinks Fridays and Saturdays from 4 to 10 p.m.
Community fuels Bottles & Barrels. The store hosts thematic monthly events, such as October’s Paso Robles Wine Celebration on October 10, Winesdays each Wednesday, where all wine pours are 30% off, and Acoustic Sundays, every week from 2 to 5 p.m. You can also enjoy Music Bingo and Music Trivia every Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Their monthly wine club, affectionately dubbed Wine Society, delivers monthly hand-picked bottles across four tiers, while a rewards program, in which you earn five points per dollar spent, turns regulars into guides for friends exploring the tasting stations. The shop’s Cheers-like vibe fosters friendships, a nod to Ellsworth’s mom, whose warmth shaped his approach. “My mom treats everyone like family, and that’s made a lasting impact on me and how I run the store,” he says.
Jimmy and Becky, parents to two daughters at Elkhorn South High School, are woven into the town’s fabric, proud to call their business “locally owned and locally grown.” Looking ahead, Ellsworth plans two new Omaha metro stores within two years, with eyes on Lincoln and potential franchising. “Elkhorn’s my heart, but I would love to see our business expand,” he says.
With a passion for craft beer, wine and cocktails, Ellsworth has created a place where locals feel at home. The string lights and the laughter of neighbors make Bottles & Barrels more than a shop. It is a place where the community gathers, connections form over shared sips and the warmth inside is as strong as the glow outside. Every pour, every smile, every shared story reflects the heart of Ellsworth’s vision.
Check out all Bottles & Barrels has to offer at bottlesandbarrels.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram for real time updates on everything from special events to sales and promotions.
“I wanted to take a chance at building something that was unique and engaging for our community, a place that can bring everyone together.”