Louisville may not be the highest destination on your vacation list but if you are looking for something exciting to do, then you may want to reconsider. Louisville is home to various museums, factories, and distilleries. You can spend your days relaxing and learning something new about the planet, the history of Louisville, and how they make their delicious alcoholic beverages.

Congress declared bourbon an original and distinctive American product in 1964. You must sample Kentucky Proud bourbon while in Louisville!

In this article, we have 15 of the best distilleries in Louisville that you simply must visit. Take a tour, do some tasting, or go for the photo op. You never know what you might discover at distilleries in Louisville, Kentucky!

1. Rabbit Hole Distillery

Craft bourbon producer Rabbit Hole welcomes visitors for tastings and tours. Don’t ignore Rabbit Hole Distillery while deciding which Louisville bourbon distillery to visit.

When you get there, you’ll notice that the distillery has the modern industrial-chic style that many others in Louisville do these days. You can tell you’ve arrived because of the building’s recognizable rabbit on the side. You really can’t miss it!

Rabbit Hole is known for the incredible stories attached to its drinks. You’ll just have to visit to hear all about them.

2. Old Forester Distilling Co.

Want to visit where the first bottle of bourbon was bottled in Louisville? You have to visit Old Forester Distting Co. You’ll discover how Old Forester got its start there and the beginning of the legendary Whiskey Row.

There are a lot of goods there in addition to tours, tastings, and wonderful whiskey.

At Old Forester, you may find rye whiskey, 86 proof, prohibition style, mint julep, president’s choice, 100 proof, statesman bourbon, and more. Be sure to sign up for a tasting tour to ensure you can experience the incredible beverages they create.

3. Evan Williams

Located in Whiskey Row in the downtown area, Evan Williams Distillery is in the center of all the fun.

With reasonable prices, tasting tours, and an extensive whiskey and bourbon portfolio, there are loads to keep you busy and enjoying your time in Louisville.

Their straight bourbons come in 86 proof, 100 proof, small batch, and the vintage single bourbon, which has won Whiskey of the Year five times in total.

Head on down to Evan Williams Distillery for the experience of a lifetime. You’ll regret it if you don’t.

4. Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery

Since Mitcher’s is a highly nostalgic distillery, you may find nods to the past everywhere you look. The first whiskey company in America was established in 1753, which is when the historical legacy began. The distillery carries its 1-star, limited production, and limited release lines.

This bourbon and rye-producing establishment, built in the late 1800s, offers tours and tastings. Make use of the on-site drink bar while you’re there.

Mitcher’s Fort Nelson Distillery is located across from the Louisville Slugger Museum and other attractions, making it the perfect place to spend the day!

5. Bulleit Distillery Co.

All bourbon lovers will know of Bulleit Bourbon, so why not see where it is created. Located in Shelbyville, just under an hour outside of Louisville, the Bulleit Distillery is an absolute must.

Founded in 1987, this distillery is making waves in the bourbon community.

Bulleit’s shelves are lined with rye, barrel-strength whiskey, and bourbon. On-site amenities include a retail store, a patio, and a cocktail bar. The tasting excursions range from revealing the inner workings of a single barrel to stimulating the senses.

6. Prohibition Craft Spirits

When you visit Prohibition Craft Spirits Distillery, prepare for more than a simple tour. You can enjoy a tour of the distillery, a tasting experience, and a cocktail class led by one of the distillery mixologists.

The distillery is known for its excellent high-premium beverages. They are produced in small batches of only fifty-three gallons, allowing the desired flavors to come through and for any necessary rigorous adjustments.

The NULU single barrel: barrel proof bourbon is one of their most well-known beverages. Make sure to have a taste on your visit!

7. Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.

Kentucky Peerless has been making whiskey since the 1880s, so you know that when you visit, you are getting nothing but the best.

In 1889, Peerless filled its first barrels with whiskey. Since then, the workmanship has improved, enabling the distillery to produce some of the most exceptional whiskey in not only Louisville but the entire nation.

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co, has a history that runs deep into Louisville and of course, the prohibition. Make sure to join one of their tours to learn more about the fascinating history.

8. Copper And Kings Distilling Co.

Looking for somewhere to take a load off after a day in the blazing Kentucky sun? Copper and Kings offer more than just whiskey. Enjoy a stunning lunch and a few refreshments at their rooftop bar and restaurant before heading to the gorgeous tour.

Copper and Kings Distilling Co. are known for more than whiskey and bourbon. They produce brandy, gin, and even absinthe at their location in Louisville.

You’re just waiting to take a sip of beverages like absinthe, American apple brandy, gun, and distillate liqueurs!

9. Holi Gin

For those who enjoy something a little lighter, Holi Gin offers a wide range of delicious gins for you to try. Located near the famous Witches’ Tree, this peculiar distillery will have you feeling refreshed and reborn.

When you visit the distillery, you can see how the gin is manufactured, discover the various kinds of gin, and then spend the final 30 minutes of the tour learning how to make cocktails.

Not to mention you can sip on 2 cocktails of your choice while the tour takes place!

10. Angels Envy

Want to know where that long queue leads? It leads to Angel’s Envy, one of the best distilleries in Louisville.

You can sample Angel’s Envy’s distinctive collection while there. It is made out of rye whiskey finished in rum casks, cask-strength Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey finished in port wine barrels, and Kentucky straight bourbon finished in port wine barrels.

Also, they have limited releases that take you on a tour of their curiosity cellar.

11. Stitzel-Weller Distillery

The Stitzel-Weller Distillery Experience is one of the most accessible and impressive locations along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and is only five miles from downtown Louisville.

This is a special one as it originally opened in 1935 on Derby Day but was then shut to the public. It reopened to the public in 2014 and has been a must-see attraction for thousands.

Stitzel-Weller Distillery is home to the iconic Blade and Bow Bourbon Whiskey which uses a Solera System aging process. AKA, it tastes bloody delicious!

12. Barrels & Billets

Always wanted to create your very own bottle of bourbon? Barrels & Billets offers a unique experience where you can create, bottle, and take home your very own bourbon. This 45-minute experience takes you back to the 1800s when bourbon was made to order.

Barrels & Billets has a unique way of creating its delicious whiskey and with their tours, you can learn all about it. Discover how bourbon is truly created and learn how to create your own.

13. Brough Brothers Distillery

Brough Brothers Distillery is a family-run business, founded and operated by the three Yarbrough brothers. It is proudly known as the first African-American-owned distillery in the state of Kentucky and it is an absolute must-visit.

The distillery operates Monday through Friday to create its golden bourbon. However, tours take place on Saturdays, and what better way to relax than learning about how this wonderful concoction is made!

14. Four Roses Distillery

Now, Four Roses Distillery is a little ways outside of Louisville, but it is worth the trip. Located in Lawrenceburg, the drive may be just over an hour but it is going to blow your mind.

Tours are available all year round and come with a range of tours. The Single Barrel Flight tour is a wonderful tasting experience you won’t ever forget. Or you can learn more about their history with the Taste of History tour!

You can spend the day tasting different bourbons and learning how they are made. Be sure to organize your trip for Bourbon Heritage Month where you can learn about the true history of bourbon.

15. Jeptha Creed Distillery

Jeptha Creed is known for its incredible Barrel Tasting experience. You will be assigned farmland where you can learn all about the story of the distillery and taste some bourbon straight from the barrel!

The distillery also makes a wide range of vodka, moonshine, and brandy, so if you aren’t a bourbon lover, there is sure to be something that tickles your taste buds.

Final Thoughts 

Finding distilleries in Louisville will have you overwhelmed with choice. With bourbon and whiskey being the main game in Kentucky, you know that no matter where you visit, it is going to be delicious.

Above are 15 of the best distilleries in Louisville for you to check out and enjoy!