14 Ways to Celebrate the Old Fashioned

For the first 14 days of June, Louisville celebrates its official cocktail—the Old Fashioned— a cocktail that was originally created at the Pendennis Club downtown Louisville, before its popularity spread world-wide. This yearly celebration kicks off on June 1, which happens to be the birthday for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and concludes on National Bourbon Day--June 14.

Here are 14 days and ways to celebrate the Old Fashioned cocktail over the next several days, or anytime throughout the year.

Day 1 | Kentucky Statehood Day Party @ Number 15: Kentucky celebrates its 231st birthday on June 1, and Number 15 on Whiskey Row is raising a glass to the 15th state to join the union. Come eat, drink and dance the night away enjoying best Kentucky spirits and food that is a blend of Midwest hospitality and Southern charm.

Day 2 | The Ideal Bartender Experience @ Evan Williams Bourbon Experience: As you step into the Speakeasy, you’re transported back in time to meet Louisville native and renowned bartender, Tom Bullock. As the first Black American to write & publish a cocktail book, Tom will lead you through a bourbon tasting that finishes with his own version of the Old Fashioned straight out of his recipe book. June Dates: 1, 2, 8, 15, 16 & 22.

Day 3 | Travel the Urban Bourbon Trail: There are dozens of restaurants where you can imbibe on an Old Fashioned or satiate your appetite with a bourbon-forward dish. Download the Urban Bourbon Trail digital passport to begin your adventure.

Day 4 | Mixology Class @ Stitzel-Weller Distillery: Led by Greg Hojnacki, Garden & Gun Bar Lead, learn how to create your own cocktail using mixology techniques and hand-crafted syrups. Along with learning the history of the cocktail, you’ll hear about the history of Stitzel-Weller Distillery. After the class, stop by the Garden & Gun Club for a small bite to eat and a craft cocktail. June Dates: 4 & 25.

Day 5 | Kick Off the Morning with a Kentucky Coffee @ Jackdaw: If you need a little “pick me up,” stop by Jackdaw at the Cambria on Market Street and grab a Kentucky Coffee that has all the makings of an Old Fashioned with a coffee kick! Stop back by after work (or on another day) for one of their specialty cocktails like the Blackberry Old Fashioned.

Or head to Big Bad Breakfast for the Wakey Wakey Old Fashioned, a breakfast coffee cocktail made in-house with cold brew coffee and chicory.

Day 6 | Create Your Own Candle @ Maddox & Rose-Nulu: You get to pick and mix the scents that will fill your home with smell of bourbon with your own custom created candle.

Day 7 | Barrels & Billets @ Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory: Travel back to the 1800s to taste, create, bottle, and name your own whiskey to take home to use in your own Old Fashioned cocktail.

Day 8 | Art of the Old Fashioned @ Liquor Lab Louisville: Throughout this cocktail class, you’ll craft three versions of the Old Fashioned with different flavor twists, learn tips and tricks to showcase at your next party, enjoy small bites while learning step-by-step how to recreate your cocktails at home. June Dates: 8 & 22.

Day 9 | Whiskey Row Walking Tour: Travel back in time to Louisville’s famed Whiskey Row that has been home to distilleries beginning in the 1800s. A place where famous Bourbon barons like “Pappy” Van Winkle, Evan Williams and many more were instrumental in Louisville’s position as a major whiskey producer. This walking tour includes stops at different distilleries along Whiskey Row to sample well-known bourbons. June Dates: 1-4, 8-11, 15-18, 22-15, 29 & 30.

Day 10 | Craft Your Own Cocktail Class @ Buzzard’s Roost Distillery: This hands-on class explores how to the different whiskies and mixers come together to create the classic cocktail that is sure to be a crowd favorite. June Dates: June 3, 10, 17 & 24.

Day 11 | Boozy Brunch & Bourbon @ Mint Julep Tours: Spend your Sunday enjoying a local brunch before hopping in a van that will take you to two area distilleries for a guided tour and tasting. Available on Sundays.

Day 12 | Take a Selfie with Tom Bullock @ Sway, Hyatt Hotel Downtown: A mural by local artist, Kacy Jackson, adorns the side of Sway restaurant at the Hyatt Downtown that honors and commemorates Tom Bullock and his cocktail creation more than a century after Bullock first published his cocktail book.

Day 13 | Craft Your Own Cocktail @ The Frazier History Museum: Craft the official cocktail of Louisville, presented by Old Forester, at the Frazier History Museum. Led by Certified Bourbon Stewards, this unique experience is for Bourbon beginners and aficionados alike. June Dates: Mondays-Saturdays.

Head back to the Frazier Museum on June 22 for the Michter's Speakeasy at the Frazier for an evening filled with entertainment, tasty treats, cocktails and bourbon tastings.

Day 14 | Bathe in an Old Fashioned @ Moss Hill: After a long two weeks of celebrating, relax with Moss Hill's limited-release Old Fashioned fragrance line that includes bubble bath, lotion, soap and other goodies. You can also check out their other delightful scents like Bathe in Bourbon, Mint Julep, Kentucky Lily and many more to choose from.

Can't make it to Louisville during the two week celebration? Check out the below episode of Bourbon & Biscuits to learn how to make an Old Fashioned Bundt cake and a frozen Old Fashioned.

Click here to learn more about Louisville's Official Cocktail-- the Old Fashioned. Or check out other events & festivals happening throughout Bourbon City this summer.

Ready to book your Bourbon City getaway? We have a hotel package that is sure to "life your spirits."