Forbes Spotlights ‘The Whiskey Lover’s Guide to Louisville’

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (January 14, 2026)— Louisville Tourism is proud to celebrate national recognition from Forbes, which just published “The Whiskey Lover’s Guide To Louisville—With More Than 20 Essential Stops” by spirits writer Joseph V. Micallef—affirming Louisville’s place as the welcoming front porch to America’s native spirit.

From the city’s walkable Whiskey Row to immersive downtown tasting rooms, Louisville offers a uniquely urban bourbon experience that puts award‑winning whiskey, culinary hot spots, and live music within a few blocks. With a concentrated, walkable whiskey scene, historic Whiskey Row on Main Street brings together brand homes, speakeasy‑style lounges and bottle shops—perfect for weekend itineraries built around tastings, cocktail classes and rare-pour hunts. Forbes’s guide underscores how easily visitors can stack multiple essential stops in a single day.

Louisville’s bourbon scene surged toward its ambitious goal of 25 visitor experiences by the end of 2025. Openings include Circa 1856 (Chicken Cock Whiskey), Green River Distilling Co., Pursuit Spirits (second location on Main Street), Uncle Boojie’s Homestead and Whistle Pig The Vault. Additional brands have announced plans to open, including Binder’s Stash, Louisville Barrel Whiskey Co. and Von Payne Spirits.

Louisville’s NuLu neighborhood is home to standout distillery and bourbon experiences like Angel’s Envy Distillery; The Last Refuge, Bob Dylan’s reimagined 150‑year‑old church turned atmospheric whiskey and arts space; Whiskey Thief, celebrated for its straight‑from‑the‑barrel thieving experience and Rabbit Hole Distillery, named North America’s Leading Bourbon Distillery Tour in 2025 by World Travel Awards.

With Forbes’ guide as your roadmap, pair Louisville’s new tasting rooms with classics on Whiskey Row, building in time for iconic Louisville must‑sees like the Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory and the inspiring Muhammad Ali Center. Round out your nights with the city’s signature LouGrass music series, where free seasonal bluegrass performances bring Bourbon City’s spirited culture to life April through October.

While planning a trip to Louisville, guests can download a copy of Louisville Tourism’s annual Visitor Guide to see the city's top attractions and bourbon distilleries. Visitors also can get additional city attraction, lodging and dining assistance at gotolouisville.com.