Louisville

LOUISVILLE, KY Home of the Kentucky Derby and the Urban Bourbon Trail

Louisville’s rich Bourbon heritage begins with its strategic location along the Ohio River in the late 18th century, when frontier farmers in Kentucky first started using the land’s distinctly limestone-filtered water to distill whiskey. As Louisville became a vital commercial hub in the second half of the 19th century, the city’s Main Street was dubbed “Whiskey Row” due to the large concentration of Bourbon-related offices and warehouses centered in the district. Many of the cast-iron storefronts built between 1852 and 1905 are standing strong on what was also dubbed the “Wall Street of Whiskey”, some now housing popular Bourbon attractions and watering holes.

Visitors to Louisville have ample opportunities to explore the Urban Bourbon Experience in town or use the city as a home base when wandering the rest of Bourbon Country. There are ten distillery tours in the Bourbon City with half in walking distance of each other in the downtown corridor. As Bourbon continues to explode in popularity worldwide, booking tours in advance of your visit is highly recommended.

Beyond the Distillery

Bourbon City reclaimed its bourbon heritage in the last decade with the opening of 10 urban distilleries. America’s Native Spirit is part of the core fabric of the city and Louisville’s bourbon culture extends far beyond its production tours. It’s woven into the culinary scene and receives prime billing at festivals and events. It’s even on display in many unique accommodations and a headline exhibit at the Frazier History Museum, which is the official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and features its own tasting experience and the highly instagrammable Wall of Bourbon.

In addition to the distilleries, Louisville is home to the Urban Bourbon Trail® – a cocktail and culinary experience highlighting the city’s best Bourbon bars and restaurants. This elevated “pub crawl” has 40 unique stops, each stocked with at least 60 bourbons. Recently, the decade old trail has gone digital with a mobile friendly version to promote a more user friendly and COVID safe experience. From jazz-aged grand hotel bars to hidden speakeasies and neighborhood dives, there is an Urban Bourbon Trail spot to suit all tastes.

COPPER & KINGS

And if that’s not enough to whet your whistle, you might enjoy one of the many distillery-owned bar experiences that are open to the public even without a tour. As the peak season may cause tours to sell out early, there is usually room at a distillery bar for a signature cocktail to get a taste of their brand experience. This is of course in addition to always being able to browse the well-themed retail areas of the top Bourbon brands.

The Bourbon City Cruisers – A fleet of tuk-tuk style electric-powered vehicles are already becoming a popular way to experience Bourbon City. Take a ride with five other guests and an expert guide on an open-air adventure that connects travelers with downtown distilleries, restaurants, sightseeing and history. These can also be completely booked with your own private group of six. Other touring options exist from guided bus tours to private limo rentals and curated experiences. Be sure to visit www.bourboncountry.com for options.

Eat Your Bourbon

Another way to fully experience the Bourbon culture in Louisville is a visit to Bourbon Barrel Foods where you’ll find more than 70 Bourbon-inspired culinary products including the one that started it all – America’s first micro-brewed soy sauce. Visitors can try a complimentary soy sauce tasting of four products in a guided educational experience at either their Frankfort Avenue or Story Avenue locations.

Saddle Up

Combine two of Kentucky’s most treasured icons: bourbon and Thoroughbreds in an hour-long Kentucky Derby Museum experience that begins with a tour at Churchill Downs and ends with a mint julep demo. Venture out a little further into the countryside just 20 minutes upriver to Hermitage Farm where you will find a 19th-century estate, working thoroughbred farm and farm-to-table restaurant reimagined through 21st-century eyes. Guided tastings are enjoyable for bourbon connoisseurs and novices alike. Or combine both of these experiences in a new tour that ends with lunch, a bourbon cocktail class and contemporary art.

OAK AND SMOKE

Oak and Smoke

For centuries, whiskey connoisseurs have known the pleasure of sipping a barrel aged spirit while enjoying a fine cigar. Have local cigar expert J. Shepherd guide you through a pairing combination based on your unique flavor profiles. A visit to J. Shepherd Cigar Boutique on Bardstown Road in the eclectic Highlands neighborhood is a fun way to stock up on the cigars you’ll want to add to your humidor. Just tell Jason your favorite whiskeys and he will perfectly pair them with personally selected cigars based on the nuances of taste and aroma in both. You’ll also get the tasting notes to share with your smoking buddies. Or stick around and join the regular crew that are typically puffing away the afternoon on the porch. Cap off your Urban Bourbon Experience with a visit to Justins’ House of Bourbon with one of the widest collections of vintage bourbons in the world, including Van Winkles, Old Fitzgeralds and W.L. Wellers. Enjoy a tasting, get a bourbon history lesson and take home a rare bottle of bourbon.

Bourbon to Bed

Soak in a Bourbon experience from sunrise to sundown by staying in one of many Bourbon-rich accommodations in Louisville from the oldest grand dames of the Brown Hotel (home of the Hot Brown) or the Seelbach (famous as a setting in the Great Gatsby and a signature bourbon & champagne cocktail) to the newest on Whiskey Row, the Grady Hotel with its basement speakeasy the White Swann.

Experience a Victorian Mansion in Louisville’s classic Old Louisville neighborhood, restored with all modern amenities. A stay at the Bourbon Inn offers a look at the genuine Bourbon heritage of Kentucky including the Bourbon themed décor, Bourbon infused breakfasts, desserts and gift shop offerings. Old Louisville has the largest collection of restored Victorian homes in the country and is the third largest Historical Preservation District in the U.S.

Like B & B’s with a modern twist? The Chateau Bourbon is a great choice for travelers seeking comfort with a splash of Bourbon in a down-home atmosphere from the welcoming front porch to the comfortable backyard swings. Located in the heart of Norton Commons, a unique and vibrant walkable community just 10 miles from downtown Louisville.

Opened on Louisville’s Whiskey Row in 2019, Hotel Distil is a Marriott Autograph Collection boutique hotel celebrating Louisville’s Bourbon heritage with an original 1860’s era façade as a barrel house for J.T.S. Brown and Sons. The hotel’s décor pays homage to the Bourbon culture, along

MUTH’S CANDY with offering a unique guest cocktail experience with a nightly toast to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition. Two other Marriott properties are all-in for Bourbon with Whiskey-soaked décor and both hosting official Urban Bourbon Trail stops. The Louisville Downtown Marriott is connected to the Kentucky International Convention Center and steps away from the distilleries of Whiskey Row. Or settle in for some serious southern hospitality in the heart of the East End and a head start to distilleries along the Interstate 64 corridor at the Louisville Marriott East.

More of Louisville’s hotels with an Urban Bourbon Trail stop on property include: the Galt House (Charles Dickens and Abe Lincoln both stayed at the original and they would have loved the new bar Swizzle for a cocktail overlooking the Ohio River), the Omni Hotel (with swanky speakeasy & bowling Pin + Proof and a vibrant roof top pool scene), and 21c Museum Hotel (the original of this boutique chain that houses contemporary art). Visit www.bourboncountry. com for a complete list of Bourbon City hotels.

Bourbon City Shopping

If you want to bring back more than bottles of Bourbon from your Bourbon Country adventure, Louisville has no shortage of distinctive locally made finds. There are plenty of Bourbon-inspired options, from Bourbon candies to Bourbon clothing and furniture and everything in between.

A Taste of Kentucky

Wide variety of Louisville and Kentucky gifts and collectables, from bourbon barbecue sauce to Derby hats and Christmas ornaments when they are in season. atasteofkentucky.com

Art Eatables

Cocoa varieties are expertly paired with just the right bourbon and topped with a “Bourbon Information Token” signifying what’s inside at this nut-free shop. arteatables.com

Bourbon Barrel Foods

America’s first and only soy sauce microbrewery, now including products such as bourbon barrel aged soy sauce, bourbon barrel smoked salt, sugar, and spices, and more. bourbonbarrelfoods.com

Muth’s Candy

BREAKFAST AT CON HUEVOS

THE BAR AT ANGEL’S ENVY

balls for many of Kentucky’s distilleries. And it’s a walk back in time to this 1921 candy shop in NuLu. muthscandy.com

Butchertown Market

If you’re looking for a unique memento of your trip to Kentucky, this is basically a mini-mall of Louisville original businesses ranging from a chocolatier to a soap maker. thebutchertownmarket.com

Logan Street Market

Inspired by Seattle’s Pike Place, this more than 30-stall market in the Smoketown neighborhood has a coffee roastery, bourbon bar, wine bar, unique dining outlets and plenty of original boutique retail with many bourbon-themed finds. Loganstreetmarket.com

The Louisville Visitor Center

Redeem your Urban Bourbon Trail Passports and stock up on plenty of “Just Add Bourbon” merchandise. gotolouisville.com

Stoneware

Since 1815, this Louisville original has been molding household items out of clay including the first whiskey jugs. Pick up a handmade memento of your trip from numerous fleur de lis items, Hot Brown platter and Mint Julep cups to their newly released Boujie’s Bourbon. louisvillestoneware.com

And finally, some of our favorite places to take home the good stuff:

Liquor Barn

Serious bourbon selection, including multiple store barrel picks. Eight Louisville Locations liquorbarn.com Small shop with knowledgeable staff located in the Highlands neighborhood. oldtownwine.com

Taste Fine Wines and Bourbon

The original Bourbon Tasting bar in NuLu with over 40 selections so you can try before you buy. tastefinewinesandbourbons.com

Westport Whiskey & Wine

Over a hundred bourbons for

JUSTINS’ HOUSE OF BOURBON

sale including many store picks. Full tasting bar in the back. westportwhiskeyandwine.com

The Wine Rack

Handpicked selection of bourbon and other spirits in this Crescent Hill shop. wineshoplouisville.com