We would like to thank Kristina Kimmick for the wonderful and thorough Private tour that she gave Whiskey University in July 2026. Kristina took us into a lot of the behind the scenes areas, that you don't typically get to see. She was not only extremely knowledgeable as it related to Steele Weller, but she was also very informed about a lot of the things Diageo Brands were bringing to the table these days! read more

Stitzel-Weller Distillery - Fantastic Tour and History!! - Distilleries Near Me - Shively, Kentucky

We have taken three tours so far on this Louisville trip, and Stitzel-Weller was by far my favorite, and the most informative. It also included a tasting, and we did that while on the tour. Our tour guide was Carly and she was fabulous, too. The distillery doesn't make much alcohol anymore, but Weller is still made and sold at Buffalo Trace, I believe. We also enjoyed some drinks and charcuterie at the Garden and Gun Club upstairs after our tour, and the charcuterie was top notch - beautiful presentation, and great meats and cheeses and accoutrements. I would definitely come back here again and do a tour or just come for a drink or two. read more

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We had the best time at their Valentines event! Everyone was so kind and knowledgeable and every single person remembered my name and continued to use it in conversation. That may seem like a small thing but in customer service it's huge and rare!! It's a gorgeous, albeit old, place that has great bourbon and offers so much more than that too! I can't wait to come back and try their dining and full bar now that I know about this hidden gem. read more

Stitzel-Weller Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Shively, Kentucky

Great tour!! So much history at that distillery. Our tour and tasting host, Rick, was very knowledgeable in the history of the distillery. read more

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The bourbon tour at Sitzler-Welles was very nice to go through. The visit went through the different buildings to learn the history of the distillery. The tasting at the end was great as I felt like these were the bourbons that were less heard of from where I'm from. It's a great stop in the winter as the decor inside is very nice with a great bar. I thought the tour guide did a great job in answering the questions we had and in discussing the history of Stitzel-Weller. read more

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Stopped in July, I thght I left a review then. The distillery is father to my favorite bourbon, pappy van winkle. It's a wheated bourbon. We took the tour, which included tastings along the way. Our guide had amazing information. You could tell he enjoyed what he was doing. The size of facility was impressive. The trees are black due to the process, but healthy. It was cool to see where the workers signed their name on their last day of employment. Our guide did a nice job explaining the process. We got to see where they were making small batch. They had a bar and I think food, but we did not go there. My wife went for me and thought she would not enjoy it. When we left she say she loved it, as did I. read more

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What a cool tour -- my group loved all of the history and we learned a lot about the industry and some of the key folks in the bourbon world from back in the day. Super pretty property, even if it's not a full-on producing distillery anymore. Loved the whiskey tasting -- everything was good and we had a really great tour guide. The Garden and Gun Club is a whole mood. What a fun and unique bar with really great bartenders. Our guy was super funny with a dry sense of humor and we enjoyed hanging out and learning from him while we had our delicious drinks. We ordered the charcuterie board as well as the fish dip -- both were awesome. read more

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We stopped in to check out the bar mainly. We had not scheduled a tour as we were here for our son's volleyball tournament over the weekend and didn't know timing of his games. So, we arrived around 3 pm and checked out the gift shop and then swiftly headed upstairs to the bar where we were promptly greeted with a warm smile and hello. We decided to order a 2 pour tasting and a new fashioned. It was an Expertly crafted cocktail and the tasting was good also. We didn't have a lot of time but we loved this place. Great drinks, friendly people and beautiful ambiance, what more could we ask for while in Louisville!?! read more

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I thought it was an average tour- too much talking and got rushed through the tasting. This place isn't producing much, only two barrels per day read more

Stitzel-Weller Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Shively, Kentucky

This was our first stop on a three day Bourbon Trail trip. We signed in and waited for our tour to begin while browsing in the large gift shop area. Once we had everyone together for the tour, our guide brought us outside and started the tour. We were given a very thorough and interesting history of the distillery, to include how the Stitzler and Weller families came together to form the company. A little known fact is that Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle started as a salesman for W.L. Weller & Sons in 1893 and later co-owned the Stitzel-Weller Distillery, which he opened in 1935 (2 years after the end of Prohibition). The brand faced challenges but was revived in the 1980s by his grandson, Julian Van Winkle III. The distillery later sold the Pappy brand and it is now produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery. Our tour took us through assorted older buildings and we received history about each and finished up in the tasting room adjacent to the gift shop. Since we were running behind schedule, our tasting guide rushed through the tastings. I would have liked to have had more time to evaluate tastes and write more notes, but time was short. Overall it was a nice tour, and I would recommend it. read more

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My husband and I ventured to Louisville for the day and this was our first stop. We both got to have a "tasting" of their products while be given information on their products and history of the distillery. After our tasting, we're able to go upstairs and enjoy a cocktail or two if we wanted which we did. My husband enjoyed a tasting of their 22 year old limited release. I enjoyed a Moscow Mule. Everything tasted delicious and had such great service! read more

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Definitely is a must see along the bourbon trail. So much history and preservation. Carli is the best!

We visited Stitzel-Weller while in Louisville for the weekend. We opted to do the tour and had a great time. The tour was full of history and we got to try some bourbons at the end. The grounds are beautiful, it was cool to be able to walk around and look at everything. After the tour we went to the bar upstairs and ordered some drinks and an app. The drinks were lovely and the trout dip that we ordered was exceptional. It was presented beautifully and tasted just as good as it looked. If you are in the area, it's worth the 15 minute drive out to Stitzel-Weller to spend some time there. read more

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Highly recommend. We've stopped by the gift shop before, but took the tour today. Kristina was fantastic! She did a great job highlighting the history of the property and the brand. The Garden and Gun club has a very cool vibe as well. You can sit down and relax or take your drink and stroll around the property. read more

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We went on a tour here and learned so much about the history of the facility and the changes that occurred through the prohibition. At the tasting we were able to taste a few of the labels that are under their bourbon umbrella. We had a few that we loved. The people in charge of the tasting were nice and very knowledgeable about their brand and bourbons they feature. After the tasting we went to the garden and gun bar upstairs and it was really cute. The cocktails were also very good and it was a nice area to hangout. We loved our experience and would suggest visiting to anyone that loves history lesson with a side a good bourbon read more

Stitzel-Weller Distillery - Downstairs area outside of gift shop - Distilleries Near Me - Shively, Kentucky

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Stitzel-Weller Distillery is located in Shively, Kentucky. I did not realize it was there all the years living in Ky. I have been in the area before. It is easy to locate using GPS. There are signs directions telling you where to park and go for check-in. There is ample free parking. The checkin is located in the Gift Shop area. You just walk up and show your ID. The tour cost is $25 for adults 21+ and $10 for minors. They place a wristband on minors. You can order a drink at the bar downstairs or grab water before beginning the tour. Chandler was our tour guide. She did an amazing job telling us the history of Stitzel-Weller. I was not previously aware of the history. She was a wealth of knowledge. I would 100% suggest anyone interested in learning more about whiskey and bourbon attend this tour. It was definitely worth the money. The Garden and Gun club was nice. They offer various cocktails and food items. I tried the pineapple Mule and my sister the margarita. The pineapple Mule was pretty good. The margarita was good, but the syrup used has salt in it. If you're not a fan of salt in your margarita, I would not suggest it. read more

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This is a not-to-miss distillery tour if you are a bourbon buff. This is the birthplace of the legendary Pappy Van Winkle, which is now produced at Buffalo Trace. While still an operating distillery, they maintained their history in some of their old buildings used by Pappy during his day. I love that they keep them in the same state so you can look back in time at this bourbon mecca. As with all distilleries, especially the popular ones, you must book tour 1-3 months in advance. We booked 1 mo in advance and not many times were available during our three day trip on the bourbon trail. read more

Stitzel-Weller Distillery - Pappy Van Winkle's sons office. - Distilleries Near Me - Shively, Kentucky

An amazing experience that will take you through the history of bourbon distilling! Our guide Rico was just amazing and just a joy to be with! Thanks again!!! read more

Great bourbon tour and an amazing guide. The property was beautiful even on a rainy day. Rico (our tour guide) was very knowledgeable and gave an amazing tour. We loved the wide array of tastings from various Diageo bourbon/scotch. Worth checking out next time you're looking for a bourbon experience close to Louisville. read more

We loved the history of how Stitzel-Weller became to what they are today! The grounds are gorgeous and Kristina was wonderful as our guide and very knowledgeable! Highly recommend checking them out and going to the Garden & Gun Club afterwards for a cocktail! read more

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A distillery steeped in Kentucky bourbon history. Its location is unique , and it's story is an enduring one of over 140 years. It's premier salesman in the very beginning was as a 19 year old Pappy VanWinckle. The visitor center is also a Garden and Gun cocktail lounge in the second floor. Go early for a cocktail before your tour or stay after for one. Our guide Jean was amazing and each whiskey and bourbon we tasted was amazin read more

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The tour was very informative and had great history. Not an active producing distillery. They are a storage facility for barrels. The garden and gun club is worth a visit. read more

Stitzel-Weller Distillery - Garden & Gun Club - Distilleries Near Me - Shively, Kentucky

This is a beautiful facility with an interesting history. On our 90-minute tour, we learned about the ups and downs of the bourbon business, prohibition, and the bourbon market crash of the '80s and '90s. We saw some old depression-era equipment, toured a rick house, and tasted the difference between scotch and bourbon. Their retail area and tasting facility project an air of understated elegance. read more

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Sean was amazing. He knew his facts! His delivery was warm and the pace was great. We are locals and have been to many distillery tours. We loved the history of the distillery and the connections with Kentucky. Our favorite was the original Cooper Shop...how very special to take the time to retain the actual building! Tip: Go early and take in the pictures and the artifacts in the front of the main building. read more

Beautiful facility and fantastic tour. We enjoyed how extensive the walking tour was, looking through a variety of the buildings, each with their own story. The history of this facility and Louisville's impact on the bourbon industry is fascinating, and the guide was happy to tell the tale. If there is time, ask him to tell you the story about how Pappy got into the business and he will regale you with the story. Lots of opportunities for photos, and the tasting selection was varied and interesting. This was a great way to spend two hours and I totally recommend the visit in addition to other distillery tours you might take. read more

Our tour guide was a great storyteller and full of interesting historic facts. The grounds, museum, and gift shop were beautiful. Garden & Gun did an amazing job with the interior design. We loved the bourbons included in the tasting! read more

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We visited this place with out any reservations and luckily we got on the tour and had the tour guide! The tour itself was very informative and we learned a lot about the history of the company, the process of turning the ingredients into bourbon, what all of the different regulations were as to what could be called bourbon vs whiskey and so much more. The only thing is they don't have an active production lone so it was more of a history tour. The tasting for this tour was very good and we learned more about how to properly taste bourbon, what to look for, how to prepare for the tasting, etc.. We went through several of the different types including Bulleit Bourbon, Bulleit Rye, I.W.Harper and Blade&Bow Bourbon. read more

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1 of 9 distilleries visited. Our first stop for the Bourbon Trail on a Thursday morning. We were the only 2 on the tour so it was very intimate. It was cool because we had the whole tour to ourselves. I learned so much from the tour about bourbon and about all the important players! This was one of the better tours that we did. The tasting at the end is 4 tasters of Bulleit bourbon and rye, IW Harper and Blade and Bow. The Blade and Bow was really good! I enjoyed my tour here. A little out of the way, but we Uber from downtown. read more

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Our tour guide was great, spending just the right amount of time in each area of the tour, answering questions and keeping a nice sized group engaged. The tasting was paced nicely and very informative as well. The grounds themselves are really cool and industrial juxtaposed with a handsomely decorated gift shop, tasting rooms, etc. We had a cocktail at Gun & Garden - funny I got something different than I ordered. The bartender was so sweet and apologetic but I LOVED what he made me so it really wasn't a problem I almost wish they had an area like a winery to sit, chill or picnic. I'd hang out all day! read more

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The SW Distillery is a good option to explore a lesser known distillery without driving 40-60 minutes outside of Louisville. The grounds are attractive with lots of vintage buildings, and the tour is an easy walk or roll (it is accessible) around the Visitor Center. At the end of the tour you can taste some Bulleit bourbon & rye, IW Harper, and Blade & Bow. I'm a big fan of Bulleit, but I found IW Harper and B&B to be underwhelming. Blade & Bow has a Blanton's - style schtick going where you can collect keys instead of racehorse corks. If you do find B&B to your liking, beware of buying it at the gift shop - I found it to be overpriced compared to my local liquor store. You also must try the bar upstairs, the Garden & Gun Club. The cocktails are superb, charcuterie and other small bites are available, and there is taxidermy. Sneaky, eh, leaving the best for last? read more

The first stop on our distillery tour with Mint Julep Experiences was Stitzel-Weller. Jill, our guide, did an excellent job of telling us about the history of the distillery and bourbon making, and I found the tour very interesting and informative. Some interesting-to-me facts: *Bourbon is the most regulated spirit. *Black fungus, which feeds on ethanol, grows on buildings and trees around distilleries. *The rickhouse, where the barrels of bourbon are stored, was invented by Frederick Stitzel. *One reason bourbon is so expensive is because every year the bourbon is aged, some alcohol is lost through evaporation (the amount lost is called the "angel's share"), but the distillery is taxed on the full amount of alcohol each year. *After the barrels are used to make bourbon, they are sent to Scotland (Scotch whisky), then Mexico (tequila), then the Caribbean (rum). After the tour, it was on to the bourbon tasting portion. We were given four samples: Bulleit (orange label), Bulleit 95 Rye, IW Harper, and Blade and Bow. Now, I am not a whisky drinker, and even after my trip to Kentucky, I am still not a whisky drinker, but I found the Blade and Bow to be not disgusting, and actually quite smooth. I purchased a bottle as a gift for my husband and my friend to share (I would have purchased a second bottle, but at $63US it was quite pricey, and due to space and customs limits, I could not purchase too much), and we all enjoyed it. A shame I couldn't purchase another bottle, as you can't buy it here in Canada. I'll definitely be on the lookout for Blade and Bow the next time I am in the US. The tour was a great experience, and I learned a lot about bourbon and whisky, and found a bourbon I can drink, in small amounts. [Yelp collections: Louisville, KY 2021; Wine Time!] read more

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Amazing cocktails at the Garden and Gun Club- such a gorgeous area with amazing drinks and history. read more

Stitzel-Weller Distillery - Front stairs - Distilleries Near Me - Shively, Kentucky

Ok. So i love Bulleit. Its delicious. I got a personalized bottle for my poppa on fathers day. We returned on valentines day for the bourbon and jerkey pairing. It was fun and delicious. I purchased some of the local jerkey when i got home and between my poppa and i we bought everything we tasted that day. The tour is awesome although this time we didnt take it, i highly recommend it. The cute bar just up the stairs has an incredible selection. And i always adore the bartenders. Somehow when its crowded in the shop crew members pop out of nowhere to be of assistance. You wont be disappointed when you visit i promise. read more

The history of the place is unique for bourbon fans. Our tour guide Sean was really good. Highly recommend this one and I hope you get Sean as your guide. read more

This is a beautiful distillery with a bar upstairs in the gun club. Lots of amazing history on display to include the fact that they are one of the few chosen distilleries that used to prescribe whiskey for a variety of issues and illnesses. However this is also one of the preppier establishments. Definitely an upper class type place, and the drink prices reflect it. I felt under dressed for the first time at any distillery. Worth checking out but pay attention to the signs as the GPS location is wrong. If you cross over railroad tracks and things don't look right, it's because you're going the wrong way. read more

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Very cool history here. You NEED to come here to learn about the history, it's a staple on the Bourbon Trail. Such a fun tour guide. We loved seeing the old buildings and equipment. The bourbon wasn't bad either! read more

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Great tour with our guide Rico. Many questions were asked and he was patient and very knowledgeable. Who knew rusty nails were once used to color bourbon? The tour was very comprehensive and involved many buildings. For anyone near the airport, this is a great first stop read more

After hearing so much about this distillery, I finally visited with a group of friends for a birthday. We all agreed that this was one of the best distillery tours we've ever been on. It has a great mix of history and good whiskey, but the best part was our tour guide. She was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and funny. So many tours are the same, but she was able to make this a more unique experience by leveraging the historic property, people, and processes. I would absolutely recommend this to any bourbon enthusiast! read more

Stitzel-Weller Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Shively, Kentucky

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Got to go on the last tour of 2024. It was great. The tour guide, I think name was Rick, was knowledgeable and friendly. The place is packed with history which from my perspective was the hidden gem. Didn't realize how much until we started the tour. The bourbon was great for the tasting. The grounds were clean and beautiful. I think hitting this one first on any trip here would be nice cause it's one of the originals. read more

We went on a road trip and made our way to the Stitzel-Weller Distillery for a tour and tastings! They had a couple of drink specials so we grabbed a drink before the tour. The was our first Bourbon tour/tasting. The tour was more of a historical tour rather than the process of how it is made. The tastings were awesome. We really enjoyed ourselves here and bought a bottle of the Bullit Bourbon Barrel Strength to take home, they said that bottle wasn't available for purchase outside of Kentucky. read more

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