Louisville, Kentucky breweries and distilleries are the cream of the crop; we recommend the following:
Angel’s Envy: At 500 E Main, this is a Louisville urban distillery where I enjoyed one of my favorite tours and tastings. You see their distillation process from beginning to end. They make a rye whiskey finished in rum barrels, a bourbon aged in port wine barrels and a Cask Strength Bourbon aged in port barrels. This was my favorite and I am now enjoying it in Chicago on those cold winter nights by the fire.
In June, 2022 they will add 13,000 to their current facility. According to The Bourbon Review, “new spaces will include: five new tasting rooms, where guests can partake in educational bourbon tastings; an additional bar space, where the Angel’s Envy team will continue to craft cocktails for reservation and event guests; an event space and full catering kitchen, allowing the distillery to be used for pairing dinners and private gatherings such as conferences and corporate events; a designated room for Angel’s Envy’s “Bottle Your Own” experience, which, post-expansion, will offer guests the chance to fill their own bottles of Angel’s Envy’s distillery-exclusive Single Barrel offering; and a larger retail area.”
Close to Angel’s Envy, at 401 E. Main, is Against the Grain. This industrial brew pub features their brews along with an extensive menu of other beers. They offer food as well with an emphasis on BBQ.
Bulleit Bourbon: At 3860 Fitzgerald Road, The Bulleit Experience at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery is a must see when you are in Louisville. After my visit, I have become a big fan. The old Bulleit family recipe for bourbon was revived in 1987 by Thomas E. Bulleit Jr. His great-great-grandfather Augustus Bulleit, made a high-rye whiskey between 1830 and 1860. Today there are three Bulleit Frontier Whiskeys, the Bulleit Bourbon, the Small Batch Bulleit Rye and the Aged 10 Years Bulleit Bourbon. Tours are available. You can also walk around the grounds and enjoy the historic buildings without taking a guided tour. I opted for the latter.
Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company: Peerless is Louisville’s newest distillery that is located downtown at 120 N. 10th St. Henry Kraver’s first bourbon went into the barrel in 1889. After 100 years, his great-grandson Corky Taylor and his son Carson have revived the family business using the original process. They currently make a rye whiskey and their bourbon will be ready in the spring of 2019. Tours of this urban distillery are available.
Copper and Kings American Brandy: This distillery is located at 1121 E Washington St. in Butchertown. A great experience is taking a tour and tasting their wonderful spirits including brandies, gin and absinthe. I loved trying their three American Brandies. They also feature special events from music performances, cigar nights, movie nights and food events. Check out the website for details.