Jessica Dillree/Flickr Creative Commoms
Well, maybe the title of this blog is a little misleading. Maybe you should PARK somewhere and then take a guided tour of Louisville so you don’t have to either limit your time in the tasting rooms, or break the law and endanger life and property afterwards.
If you enjoy bourbon, Louisville, KY is a very very good place to start. There are several guide services and limo companies who are available to take you on a tour of local Bourbon distilleries. Right on the outskirts of town is the Stitzel-Weller Distillery which is home to The Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience. The distillery opened it’s doors in 1935 on the same day as the Kentucky Derby (which was one by Omaha who won the Triple Crown that year) and produces a whiskey whose recipe has been in the Bulleit family since the 1800’s.
Right in the heart of downtown Louisville is the Evan Williams Whiskey Co’s Heaven Hill Distillery. They offer a tour called the “Evan Williams Bourbon Experience”. The Heaven Hill Distillery is directly across the river from the location of Evan Williams older distillery which began operations in 1783, which coincidentally was the year the American Revolution ended. The Evan Williams company also claims to be Kentucky’s first distiller and that very well could be.
Of course with rivers of bourbon flowing through town, you naturally have restaurants and hotels to visit as well. With bars like the Bourbon Bistro with over one hundred bourbons to choose from, to The Louisville Marriot which lays claim to being Kentucky’s sole hotel presented in a Bourbon theme, there is plenty to do and see, and many places to wet that whistle. For those diehards among you, the Urban Bourbon Trail has a passport system which allows you to track your progress through town, simply stop by the Visitor’s Center and get your passport, then walk/stagger/be driven through towns and have your passport stamped at 6 locations so you can return to the Visitor’s Center to claim your prize.
Needless to say, drink responsibly, don’t even think about driving yourself around, and HYDRATE!