Top Louisville Bourbon Trail Tours (which one is right for me?)

Known for its iconic Whiskey Row, Louisville’s bourbon scene continues to expand to become more impressive. As someone from Louisville who has visited every bourbon tour in Louisville, there are so many amazing experiences to be had. Here are the best Louisville bourbon trail tours you should book for your getaway on the Bourbon Trail!

>> Going outside Louisville? I’ve got a guide to all the best distilleries on the trail.

What is the bourbon trail?

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a network of bourbon distilleries in Kentucky. The distilleries are mostly located in Louisville, Bardstown, and Frankfort areas but the network extends beyond that. More distilleries are in Kentucky than are included on the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail and though most consider all distilleries the “Kentucky Bourbon Trail” some of the most famous distilleries aren’t even included on the official list.

I recommend doing your research outside of the official Bourbon Trail to get the most out of the Kentucky distillery experience. But for the sake of clarity I’ll be describing all distilleries as “the trail.”

>> If you want a look at all the distilleries that offer tours and tastings be sure to check out my interactive map. This map includes all the distilleries with helpful region selections for trip planning, too.

Where to stay in Louisville for the Bourbon Trail

Whiskey Row has had a renaissance in downtown Louisville. The area has renewed itself from its creation and is a great place to stay when visiting the trail. I recommend the Moxy Louisville or 21c Hotel Louisville if you’re wanting to stay in the heart of bourbon country downtown.

My top choice!

21c Hotel Louisville

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Moxy Louisville

A Marriott hotel, the Moxy Louisville Downtown is located right off Whiskey Row within walking distance of many of the downtown Louisville distilleries. The best part about the Moxy is it can be really affordable for its location, costing as little as $110 a night.

21c Hotel Louisville

One of my favorite hotel chains, the 21c is part art museum and part modern hotel. The Louisville 21c is located near the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory and is a great location for shopping and dining.

Hotels Outside Downtown

Louisville is a very drivable city. So if you don’t want to stay downtown you can easily stay closer to the Blakenbaker or Hurstbourne and I-64 exits and save some money. These hotels don’t have as much charm or as many unique restaurants around but it is easier to get outside of town to the Bardstown and Frankfort distilleries.

You could also choose to stay in Shelbyville, which is full of unique places to stay on the Bourbon Trail, and just a 30 minute drive from downtown Louisville.

>> Check out my helpful guide to the best places to stay on the Bourbon Trail for more ideas!

Louisville Bourbon Trail: Best Bourbon Tours

Though you can visit the Bourbon Trail in many parts of Kentucky, you’ll almost certainly spend at least some of your time visiting the trail in Louisville. Though most of the distilleries won’t include the amazing rickhouses with countryside views, you will experience the tradition of Whiskey Row and urban distilling. 

Having visited every distillery (and tour) in Louisville, I’ve curated what I think is the best experience at each Louisville distillery to help you make the most of your time. 

Stitzel-Weller Distillery

What to book: The Stitzel-Weller Experience
Price: < $25
If you’re looking for a traditional rickhouse experience, the Stitzel-Weller Distillery (home to Blade and Bow) is a must. The distillery isn’t located on Whiskey Row (built here to avoid taxes inside what was then the Louisville line) and because of that still has the original grounds with rickhouses, offices, and more. If you like distilling history, this 1-hour tour is a must. 

Old Forester

What to book: Old Forester Tour
Price: > $25
This is probably my favorite comprehensive tour on Whiskey Row. The tour is well thought out and helps you understand the entire bourbon making process, even in an urban setting. The best part of Old Forester is the treat of one of their amazing chocolate dipped modjeskas at the end. (Do not miss this sweet treat!)

Rabbit Hole

What to book: Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour
Price: < $25
Rabbit Hole is one of the most modern distilleries in Louisville. With a really unique aesthetic, it’s a stark contrast to the old feel of most of Whiskey Row. Their 1-hour standard tour includes a cocktail to start, which is the only tour I’ve been on that includes one. Be sure to include plenty of time for their gift shop, too. Unlike most distilleries, there are plenty of unique gifts and collectables worthy of any bourbon lover’s collection.

Angel’s Envy Distillery

What to book: Private Select Tour
Price: > $25
Like Rabbit Hole, Angel’s Envy is creating a name for themselves as a modern distillery experience. Here I’d recommend the more expensive Private Select Tour, where you can learn more about bourbon finishing, one of the growing industry trends.

Michter’s Distillery

What to book: Discovery Tour
Price: < $25
Michter’s probably has the best tasting experience at the end of their tour. You get to try products you can’t find anywhere else all for a good tour price. The facility itself is super small, so you don’t really get to see much in their micro distillery. But the tour is worth it for the tasting experience at the end.

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience

What to book: Grab a cocktail
Price: < $25
After visiting nearly every bourbon distillery in Kentucky I can confirm this is the worst experience on the trail. It’s over the top and just not interesting. If you decide to go to Evan Williams just grab a cocktail at their upstairs bar.

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.

What to book: Tasting Experience
Price: < $25
Peerless has an interesting history in a beautiful historic building downtown. They do offer a tour but I recommend booking a tasting experience instead. Peerless is known for their products and the tasting experience gives you a great variety of tastes.

Cooper & Kings

What to book: The Cooper & Kings Experience
Price: < $25
Located outside Whiskey Row, Cooper & Kings offers a great tasting experience in a unique atmosphere. Though the Cooper & Kings Experience is the only tour offered daily be sure to look out for their special cocktail and cooking classes, too.

Bardstown Bourbon Company

What to book: The Art of Blending
Price: > $25
Bardstown Bourbon Company’s main operations are in Bardstown, Kentucky but you can join some new experiences on Whiskey Row, too. They are the best at mass-blending and their new blending class is a great way to learn more about how the craft works.

Other bourbon tours (that aren’t distilleries)

Though distilleries are what you think of when you think of bourbon tours in Louisville there are some other unique bourbon experiences you can do. Trust me when I say that doing the same distillery tour 4 times a day can get pretty repetitive, so I recommend looking outside the box and trying something new. Here are some of my favorites:

Bourbon and Food Pairing Class

Nothing gets more Kentucky than bourbon and food, so why not take this walking tour where you get to try some of the best Kentucky has to offer? You’ll get to eat at some of the best restaurants in downtown Louisville and try some classic bourbons and cocktails on the tour, too.

My top choice!

Beyond the Barrel: Bourbon and Food Pairing Tour

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Take a blending class at Barrels & Billets

If you’ve ever wanted to blend your own bourbon, you have to book this experience. You’ll taste a variety of bourbon profiles and create your own blend at the end of the workshop. Even better? You can pay just $50 to take home a custom bottle of your blend at the end of the experience – perfect for tastings with your friends!

Walk the streets of Whiskey Row with a guided tour

If you’re a history lover or just bourbon history lover, consider booking the Whiskey Row Walking Tour and get an inside look at the history of bourbon in the historic heart of Louisville.

Barrel tasting and bottling experience

Pursuit Spirits is known for their highly popular bourbon podcast but they’re now invested in bourbon experiences. Their taste, pick, and pour experience allows you to barrel pick your own bourbon to take home. 

Want to go on a guided Bourbon tour?

I think you can easily DIY a trail experience, which will save you money and give you a lot more flexibility to the tours you choose. But if you don’t want to drive outside of Louisville yourself you can book guided day tours from Louisville to distilleries in the Frankfort and Bardstown areas.

There are a variety of tour package options including custom tours, horse country tours (including horse farms), and standard tours, too. Mint Julep Tours is the most popular company to create tours with.

Keep in mind guided tours, which plan and book your tours on a pre-arranged list of experiences and take you to them, are much more expensive than planning the trip on your own. But they are a good option is you are looking for something easy.

Tips for visiting the Louisville Bourbon Trail

  • Most distillery tours open 3 months in advance and sell out quickly. Be sure to get organized and book your tours in advance to be sure to get the times and locations you want to visit
  • If you plan to just visit Louisville you don’t need a rental car. Almost all the distilleries are located within walking distance from Whiskey Row downtown. If you plan to venture outside of Louisville and don’t want to pay hundreds of dollars per person for a day trip you can rent a car which will give you freedom to visit each distillery at your own pace.
  • Though it seems like you can do tour after tour after tour…. Limiting yourself to 3 tours a day will give you plenty of time between experiences for the gift shop, tasting experiences, cocktails, and meals.
  • Don’t worry – distilleries are highly regulated and you’re limited to how much you can consume on a tour. Unless you purchase additional cocktails, you’ll be completely fine.

More Bourbon Trail Tips + Inspiration

From this Kentuckian I hope you enjoyed getting some inspiration for your own visit to Louisville and the rest of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, too! I’ve written a lot of great and helpful guides for your trip, so be sure to check out some more posts below!

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