Celebrate Louisville’s Official Cocktail for a Fortnight

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (June 1, 2026) – Step aside, Mint Julep—Louisville’s official cocktail, the Old Fashioned, takes center stage each June. Named as the city’s signature drink in 2015, the drink originally created at the local Louisville Pendennis Club is celebrated during Old Fashioned Fortnight with a lineup of events, tastings and specials throughout the first two weeks of the month. The festivities begin June 1, marking Kentucky’s statehood, and wrap up on June 14, known as National Bourbon Day. The celebration offers a spirited showcase of Louisville’s deep whiskey roots and thriving bourbon culture.

Here are some ways to participate in Old Fashioned Fortnight June 1-14:
- Old Fashioned Fortnight Trail: We invite visitors explore Old Fashioned locations, check in to earn points, and track prizes across a curated trail. Guests have a chance to win the Top Shelf Grand Prize,an overnight at a Louisville hotel, and items to make your own Old Fashioned at home. Sign up to play with the mobile pass,

- Craft Your Own Cocktail at the Frazier History Museum: Experience how to make the official cocktail of Louisville in the Craft Your Own Cocktail Experience, presented by Old Forester, at the Frazier Kentucky History Museum. Led by our Certified Bourbon Stewards, this unique experience is for Bourbon beginners and aficionados alike. Our team guides you through making a traditional Old Fashioned with your own unique twist while providing some fascinating history about the Old Fashioned. Classes are for Bourbon beginners and aficionados alike and can be booked online.

- Big Bat Bourbon: One of Main Street’s Whiskey experiences takes place just next door to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory where you can embark on your custom bourbon experience. Sample up to six different flavor profiles and build your own custom bottle of whiskey suited to your personal taste. If you love your newly created concoction, you can purchase your own bottle after the experience. Find tour times.

- Beyond The Barrel: Bourbon & Bites Food Tour: Uncover the secrets of Kentucky bourbon and go beyond the barrel to dive into bourbon’s unfiltered history – and learn all the stories they won’t tell you on a Kentucky Bourbon Trail distillery tour. As the sun sets over the vibrant NuLu neighborhood, you’ll visit award-winning restaurants, hidden speakeasies, rooftop terraces, and cozy tasting rooms, Find available dates.

- Louisville Visitor Center: Enjoy a free event on June 11 to celebrate the Old Fashioned cocktail featuring refreshments from Bristol Catering, a personalized music experience from Louisville Silent Disco and bourbon tastings from Buzzard's Roost distillery. The Louisville Visitor Center is located at 301 S. 4th St. in downtown, Louisville.

For additional ways to celebrate Old Fashioned Fortnight, a more detailed history of Tom Bullock, and recipes on how to create the cocktail visit OldFashionedFortnight.com. Sign up for Louisville Tourism’s Bourbon newsletter to stay up to date on all the Bourbon-soaked happenings around town.

Louisville Tourism recently introduced The Bourbon City Companion, a curated guide to help visitors and locals navigate the spirited heart of Bourbon City. The Bourbon City Companion, offers a directory of distilleries and tasting rooms, and a curated mix of experiences—from hands-on blending and culinary pairings to standout cocktail bars and cultural stops. The guide also features classic bourbon cocktail recipes, a roundup of events and festivals and an expert-curated list of the city’s top bourbon bars and restaurants. The guide is for sale at the Louisville Visitor Center.

Guests can also use Louisville Tourism’s annual Visitor Guide to see the city's top attractions, culinary hotspots and bourbon distilleries. Travelers also can get attraction, lodging and dining assistance at gotolouisville.com.