Kentucky's largest city is home to nearly a dozen bourbon distilleries and the cocktail experience of the Urban Bourbon Trail. Whet your appetite with this one-day tour plan.
Breakfast:
PLEASE & THANK YOU – Start your day with a locally baked pastry in the NULU district. This hip coffee/music shop combo is known for its chocolate chip cookies and wide selection of vinyl records… and is a favorite place of Teddy Abrams—the young, hip Music Director/Conductor of the Louisville Orchestra.
COPPER & KINGS AMERICAN BRANDY - Based in Butchertown, Copper & Kings makes dynamic American-style brandy. Tour this modern distillery, where guests will learn about the brandy distilling process. Visitors will also tour the 75% underground, naturally climate-controlled brandy cellar where the barrels are sonically aged through music.
ANGEL’S ENVY DISTILLERY – Opened in 2016 along historic Whiskey Row, Angel’s Envy offers visitors a fully operational urban distillery experience. See the distillation process from beginning to end, with the tour ending in the Finishing Room with a tasting of Angel’s Envy.
Lunch:
DOC CROW'S SOUTHERN SMOKEHOUSE & RAW BAR - An official Urban Bourbon Trail stop, Doc Crow's is nestled in Downtown Louisville's heart of Whiskey Row. It currently sits where the well-known Bonnie Bro. The distillers' warehouse previously thrived. Doc Crow pays homage to the father of bourbon, Dr. James C. Crow, who paved the way for Kentucky bourbon to be born. So stop by for a glass of bourbon and various southern treats.
EVAN WILLIAMS BOURBON EXPERIENCE - Located on Louisville’s Museum Row, it features an artisanal distillery, tours, tastings and more. Celebrating the legacy of Evan Williams, Kentucky’s first distiller, this immersive experience brings to life the history and tradition of Kentucky’s native spirit.
FRAZIER HISTORY MUSEUM - Along Museum Row, the Frazier is the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center and the Official Starting Point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. Various Bourbon tasting experiences are offered, including a craft-your-own cocktail experience and private tours and tastings. They also have three exhibits that highlight bourbon's history in Kentucky: The Spirit of Kentucky exhibition gives an in-depth look at Bourbon whiskey and is the perfect spot to learn about America’s native spirit; Pappy Van Winkle: The Van Winkle Family Collection exhibition features items from the Van Winkle family archives, including original photographs, bottles, and unique Bourbon-related items from the archives; the Bourbon Bottle Hall showcases a massive collection of over 250 varieties, this gallery contains every bottle of Bourbon currently in production in the state of Kentucky.
KENTUCKY PEERLESS DISTILLERY - While it is one of the newest distilleries in downtown Louisville and home to the only urban bourbon rickhouse in the city, Kentucky Peerless is an old family brand that is steeped in four generations of rich history dating back to the 1860s.
STITZEL-WELLER DISTILLERY - Originally opening on Derby Day in 1935 and reopening to the public in 2014, the historic Stitzel-Weller Distillery is one of the true cathedrals of the American whiskey industry. Step foot on this hallowed ground and gain a unique perspective on the dichotomy of the historic contrasted with the innovations of tomorrow that include Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, I.W. Harper and Orphan Barrel.
Happy Hour:
THE GARDEN & GUN CLUB - Intimate and inviting, the Garden & Gun Club at Stitzel-Weller Distillery writes a new chapter in Southern hospitality. The premier cocktail bar and lounge brings the defining Southern lifestyle brand to life with a curated menu of elevated cocktails and a modern take on some of our favorite classic Southern dishes.
Dinner:
THE LOBBY BAR AT THE BROWN HOTEL - Contemporary classic meets old-world opulence at The Brown Hotel’s spectacularly beautiful and surprisingly unstuffy Lobby Bar. A popular spot for the next generation of Louisville merrymakers, this glamorous, gilded space balances its history with modern touches and sophisticated tastes. Indulge in classic comfort food and kick back with a hand-crafted cocktail. The Hot Brown, Louisville's most famous dish and creation of the Brown Hotel, and a slice of Derby Pie pair perfectly with their hand-selected bourbon flight.
Nightlife:
LIVE MUSIC & SPEAKEASIES - Stay downtown to experience live music at Stevie Ray's Blues Bar or Merle's Whiskey Kitchen. Or, opt for a game of bowling in the Omni's speakeasy bar, Pin + Proof. If it's speakeasies you're looking for, head to the alley behind Whiskey Row to Hell or High Water, or find your way behind the mini-market at Hotel Genevieve to the Lucky Penny.
*Restaurants listed are recommended based on location with the itinerary stops before and after meals and in relation to the theme of the itinerary. For more dining ideas, search by cuisine or neighborhood. Click here.
