Welcome to Bourbon City, where tradition meets innovation and every pour tells a story. Louisville is the birthplace of the Old Fashioned, home of the disco ball, and the city that invented the cheeseburger. Here, sleek cocktail bars mingle with historic distilleries, and award-winning restaurants fuel your next tasting adventure. Along the Urban Bourbon Trail® you will discover one-of-a-kind bites, and sip your way through the city that proudly blends Southern hospitality with big-city sophistication.
This seven-day travel guide showcases the best of the Louisville Region, but you can easily tailor it to fit your schedule, whether you have one day or several. As you explore, use the Build Your Own Bourbon Trail® tool to create, save, and share a personalized itinerary tailored to your interests and timing.
Although many distilleries welcome walk-ins for tastings and seasonal cocktails, we highly recommend booking in advance to secure your spot and preferred time. Don’t forget to account for travel time to and from each destination.
Want to leave the logistics to someone else? Louisville offers the perfect blend of city sophistication and Bourbon heritage, with vibrant neighborhoods, riverfront views, and the historic charm of Whiskey Row. Book your tours and transportation with one of our trusted Transportation Partners, and you’ll be free to sip, savor, and fully immerse yourself in Louisville’s one-of-a-kind Bourbon culture, no driving required.
DAY 1
Kick off your Louisville adventure with a stroll down historic Whiskey Row, where more than ten distilleries and tasting rooms sit within a mile of Main Street. With so many delicious Bourbon offerings, be sure to pace yourself and plan your meal and water breaks accordingly. These experiences are super walkable, but if you choose to drive, make sure to reverse course as Main Street is one-way.
Start with Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., a distillery five generations in the making, where every detail of Bourbon and Rye production happens under one roof. Visit for a behind-the-scenes look at how they craft their fine spirits.
From there, make your way to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center at the Frazier History Museum. Explore the Spirit of Kentucky® exhibit, snap a photo in the bottle room, and let the Bourbon concierge help plan your day so you can focus on tasting and enjoying.
Michter’s Distillery — Crafting Perfection, One Barrel at a Time
No visit to Whiskey Row would be complete without stopping at Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery. Known for its “Cost Be Damned” approach, Michter’s offers guided tastings, in-depth tours, and cocktails at The Bar at Fort Nelson, which stays open late for those who want a nightcap.
Cap off your first day at 21c Museum Hotel, the world’s first museum hotel. Blending contemporary art and historic architecture, this unique hotel experience offers an inspiring space for culture, creativity, and comfort.
Insider tip: 21c’s restaurant and bar Proof on Main has some of the city’s most creative bartenders, and their cozy space stays lively into the evening, making it an ideal first-night stop. Peruse their dessert menu for a sweet end to your day.
DAY 2
Downtown is also home to the Bardstown Bourbon Company Tasting Room, a modern space blending augmented reality, craft cocktails, and exclusive bottles for the ultimate interactive Bourbon experience.
From a basement podcast to one of Whiskey Row’s newest destinations, Pursuit Spirits on Whiskey Row offers immersive tastings, the Trial + Error cocktail lounge, and a curated bottle shop for whiskey lovers looking to discover something new.
The Green River Louisville Tasting Room blends playfulness and tradition, with interactive Bourbon experiences designed to delight and surprise visitors. This is a great place to start your day in Louisville’s historic Whiskey Row. Find the rotary phone that will grant you access to the speakeasy…if you know the secret code.
Home of the Small-Batch Bourbon Truffle™, Art Eatables pairs rich Belgian-style chocolate with Kentucky’s finest Bourbons. Created by Kelly Ramsey, the world’s first Bourbon-certified chocolatier, these hand-crafted truffles are a must-try for chocolate and Bourbon lovers alike.
DAY 3
Buzzard’s Roost Distillery & Tasting Room feels like a hidden gem in the city, offering intimate tastings and a relaxed bar atmosphere. Each pour showcases small-batch craftsmanship and innovative maturation techniques.
Evan Williams Bourbon Experience — Where History Meets Every Pour
At the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, visitors step back into 1783 at Kentucky’s first commercial distillery. As the first distillery to open on modern Whiskey Row, it offers an immersive look at early Bourbon-making and sits just steps from the original riverfront spot where Evan Williams shipped his barrels downriver to New Orleans. Cap it all off upstairs at ON3 Bar, a stylish urban loft serving handcrafted cocktails.
The Seelbach Hilton Hotel has a storied past, hosting U.S. presidents, legendary artists, and Prohibition-era mobsters like Al Capone. Guests can explore The Rathskeller, the only surviving Rookwood Pottery room, a favorite haunt of The Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Insider tip: World-class Bourbon awaits at The Old Seelbach Bar. Try their namesake Seelbach cocktail for a sparkling twist on a classic Bourbon cocktail.
DAY 4
Angel’s Envy Distillery — Crafting The Future of Bourbon
Angel’s Envy Distillery offers both a modern distillery tour and a cocktail lounge experience. Guided tours highlight the care and craftsmanship behind every Bourbon, including the brand’s signature finishing technique of aging its whiskey in imported port wine barrels for added depth and complexity. Master Distiller Owen Martin ensures each pour is meticulously prepared.
Insider tip: Although it’s listed as the first stop of the day, Angel’s Envy tours are open later than most distilleries, making it a great final stop as well.
WhistlePig, The Vault Tasting Experience provides guests with tailored Rye and Bourbon selections. Knowledgeable staff create custom flights and cocktails, making every visit personal and educational.
Old Forester Distilling Co. — Goodness Never Varies
Old Forester Distilling Co. invites visitors to explore its contemporary Whiskey Row facility, which features a live cooperage where skilled craftsmen raise and char barrels on-site—an experience rarely found in an urban distillery. Guided tours trace founder George Garvin Brown’s legacy as the creator of America’s first bottled Bourbon. Afterward, unwind at George’s Bar with a signature cocktail or tasting flight, the perfect way to savor the story and spirit of Old Forester.
As the evening winds down, find yourself at Log Still Distillery’s Monk’s Road Boiler House — part intimate tasting room, part luxury-style chophouse. Monk’s Road offers a refined, intimate setting for Bourbon flights and dinner, allowing visitors to end their day on Whiskey Row in style.
DAY 5
Rabbit Hole Distillery — Original Works of Bourbon
Rabbit Hole Distillery is an architectural icon that provides a fully immersive experience of their state-of-the-art facility in Louisville’s NuLu district. The tour concludes with a tasting in the Overlook Bar, where the distillery’s creative approach to Bourbon is on full display. Cocktail enthusiasts stay after the tasting for creative Bourbon drinks with cityscape views.
One part tasting room and one part live music lounge, guests at the Whiskey Thief Tasting & Listening Room can enjoy pours straight from the barrel while listening to jazz, blues, or Bluegrass performances, making the experience both soulful and spirited.
Chicken Cock Whiskey Circa 1856 blends Bourbon heritage with a modern tasting experience. Guests enjoy guided flights in a refined sipping room and a Prohibition-inspired speakeasy, along with curated retail selections.
Copper & Kings Distillery unapologetically makes brandy in the middle of Bourbon City. Visitors can witness the “sonic aging” music-infusion process and sample their brandies and delicious Bourbons aged in brandy barrels.
Bourbon Barrel Foods pairs local cuisine with Bourbon in unique ways. Visitors can tour the facility, taste soy sauces and seasonings aged in Bourbon barrels, and take part in one-of-a-kind culinary experiences.
Louisville’s first Bourbon-themed fine-dining restaurant, Bourbons Bistro, helped spark the modern Bourbon renaissance. Locally owned and internationally recognized, it showcases the city’s Bourbon heritage through its extensive whiskey list and Bourbon-inspired cuisine.
DAY 6
COMING SOON! At Uncle Boojie’s Distilling Company, guests can sample Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey crafted from a 200-year-old family recipe, taste Bourbon straight from the barrel, and experience the stories, history, and hospitality behind the family’s whiskey-making tradition.
Left Bank & Safai Bourbon offers intimate, boutique tastings that feel truly personal. Their straight Bourbon whisky is distilled and aged on the banks of the Ohio River in Kentucky before making the winding journey by water to New Orleans, where it’s married in small batches and bottled.
Insider tip: Left Bank is located inside the Logan Street Market. Grab a bite to eat or a cup of coffee before heading west.
Stitzel-Weller Distillery — Bourbon History Preserved in Every Barrel
Stitzel-Weller Distillery offers a truly iconic, deep dive into Bourbon history. Opened on Derby Day in 1935 and reopened to the public in 2014, this historic distillery showcases both tradition and innovation with offerings like Blade and Bow, I.W. Harper, and Orphan Barrel. Don’t leave these hallowed grounds without enjoying a bite and a cocktail at the Garden and Gun Club.
At the Kentucky Derby Museum, Bourbon is more than a drink—it’s a spirited tradition celebrating Kentucky’s heritage and horse racing history. Explore tastings, exclusive events, and limited-edition bottles at the Museum Store.
Insider tip: Enjoy lunch or dinner and classic cocktails at the Derby Café & Bourbon Bar, which features over 170 Bourbons and is an official stop on the Urban Bourbon Trail®.
Noche Mexican BBQ blends smoky West Texas BBQ with authentic Mexican flavors, all inside a beautifully restored church. While there’s plenty of tequila to be found, Noche pairs dishes with Bourbon cocktails, old fashioneds, and curated Bourbon flights.
Experience Southern hospitality at Louisville Marriott East, where Bourbon-inspired rooms and modern comforts await. Enjoy Kentucky-style cuisine and explore over 450 whiskeys at Charr’d Bourbon Kitchen, serving dinner and late-night Bourbon pours for a truly elevated getaway.
DAY 7
Oxmoor Bourbon Company provides a historical tasting experience that traces five generations of Bourbon heritage. Visitors can step back in time to learn about the definition and evolution of Kentucky straight Bourbon whiskey.
Kentucky Artisan Distillery offers small-batch craft Bourbon in a hands-on, farm-to-bottle setting. Guests can tour the production process, meet Master Distiller Jade Peterson, and see how modern craft distilling blends tradition with sensory-driven techniques. Using grains from nearby farms, each batch is carefully crafted and shared in the cozy clubhouse, where visitors can relax and enjoy flights after the tour.
Glen Oaks Country Club on the Kentucky Golf Trail provides a scenic break for golf enthusiasts, combining beautiful landscapes with a relaxed pace before concluding your Bourbon journey.
Louisville’s premier Bourbon-themed bed & breakfast is none other than Chateau Bourbon B&B. Start and end your days with Bourbon-infused breakfasts, craft cocktails, and charming accommodations provided by award-winning innkeepers, Missy and John.
More to Explore
Your journey through Louisville is just the beginning. This city is the perfect launchpad for exploring the rest of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® – including Bardstown, Lexington, the Central Region, Northern Kentucky, and Western Kentucky. Each region offers its own take on Kentucky’s most spirited tradition, and every pour tells another chapter in the story of Bourbon. Expand your journey across all Kentucky Bourbon Trail® regions to discover new flavors, stories, and experiences at every stop.
Plan your next stops with confidence by visiting our Know Before You Go blog.
