Toasting Bourbon Heritage Month

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (September 10, 2020) – Long before the U.S. Senate declared September National Bourbon Heritage Month in 2007, Louisville has been shining a spotlight on America’s Native Spirit.

Louisville was known as the “Wall Street of Whiskey” pre-Prohibition due to the concentration of whiskey related businesses in the area. In 2013, the city reclaimed that title with the opening of the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, which kicked off a Bourbon renaissance that permeated throughout the city. Louisville is now home to more than 10 Bourbon experiences – more than any other place in Kentucky’s Bourbon Country.

As a toast to Bourbon Heritage Month, here are several ways to enjoy the spirit while in Bourbon City:

SIP: Louisville’s Urban Bourbon Trail®
(UBT) – a cocktail and culinary experience highlighting Louisville’s best local Bourbon bars and restaurants, is launching a digital version of the iconic passport September 16, replacing the paper version which has been used over the past decade. Order up an Old Fashioned – Louisville’s Official Cocktail – at one of over 40 establishments, which all offer at least 60 different varieties of Bourbon. Check-in at 6 participating locations and finishers will earn an official UBT t-shirt. Start your digital journey by signing up for the digital passport to see participating stops and exclusive discounts.

TOUR: As the home of 1/3 of the world’s Bourbon supply, Louisville is brimming with urban Bourbon distilleries. Visitors can enjoy tours and tastings by making a reservation at one of the city’s many Bourbon tourism experiences. Start your Bourbon adventure at the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center at the Frazier History Museum on Main Street’s Museum Row. While bourbon experiences are fully open, others are only open for retail or are not currently open due to COVID-19. Check for up-to-date information at https://www.gotolouisville.com/attractions.

STAY: After a day exploring Bourbon City, travelers can rest at one of the city’s Bourbon-themed accommodations. The Old Louisville neighborhood is home to the historic Louisville Bourbon Inn, a Victorian-style mansion built in 1887. For a modern B&B experience, there’s Chateau Bourbon B&B located in the walkable Norton Commons neighborhood. Twelve of Louisville’s classic hotels also feature a bar or restaurant on the Urban Bourbon Trail®, including accommodations in Downtown, NuLu and Jeffersontown. Book the #BourbonCity Hotel Package for a hotel stay, distillery combo ticket and Bourbon themed welcome bag, all for one low price.

SNAP: Snap a selfie at some of the Bourbon-centric art around the city, including the Barrel sculpture
at 4th and Main Streets; a Wall Street of Whiskey mural at 3rd and Jefferson streets; or the Tom Bullock mural located at Sway restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Louisville, which pays tribute to one of the city’s legendary pre-Prohibition bartenders.

CRUISE: Hit the streets of Louisville for an urban Bourbon excursion aboard the Bourbon City Cruisers
– a fleet of tuk-tuk style electric-powered vehicles. Explore Bourbon Country by boarding a bus with Miller Transportation’s Bourbon Barrel Tours, which offers a daily 1 p.m. shuttle (departing from the Frazier History Museum) to some of the Bluegrass’ most iconic distilleries. Or, take a cruise aboard the world’s oldest operating Mississippi River-style steamboat – the Belle of Louisville
– for a picnic lunch while enjoying the ‘Sound of Bourbon,’ with the fabled Juggernaut Jug Band up the Ohio River on Sept. 19.

AT HOME: Bring the decadent aroma of bourbon into your home and make your own small batch scented candle. Between working or schooling from home, burning candles to keep houses smelling fresh is part of the new norm. Follow this DIY candle blog, and in true Kentucky fashion, Just Add Bourbon.

Press note: Due to COVID-19 restrictions and protocols, please call ahead to check if attractions, restaurants and tour reservations are needed as well as to verify current hours and operating schedules.