The Angel's Envy distillery is pretty much the #1 reason that my top-tier chum who literally went…read moreto the school of hospitality and I decided to go on a trip to Kentucky, and after actually visiting, justified it as well. During an early 2025 trip to Washington, D.C., we went to multiple establishments and, coincidentally or not, encountered this specific bourbon and just loved it. The most notable occurrence was at Jack Rose Dining Saloon, where I had literally the best Old-Fashioned I've ever had, using a special Angel's Envy that hung out in some sherry barrels for a while. Since then, we've both regularly ordered it when given the opportunity, and ultimately decided that the best way to appreciate this fine spirit was to go right to the source. So to the mothership we went. My chum did most of the heavy lifting here and scheduled a bourbon tour with Louisville Food Tours (very strong recommend) that featured Angel's Envy at the first stop. It's hard to really put into words what this building looks like as you walk in and explore, but it's just so...nice. It's classy without being inaccessible, and it just felt like a true cathedral of bourbon. As tasteful as the bourbon it makes. During our initial tour, we were probably in the distillery for a solid half hour plus, getting a quick tour of the still and fermenters before being led into a side room on the second floor to formally taste some bourbon. Paula was our guide, both during this tour and later on, and was just enormously impressive, which I touched upon in my review of the official tour as well. She's no-nonsense and loves her bourbon - who can't relate? We learned how to inspect the bourbon in the glass, to take a test sip to numb the pain receptors and to truly appreciate the subtle notes in the bourbon with the second sip. It was legitimately helpful, useful information that we're both going to utilize going forward. After our three-hour tour ended (go hard or go home), it wasn't even much of a discussion - we came back here for a few hours to soak in more of the atmosphere and drink some more bourbon. At this point, it was probably close to 5ish but the place was still pretty busy; somehow we were able to secure spots at the bar upstairs and made ourselves at home. I wish I could remember the name of our bartender (blame the time that has elapsed, not the bourbon), but he was very good, social without being oppressive and was just present and let us do our thing. After sipping straight bourbon for most of the afternoon, I switched to the Bourbon Renewal, which you'll be shocked to know includes Angel's Envy but is a more summer, fruit-forward cocktail and super refreshing. Was the right call and hit the spot. (We also got waters because that's the responsible thing to do.) We finally went back downstairs to the gift shop, which doesn't feel like the right term - it was more majestic than something you'd walk into after going through, say, a museum for an hour or two. It's enormous and offers numerous bourbons and also some very high quality swag. We reunited with our chum Paula and sampled their limited edition two-grain, which was created due to a fortunate mistake in which the rye wasn't added so it's just the corn and malted barley. You CAN see the difference and taste it; to me at least, it's more caramel-y than their normal single barrel. We each bought a bottle to bring back to the homeland. My chum basically bought half the store, but I remained calm/deliberate and my only other purchase was a MAGNIFICENT black hoodie. I'm not kidding - I love hoodies and have probably owned dozens over the years, and this is literally the best quality one I've had. It has this interesting front pouch pocket design with like a pocket within the pocket for high-priority items like your ID or credit cards, and the hood itself is interesting. It's just really good and I wore it all day the next day as we slowly made our way back to the East Coast. It's been washed and carefully placed in my closet, where it will reign supreme when the weather inevitably turns nippy again. It's not an exaggeration to say we probably spent hundreds of dollars (at least not thousands) directly and indirectly involving Angel's Envy on this trip. Worth it.

Right downtown and close to many other places. This was great to check out. Learned a lot about the…read morehistory. Our tour guide, Paula, was fabulous. She was attentive, informative and taught us how to get past the initial burn of bourbon. I much enjoyed the bourbon and the chocolate pairings were a nice surprise. We were able to get tickets the night before at a time that worked well for us. The bar area is a nice place to hang out and if you don't do the tour you can still go get some tastings.

I was fortunate to have a 30th surprise party thrown for me at Mint on Mellwood and it was the…read morePERFECT venue. The staff was incredibly accommodating and worked with my family on logistics, catering, bar options, parking and keeping the entire thing a surprise up until the moment I walked through the door. The venue itself was very clean, spacious and flexible. My favorite part about it was all the Kentucky derby memorabilia that fills the walls - it's like walking through a museum! I highly recommend using this venue for parties, receptions, showers or anything else you can think of.

Mint on Mellwood is a great space to have any kind of function or gathering. It is very fitting…read morethat it is "Mint on Mellwood" because it is owned by Mint Julep Tours! The area is located in the Butchertown area where you are surrounded by other great restaurants, breweries/distilleries, boutiques, the arts, etc. The space is open & has the potential to be any kind of set up you want. We had hot & cold hors d'oeuvres, so I assume there were ways they were kept warm & cold between replenishments. The bathroom facilities were very neat & clean. The onsite staff were very inviting, social & professional.

Absolutely gorgeous place. But the worst customer service I've ever experienced. They are a very…read moreexpensive place to rent, but what they don't tell you is there are so many added fees after you've paid the initial deposit. Yes some people are fine with spending the money... but put those charges on upfront! It was a crazy amount of add ons for an already pricey venue. They don't even provide the wedding insurance. What kind of venue isn't already insured? The lack of communication and professionalism was disheartening. My sister got married here last Friday and it was a beautiful wedding... but all the behind the scenes was a disaster. They had scheduled tours for when the bride and groom were having their "first touch" and reading prayers... so there were people talking over them and getting in the way of the PAID photographer and videographer. And they didn't listen when told to lower their voices. Extremely rude and the fact that they didn't tell anyone they were scheduling random people to come in and look while a wedding was taking place was just really unprofessional. It made the bride and groom very upset and honestly made me quite upset too. I understand it's also a shared business space but I saw no one from the other businesses get in the way more than the actual event people. And then they only have five approved caterers. Which makes sense when you under the industry... but why they chose those specific caterers made no sense because of the lack of communication with them was just awful. And one of the caterers never even got back with us after an inquiry. And the one caterer we went with had probably the worst food I've eaten. Like I've had better cafeteria food. And they wouldn't approve of any other vendors, even if they were reputable and had a full staff. Terrible communication. Ridiculous standards. Would never recommend this spot to anyone.

I came here for a friend's wedding and had a lovely time. The young lady who manages the property,…read moreKaela Hammerstrom, does a masterful job turning what could be a mundane or industrial space into something magical for events of all kinds. There are several businesses here as well so it is a great creative space for start ups, established companies, or artistic cooperatives. It was easy to find the location, there was ample parking, everything was clean, well-lit, and there was enough bathrooms. Also, as someone who frequently helps disabled people around it was nice that everything was easy to get to and accessible for humans of all abilities. Good work, Kaela.

Beautiful space, helpful waitstaff. The bar no longer makes cocktails of any kind. It is now a…read moretasting bar where you can get a flight of bourbon or a pour. As a lover of cocktails, I was pretty sad to discover those were eliminated. I also understand that it likely shortens the guest visit time since people are more apt to be tempted by an additional cocktail... which allows for more turnover in this smallish space. You arrive to this area after a tour. Alternately, you can request to be put on a list to visit this area from the gift shop. The list doesn't involve texting you when you're up, so you need to be hanging around or risk losing your place. The gift shop bar was pouring samples of one spirit during our wait (not of your choosing, more of a "this is what we're pouring today" situation) which was appreciated. The gift shop itself is really lovely, so that can help burn a little time as well. Last call was at 4pm if I remember correctly, which is fairly standard for distilleries in KY.

Hidden gem at Rabbit Hole. You can't make a reservation here, but you can ask to go up from…read moredownstairs where the gift shop is. There is an amazing balcony with comfy chairs that are perfect for a beautiful day. The relaxing balcony is half the reason to go, and it was extra nice that they ensure it isn't packed.

This large buildings house many small shop that appeal to anyone. From exercise, arts, food,…read morejewelry, the largest antique shop in the city and many more. They is plenty of parking across the street and beside it. It is fun to discover new shops and talk to the owners. It is a unique experience every time I go.

I came to the art center for an event. There is a large parking lot in front and some street…read moreparking nearby. The venue is very spacious. There were multiple tables and chairs inside and space for a DJ and equipment.

Must try: Signature Cocktails!…read more Why: What a neat experience enjoying some cocktails inside a restored church. The bar wall filled with liquor bottles ceiling high was like wow! I enjoyed the Revival Cathedral and Rhubarb Revelation specialty cocktails made with Heaven's Door Whiskey. Both were refreshing and went down smoothly. I didn't try any food but many folks around me seemed to enjoy their meals and drinks. Notes: I came on a Sunday around dinner time and it was packed. Luckily, I found a seat at the bar because someone was just leaving when I arrived. Bartender was welcoming, friendly, helpful and attentive all while serving back to back customers. The decor, stained glass, chandeliers, and walls filled with bottles was really cool to see. Great ambiance for small or large groups. Tons of seating at bar, tables, and comfy side chairs. I'd like to come back with family and friends to enjoy other drinks and try their food next time.

Walking into The Last Refuge, there's a moment where you almost feel conflicted -- a bar inside a…read moreformer church carries a strange weight to it at first. The soaring ceilings, stained glass, and echoes of what the building once was make you pause and reflect. But then "Break On Through (To the Other Side)" came on, the drinks started flowing, the energy shifted, and suddenly you stop overthinking and simply admire the beauty of the space and what it has become. The atmosphere is stunning, moody, and unlike anywhere else. We originally ordered one of their signature drinks only to find out they couldn't serve it after the order was placed, but Alain handled it well and made things right with 30% off, which was appreciated. Also, huge thanks to Sean and Mike working security. Walk-ins were completely full for the night, and honestly without their help and kindness we probably never would've gotten a reservation. They treated us incredibly well and set the tone for a great evening. A memorable experience, beautiful setting, and a place that somehow balances reverence, history, and nightlife all at once.

3.5 stars rounding up to 4…read more I was in town for an event and I as recommended this hotel for its charm and location. When it came time for check in, I got a text with a check in code for the door and room code. I wanted to know if I could check in an hour early, and called the hotel only to find out that it is a staff less hotel. You will need to text in for whatever you need. I texted for early check in and heard back after a few hours and they were able to get me in early. The check in process was super smooth, and I was able to go straight to my room. The room was spacious and bright. My only grief was the bed. It felt slanted and everything I put on the bed kept rolling off, the bed was also super hard but the pillows were comfortable so I had a hard time sleeping. The walls are a bit thin and I could hear folks talk but it stopped around 10pm. They also start landscaping super early in the morning as well. Overall I had a descent stay, and would recommend it to others. (Also if anyone could please tell me what this hole in the shower glass is, I'd be so grateful because I couldn't figure it out for the life of me! Haha)

The majority of our stay was great until around midnight our last night my partner encountered a…read moregiant cockroach in our room's bathroom. The staff told us they do monthly pest control but after reading an older review that also mentioned seeing a roach, I would recommend them to have them in more often. I threw everything in the wash when I got home, ick. There is also little to no enforcement of quiet hours as we were kept awake past midnight because of a loud party in a room nearby. Our stay started nicely but ended quite badly and I would not recommend staying here if you choose to stay in the area. I will say though, the hotel refunded one of our nights because of the cockroach situation.

My favorite bourbon tour. Was not crowded, sampling straight from the barrel, and you got to meet…read morethe master distiller. You also can thieve, label, and cap your own bottle. Tour guide was great, answered every question, and we had an awesome time.

Great place!!! Willow was awesome! Don't skip this location and whiskey! A must do if in…read moreLouisville