You don’t have to venture outside of Louisville to find bourbon distilleries! There are now several bourbon experiences easily accessible to downtown Louisville. From small batch distillers to major brand experiences, there’s something for every bourbon lover.
To get a glimpse of them all in one outing, book a custom bourbon tour with Mint Julep Experiences and craft an itinerary along the Urban Bourbon Trail. Learn about Louisville’s bourbon history including Whiskey Row and famous distillers of the past. Stop in gift shops for bourbon souvenirs and limited edition bottles of bourbon to take home.
Still looking for places to stay in downtown Louisville, check out this Louisville hotel guide to plan your route and staying close to the distilleries you love.
Bourbon Distilleries Near Downtown Louisville
Angel’s Envy
What started as an idea between a father and son in 2006 is now acclaimed Angel’s Envy Distillery. Located across from Slugger Field in downtown Louisville, this urban distillery gives an insider’s look at a fully operational distilling facility. Space on guided tours is limited and by reservation only, but you can swing by for a photo op or gift shop visit.
House brands: Angel’s Envy including port finish, rum finish, cask strength and sherry cask offerings.
Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
Named after Kentucky’s first commercial distiller, Evan Williams, this artisanal distillery experience is the home of Heaven Hill’s flagship brand. It even sits across the street from the riverfront venue of Evan Williams’ late 18th century distillery. If you don’t have time for a full tour and tasting, head up to the gift shop and grab a photo by the enormous, overflowing bourbon glass in the lobby. There’s an on-site bourbon bar too called On3 for a craft cocktail before you go.
House brands: Evan Williams including single barrel, bottled in bond, 1783 and flavored expressions like Evan Williams Honey.
Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse
This home away from home for the Jim Beam brand is in the heart of downtown Louisville. You’ll find a small working distillery and bottling line at the Fourth Street Live location. The gift shop is full of Jim Beam swag and the only place you can find non-chill filtered, limited edition Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse Select Bourbon.
House brands: Jim Beam, Booker’s, Baker’s, Knob Creek, Basil Hayden and several other whiskey expressions are part of the portfolio.
Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company
The state-of-the-art Peerless Distilling Company mills, cooks, ferments, distills and barrels all is whiskeys under one roof. The father-son duo behind Peerless calls on generations of family history in distilling to make their spirits. You’ll learn about their bourbon making forefathers and how they’re going grain-to-bottle in downtown Louisville. Peerless is on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Craft Tour.
House brands: Peerless only has Rye so far, but will be releasing Bourbon in when its properly aged later this year.
Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery
It’s “cost be damned” approach to whiskey making put Michter’s on the map as a high quality spirits maker. As Louisville’s newest distillery experience, Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery is a tourist destination for the legacy brand that dates back to 1753. The urban distillery also has a cocktail bar called Bar at Fort Nelson featuring classic cocktails and modern creations.
House brands: Michter’s US*1 rye, bourbon and American whiskey expressions.
Old Forester Distilling Co.
Home of the first bottled bourbon, Old Forester Distilling Co.’s downtown Louisville distillery experience shows how the famous brand is made from start to finish. This includes a unique look at the barrel raising process. Located on historic Whiskey Row, you’ll learn the local history of the Old Forester brand and its creator George Garvin Brown. Stop in George’s Bar for bourbon cocktails or a flight or visit the gift shop for bourbon cocktail provisions and more.
House brands: Old Forester expressions including Whiskey Row series (1870, 1897, 1910, 1920), President’s Choice, rye, single barrel and Statesman.
Rabbit Hole Distillery
See a modern take on bourbon distilling at Rabbit Hole Distillery in Nulu. The craft bourbon maker’s contemporary, industrial-chic facility is a fascinating contrast to the many historic distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®.
House brands: Rabbit Hole’s Kentucky bourbon and rye along with offerings finished in sherry casks and a London dry gin are all made here.
More Urban Distilleries in Louisville
Copper & Kings American Brandy Company
Going against the grains, Copper & Kings American Brandy Company in Butchertown makes brandy, gin and absinthe in Bourbon Country. The innovative distillery’s eye-catching operation is a great addition to any day touring Louisville distilleries. Learn about how different spirits are made and Copper & Kings’ theories on sonic aging and other outside the box distilling techniques. It’s house cocktail bar Alex&nder has one of the best rooftop views in the city and drinks for brandy and bourbon lovers alike.
House brands: Copper & Kings American brandy, gin, absinthe and liqueurs are made here.
Book a custom bourbon tour in Louisville and pair it with sightseeing, shopping, food, or hands-on-mixology classes! As the preferred transportation and tour company of Bourbon Country, Mint Julep Experiences will handcraft your itinerary to create an unforgettable, bourbon-filled experience in Louisville.
About The Author
Sara Havens has been a bourbon enthusiast and educator long before the boom began. As a Louisville-based writer, her work has appeared in various national and regional publications, including Bourbon+ Magazine, The Bourbon Review, Alcohol Professor and Food & Dining Magazine. In 2020, Havens was one of 10 finalists in the World’s Top Whiskey Taster competition held by the Bardstown Bourbon Co., beating out more than 400 contenders to represent the Kentucky region. She maintains her own website, barbellelou.com, covering the bourbon industry and local nightlife scene, and in her down time, you can find her leading tours along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® for Mint Julep Experiences.