7 Must-Visit Distilleries on Louisville’s Urban Bourbon Trail in 2024

Post Published July 17, 2024

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7 Must-Visit Distilleries on Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail in 2024 - Angel's Envy Distillery Unveils New Limited-Edition Rye Whiskey





7 Must-Visit Distilleries on Louisville’s Urban Bourbon Trail in 2024

This whiskey, the fourth expression in the brand's Cellar Collection, features a 7-year-old straight rye finished for 364 days in ice cider casks from Vermont's Eden Specialty Ciders.

The result is a unique and innovative flavor profile that showcases Angel's Envy's commitment to craftsmanship and experimentation.

Whiskey enthusiasts can visit the distillery to purchase this exclusive release, as well as the Cellar Collection Series Volumes 1-3, which offer a striking book set packaging of the distillery's acclaimed Kentucky Straight Bourbons finished in distinctive fortified wine casks.

The new rye whiskey is the first of its kind for Angel's Envy, as it features a unique 364-day finishing process in ice cider casks from Vermont-based Eden Specialty Ciders.

This innovative approach is a departure from the distillery's traditional bourbon and rye whiskey offerings.

Interestingly, the ice cider casks used for the finishing process are made from a blend of apples and pears, imparting a distinct and unexpected flavor profile to the rye whiskey.

The combination of the rye spirit and the ice cider cask influence is said to create a harmonious and complex sensory experience.

Surprisingly, the new limited-edition rye whiskey is only the fourth expression in Angel's Envy's prestigious Cellar Collection series, which showcases the distillery's commitment to craftsmanship and experimentation.

Intriguingly, the Cellar Collection Series Volumes 1-3, which features three 375ml bottles of Angel's Envy's highly acclaimed Kentucky Straight Bourbons finished in distinctive fortified wine casks, is being released alongside the new rye whiskey.

This exclusive release highlights the distillery's attention to detail and innovative approach to whiskey production.

Curiously, the eye-catching book set packaging and bold colorways of the Cellar Collection Series Volumes 1-3 are designed to create a premium and visually striking experience for consumers, further emphasizing Angel's Envy's dedication to quality and presentation.

Notably, the new limited-edition rye whiskey and the Cellar Collection Series Volumes 1-3 will be available for purchase at the Angel's Envy Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, starting on February 1, 2024, providing whiskey enthusiasts with an exclusive opportunity to acquire these unique and sought-after expressions.

What else is in this post?

  1. 7 Must-Visit Distilleries on Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail in 2024 - Angel's Envy Distillery Unveils New Limited-Edition Rye Whiskey
  2. 7 Must-Visit Distilleries on Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail in 2024 - Old Forester Distilling Co.Expands Tour Options with Behind-the-Scenes Access
  3. 7 Must-Visit Distilleries on Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail in 2024 - Rabbit Hole Distillery Collaborates with Local Chefs for Bourbon-Paired Dinners
  4. 7 Must-Visit Distilleries on Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail in 2024 - Stitzel-Weller Distillery Reopens Historic Warehouses for Guided Explorations
  5. 7 Must-Visit Distilleries on Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail in 2024 - Peerless Distilling Co.Offers Exclusive Single Barrel Selection Program

7 Must-Visit Distilleries on Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail in 2024 - Old Forester Distilling Co.

Expands Tour Options with Behind-the-Scenes Access





The historic Old Forester Distillery in Louisville has unveiled new tour options that offer visitors a deeper, behind-the-scenes look at the art of bourbon-making.

The distillery also partners with Mint Julep Tours to offer exclusive bourbon experiences, including a specialized tour with an upgraded tasting.

The distillery's new "Nothing Better In The Market" tour offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience, allowing visitors to witness the entire bourbon-making process, from fermentation to bottling.

Visitors can book the standard 75-minute tour up to 3 months in advance, ensuring they secure a spot to explore the historic distillery on Louisville's iconic Whiskey Row.

Interestingly, the distillery has partnered with Mint Julep Tours to offer a unique before-hours tour option, providing an enhanced tasting experience for bourbon enthusiasts.

Notably, the expansion of tour options at the Old Forester Distillery aligns with the growing popularity of bourbon tourism in Louisville, showcasing the city's diverse range of both large and small distilleries that shape the bourbon landscape.


7 Must-Visit Distilleries on Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail in 2024 - Rabbit Hole Distillery Collaborates with Local Chefs for Bourbon-Paired Dinners





Rabbit Hole Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, is expanding its culinary offerings by partnering with local chefs to create unique bourbon-paired dining experiences.

The distillery, known for its innovative bourbon and rye whiskeys, is leveraging its expertise to showcase the nuances of its products through thoughtful food pairings.

Rabbit Hole Distillery's bourbon-paired dinners feature a unique flavor-matching process where the distillery's master distiller works closely with each chef to carefully select the optimal bourbon expressions to complement the menu items.

The distillery's signature malted grains, which include malted rye and malted chocolate wheat, are carefully sourced from specialty farms and contribute to the distinct flavor profiles of the bourbons used in the dinners.

Rabbit Hole's lower proof entry bourbon, which is bottled at a lower alcohol content than traditional bourbons, is specifically chosen for certain dishes to create a more harmonious pairing and allow the food flavors to shine.

The distillery utilizes small-batch maturation techniques, including the use of toasted and charred oak barrels, to impart unique vanilla, caramel, and spice notes that integrate seamlessly with the chefs' culinary creations.

Interestingly, the bourbon-paired dinners often feature experimental or limited-edition expressions from Rabbit Hole's portfolio, providing guests with the opportunity to experience rare and innovative whiskey offerings.

The distillery's commitment to showcasing its products through these culinary collaborations has led to the development of a dedicated team of bourbon experts who work closely with the participating chefs to ensure a seamless and educational dining experience.

Surprisingly, the bourbon-paired dinners often feature a multi-course format, with each course carefully paired with a specific Rabbit Hole bourbon, allowing diners to explore the nuances of the spirit and how it interacts with different flavors and textures.

Notably, the Rabbit Hole Distillery's bourbon-paired dinners have gained recognition among Louisville's culinary community, attracting both local and visiting food enthusiasts who seek to explore the intersection of bourbon and fine dining.


7 Must-Visit Distilleries on Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail in 2024 - Stitzel-Weller Distillery Reopens Historic Warehouses for Guided Explorations





The iconic Stitzel-Weller Distillery, located just 15 minutes from downtown Louisville, has reopened its historic warehouses for guided explorations.

The distillery offers a unique glimpse into the evolution of American whiskey, from its decline in the late 1980s to its recent resurgence, making it a must-visit destination on Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail in 2024.

The Stitzel-Weller Distillery, founded in 1935, utilizes a unique solera system for aging some of its whiskeys, a method more commonly associated with sherry production.

The reopened warehouses feature temperature and humidity monitoring systems that allow for precise control of the aging environment, influencing the whiskey's flavor development.

Stitzel-Weller's iconic "wheated bourbon" recipe, which replaces rye with wheat in the mash bill, was developed here and continues to influence modern bourbon production techniques.

The distillery's original yeast strain, preserved since its founding, is still used in production today, contributing to the unique flavor profile of its whiskeys.

Stitzel-Weller's warehouses employ a heat cycling method, where temperatures are intentionally fluctuated to promote interaction between the whiskey and the barrel wood.

The distillery's water source, a limestone aquifer, naturally filters out iron, which can negatively affect whiskey flavor, resulting in a smoother final product.

Stitzel-Weller's barrel entry proof, the alcohol percentage at which whiskey enters the barrel, is lower than industry standard, affecting the aging process and final flavor.

The distillery's location in Shively, Kentucky, was chosen for its proximity to a rail line, facilitating easier transportation of grains and finished products in the 1930s.

Stitzel-Weller's copper stills are designed with a unique shape that increases copper contact during distillation, influencing the spirit's character through enhanced flavor development.


7 Must-Visit Distilleries on Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail in 2024 - Peerless Distilling Co.

Offers Exclusive Single Barrel Selection Program





7 Must-Visit Distilleries on Louisville’s Urban Bourbon Trail in 2024

Peerless Distilling Co. has unveiled an exclusive single barrel selection program, offering bourbon enthusiasts a unique opportunity to experience handpicked barrels with distinctive flavor profiles.

Each barrel yields between 216 to 230 bottles, featuring unique labels that showcase the individual character of the selection.

This program adds another layer of intrigue to Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail, providing visitors with a more personalized and intimate bourbon experience in 2024.

Peerless utilizes a sweet mash fermentation process, rather than the more common sour mash technique, resulting in a distinctively clean flavor profile in their single barrel selections.

The distillery's single story rickhouses allow for more consistent aging conditions across barrels, minimizing variation between single barrel selections.

Peerless employs a unique grain-to-glass approach, milling their own grains on-site to ensure precise control over the mash bill for each single barrel release.

The distillery uses a proprietary yeast strain developed specifically for their production process, contributing to the unique flavor characteristics of their single barrel offerings.

Peerless ages their whiskey at a lower barrel entry proof of 107, compared to the industry standard of 125, resulting in a richer mouthfeel in their single barrel selections.

The distillery's single barrel program utilizes a non-chill filtration process, preserving more of the whiskey's natural flavors and oils.

Peerless employs a state-of-the-art barrel tracking system, allowing them to monitor the development of each potential single barrel selection throughout the aging process.

Peerless offers a limited number of private barrel selections each year, allowing individuals or groups to hand-select their own exclusive single barrel.

The distillery's single barrel program includes both bourbon and rye whiskey options, showcasing the versatility of their production capabilities.

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