Kentucky Bourbon Trail Map
When many folks think of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, they think of the distillery giants that are scattered all throughout Kentucky. You know; your Jim Beam’s, Buffalo Trace distilleries, and the like. Well, easily enough, you don’t have to go far to see several distilleries on the bourbon trail, as there are seven distilleries in the heart of the city on the Louisville Bourbon Trail!
Which Distilleries Are a Part of the Downtown Louisville Bourbon Trail?
At the time of writing, there are seven bourbon distilleries in downtown Louisville that are part of the Louisville Bourbon Trail. These are Old Forester, Angel’s Envy, Evan Williams, Michter’s, Rabbit Hole, Peerless, and Copper and Kings. Here is a short bit of info about each!
Old Forester Distillery
Located along Main Street on Whiskey Row, Old Forester encapsules over 100 years of history in the heart of the bourbon city. The building itself has ties to pre-prohibition distilling, the founding of the Brown Forman Corporation; and of course, the creation of Old Forester and a large number of its products. While only a fraction of the company’s bourbon is actually produced here, you can’t ask for much more from an urban distillery experience. Oh, and you can visit the bar and gift shop anytime without a tour!
Angel’s Envy Distillery
Since 2010, Angel’s Envy has made a name for itself in the bourbon industry for its unique take on bourbon, and of course, quality products. Angel's Envy is situated about a half mile from the heart of Whiskey Row, and can be visited on foot or via Uber. Folks who visit Angel’s Envy often speak highly of the products they taste, the cleanliness of the facility, and the wonderful staff they encounter while there.
Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience pays homage to of course, Evan Williams, the famous Louisvillian and a founding father of bourbon. This experience has a historic take on bourbon with a small, but understandable example of commercial distilling right in the heart of downtown. It too is about a half mile from the heart of Whiskey Row, but heading west this time. This location has a few speakeasies hidden within, and makes for a great place for a tour or drink.
Michter’s Distillery
Michter’s is known for making fantastic whiskey that can be traced back to the revolutionary war. While their tour can be a little crowded and doesn’t cover much ground, you do get a great understanding of its history and what makes the products so great. Make sure to visit the upstairs bar while you’re there! This one is getting a little further from downtown, so you might want to consider an uber at this point.
Rabbit Hole Distillery
Rabbit Hole is known for its knowledgeable and friendly staff, its clean facility, and its location. They make a great cocktail here, as well as a solid lineup of bourbon! Consider an uber here unless you’re making a day between Whiskey Row and Nulu.
Copper and Kings Distillery
Copper and Kings calls itself an “industrial-chic” facility, which we think is a perfect explanation for it. At Copper and Kings, you’ll find a wonderfully-curated space with a friendly cast and a lot of character. They make great brandy, and are starting to make a name for themselves with their bourbon. This place is absolutely worth the visit! You do want to get an uber to this one.
Peerless Distillery
Last but not least, we have Peerless Distillery. This distillery has done a fantastic job of taking an old industrial-era building and pairing it with a bourbon brand that has been in the family for over 100 years. This revival has made for some great whiskey, which is all sweet mash, Kosher, and definitely unique. We’re big fans. Uber or drive to this one.
Downtown Louisville Bourbon Trail Map
What Are Some Other Bourbon Experiences in Downtown Louisville?
Good question! In addition to the above, there are a handful of tasting rooms that include Bardstown Bourbon co, Buzzard’s Roost, and Whiskey Thief Distilling. There is food and drink that ranges from fast-casual to fine dining, and a handful of whiskey themed restaurants. There are also a number of bourbon centric shops, tasting bars, and cocktail bars. And don’t forget about the Fraiser, the official start of the bourbon trail!
Downtown Louisville & “Stringability” to the Rest of the Bourbon Trail
If you're staying anywhere in the Greater Louisville Area, then you're in luck! You can add a Downtown Louisville Bourbon Trail tour to any bourbon tour itinerary! This includes Bardstown, Frankfort, Lexington, or Greater Louisville. Just simply pick a downtown distillery as your first or last stop of the day, and it will work out perfectly.
How To Visit Distilleries in Downtown Louisville?
Walk - You can certainly walk to a handful of experiences here, especially if you’re staying near Whiskey Row. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes! The main downfall here is it is difficult to carry too many souvenirs and the possibility of bad weather.
Uber - If you’re not up for walking. You can always Uber or Lyft from place to place. This is possible in the city only, for the most part. Once you get 30 minutes or so outside of the city, finding a ride gets much more difficult.
Drive - Pretty obvious. Parking can be a hassle, please do not drive if you are nearing the legal limit.
A Bourbon Tour Company / Private Transportation - Our favorite option (obviously)! Having a tour company allows you to cover more ground, save your energy, have a place to store souvenirs.. This is a great option with the unpredictable weather we have in Kentucky. A good guide can always answer questions about bourbon or most of the places you are visiting. They can also make some of the surrounding distilleries that are less-accessible, ie. Bulleit, Stitzel Weller, and Jim Beam.
**** Looking for a great, affordable private tour guide for your group? Give us a shout! We'd love to be your knowledgable guides to the bourbon trail. *****
Downtown Louisville Bourbon Trail FAQs & Final Thoughts
Can You Visit Louisville Bourbon Distilleries Without a Tour?
Of course you can! If you’ve ever tried to book a tour, it’s often really hard on peak days with limited availability. And of course, sometimes you only have a limited amount of time. Each distillery has a gift shop you can visit, a few cool things to look at, and usually a bar you can visit to try their products.
Downtown Louisville Accommodations & Where to Stay
Downtown has some great hotels for every budget. There are also a number of VRBOs and AirBNBs in the area for groups large and small. We’re fans of the Omni Hotel, the 2 Mariott’s downtown, Hotel Distil, 21C, and Aloft. Always check the reviews and look at pictures to make sure the hotel matches your comfort level, vibe, and expectations!
Is Downtown Louisville safe?
We get asked this a lot. Downtown Louisville is safe. But, it is the downtown of a major metropolitan city. With the larger number of people and businesses, there are of course thefts, vandalisms, break ins, property crimes. Violent crimes are a little more rare, but can happen. If you take the same precautions traveling here as you do in any major city, you’ll be just fine.
What Are Some Other Must-Do’s in Downtown Louisville?
Yes! Do you like baseball? Be sure to check out a game at Slugger Field during baseball season, or visit the Louisville slugger factory and museum. The Fraiser museum is great for any history buff, and is actually the official start of the bourbon trail! In addition, there is a comedy club, art museums, theaters, concert halls, and more. There are also a number of events and festivals throughout the year, so be sure to ask us for recommendations!
Are There Other Distilleries in the Louisville Area?
Indeed there are! There is Stitzel Weller out in the west side of the city, Kentucky Artisan Distillery (current home of Jefferson’s) to the north east. Jeptha Creed and Bulliet are to the east, and Jim Beam is to the south. These are all within about 30 minutes of downtown Louisville! We typically recommend a few of these so our guests can make the most of their DD on a Louisville Bourbon Tour experience. For more information on these, be sure to check out our Greater Louisville bourbon guide.
Downtown Louisville Bourbon Trail Guide - Final Thoughts
Downtown is great: so much to do from early morning til late night, and something for everyone. Most of us tour providers operate out of Louisville, so having downtown as your home base is great for everyone. You can walk and find a lot of bourbon stuff to do, and visit over seven distillery locations!