After reading so many positive reviews and recommendations, this was a "must-try" distillery for…read moreme. I made reservations in advance for the last tasting on a Saturday.
If you're unfamiliar with the area, the distillery is located in the New Distillery District, which has several other local establishments, including bars and restaurants. On a Saturday, the area can get very crowded, and parking may be difficult to find. It was also a little confusing to locate the entrance to the distillery, and we actually had to call to figure out where the front door was. Fortunately, we found it just in time for our tour.
Our tour guide, Slaid, started off by providing us with a ton of interesting historical information, which I really enjoyed. Unfortunately, as the tour continued, his demeanor seemed to change and came across as somewhat mean and arrogant.
For the tasting, we were provided with glass shot glasses, which I thought was a nice touch. At one point, Slaid told us that if we didn't like something, we could pour it on the ground. I happened to be standing next to an open, empty barrel and jokingly asked if he meant that I should pour it there. His response was abrupt: "No, I never told you to do that!!" I was yelled at like a child. It was an awkward interaction.
There were also a few moments where he was quick to call out other guests. For example, when someone was standing slightly near a display case, he loudly told them not to be anywhere near it. While I understand wanting to protect the displays, the way it was communicated felt unnecessarily harsh.
Overall, I really enjoyed the historical information and appreciated the take home glass tasting glasses. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of the tour guide's demeanor or the bourbons themselves.
One other thing that I found a bit off-putting was receiving a message the following day asking us to tip our tour guide. None of the other distillery tours we experienced during our trip did this, so it felt somewhat unusual and, honestly, a little tacky.
There were definitely some positives to the experience, but based on the tour itself, the bourbon, and the overall interaction with our guide, it wasn't one of my favorite stops.