The Spirits of Louisville

To learn more about the spirits of Louisville, we signed on to five whiskey experience tours in the city. The locations themselves are a varied mix of production distilleries, rickhouse facilities, and tasting experiences, each with a character all its own. 

But first, a little about bourbon… 

All bourbons are whiskies, but not all whiskies are bourbon. To qualify as bourbon, a spirit must be:

· Produced and aged in the United States.

· Made from a mix of grain that contains at least 51 percent corn.

· Distilled at less than 160 proof, which is 80 percent alcohol by volume.

· Barreled at a maximum of 125 proof and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof. 

· Aged in new charred white oak barrels for a minimum of two years.

· Devoid of flavorings and colorings.

In part because of these requirements, over 95% of the world’s bourbon is made in Kentucky. 

Old Forester Bourbon Tour – We started our bourbon education in style. George Garvin Brown created the first bottled bourbon, Old Forester, in 1870. Amidst an industry permeated with cheap tainted product and inferior quality, his company, Brown-Forman, took the unique approach of sealing their whiskey exclusively in glass bottles, with George signing each one personally.

In 1920, Prohibition began, and no alcohol was produced or sold in the U.S. However, because of its unique distilling and bottling process, Brown-Forman was one of the few companies licensed to manufacture and sell whiskey - for medicinal purposes. It is the only whiskey that remains continuously in business from that time. 

Our tour was all-inclusive, with expert guide Noah taking us to observe the separate stages of bourbon production – fermentation, distillation, maturation, and bottling. We saw hundreds of barrels aging on shelves in a rickhouse, a tall facility used to store and age bourbon under different conditions. 

They even have a barrel-making facility known as a cooperage on site. Oak staves are ringed with metal hoops to form barrels which are charred by fire to impart the smoky, charcoal taste that a great bourbon is known for. 

We then sampled four separate expressions of Old Forester, allowing us to enjoy the subtle elements revealed by each whiskey. 

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience – The first commercial distillery on Whiskey Row was founded on the banks of the Ohio River by Evan Williams, Louisville’s first wharf master, in 1783. Now owned by Heaven Hill Brands, Evan Williams bourbon is featured in their Traditional Tour & Tasting experience. The facility was fascinating, recreating scenes such as the 18th century Louisville wharf and Whiskey Row’s Main Street in the 1890’s with incredible accuracy. 

The tour showcases the company’s unique approach to creating its bourbon. Square 6 High-Rye, a specialty Evan Williams spirit, is produced onsite, and the same type of pot stills used in the early bourbon-making days of the city remain at the heart of the process. 

Our host, Bob, helped us understand and enjoy four different Evan Williams styles. He explained that the warm sensation and glow that we feel when first swallowing bourbon has come to be known as a “Kentucky Hug.” We sampled the Square 6, a luscious spirit named after the plot of land that housed the company’s original distillery and destined to be a classic. 

Angel’s Envy Signature Tour – A bit further down Main Street we explored the Angel’s Envy distillery. The facility, opened in 2016 and an eclectic mix of classic brick construction and sleek modern architecture, showcases the distillation process and a dizzying array of styles of bourbon and rye. It opened as the first full-production distillery on Whiskey Row since prohibition. 

Founder and Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson named the brand Angel’s Envy as a play on the term “Angel’s Share” - the industry nickname for the 5% or so of each bourbon barrel that evaporates before bottling. Henderson noted that they still get to keep 95% of the product, which must certainly be the envy of the angels. 

Angel’s Envy changed bourbon and rye aging by introducing a unique “secondary finishing” technique. By maturing their whiskey in charred oak barrels as required but transferring it to secondary finishing casks for the remainder of the aging process, they created distinct and different flavor profiles and brand categories. 

Pursuit Spirits The Whole Shebang Tour – Situated just a few blocks from downtown Louisville, Pursuit Spirits may be the only whiskey brand ever inspired by a podcast. Founders Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil are the creators of Bourbon Pursuit, the “Official Podcast of Bourbon.” 

After years of searching for the finest flavors, Kenny and Ryan took the unconventional approach of partnering with multiple distilleries and became masters of blending. Pursuit Spirits now works with four distilleries to create 6 specific grain combinations that they then blend to produce Pursuit United bourbon and rye whiskies.

In addition to providing six unique styles of spirit to taste, this 90-minute behind the scenes tour allows for everyone to choose their favorite expression, then personally bottle and label their own Pursuit United Private Select product, using the on-site machinery to cork, label, and seal it. They plan to open a tasting experience on Whiskey Row in early 2025. 

Buzzard’s Roost Whiskey & Chocolate: The Perfect Match Tour - We entered the “roost” on Main Street where we learned about the history of chocolate and how its taste palate compliments Buzzard’s Roost whiskies. Individual chocolate treats, specially crafted by local bourbon certified chocolatier Art Eatables, are paired with different Buzzard's Roost whiskies to highlight and enhance the subtle flavors of each style. 

Buzzard’s Roost Sipping Whiskey was founded in 2019 as an oak-forward style of whiskey that matures in proprietary oak barrels that have been seasoned three times longer than traditional barrels. This produces a higher alcohol-by-volume whiskey that is flavored perfectly for smooth straight sipping.