First and foremost, I must acknowledge Shannon and Julie - extraordinary sales and tour guide respectively. I travel often and have been on dozens of tours. This was my favorite, mostly because of those two women. The other staff and bartenders are also fantastic. This is the distillery tour for bourbon lovers. If you're looking for a flashy experience meant for Instagram posting, this isn't your spot. However, if you love bourbon and want to learn about the history and distillery process...Stitzel-Weller is the best place to visit. read more

Enjoyed this distillery tour at Stitzel-Weller Distillery - very informative & I felt safe with all the COVID precautions instated. We did the 1.5hour "uncovered" tour, which was 30 minutes longer and costs $25 more than the regular experience. The biggest difference is te pours: *Experience Pours: Bulleit Bourbon, Bulleit 10 year, I.W. Harper and Blade and Bow. *Uncovered Pours: Bulleit Bourbon 10 year old, Bulleit Barrel Strength, I.W. Harper, I.W. Harper 15 year old and Blade & Bow. Our guide also informed us that this is the only spot on the bourbon trail where you can see a cooperage! They were transparent that their gift shop costs were higher than regular retail due to non-compete reasons. So, my favorite was the I.W. Harper 15 year old, which is $79.99 at Total Wine. I bought it at $100+ at the gift shop because the Total Wine in town was out of stock! So, just keep that in mind! read more

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

See all

Really enjoyed our tour and tasting. The Bloody Mary was amazing and hummus was good. Service was good and the buildings are absolutely beautiful. read more

See all

Totally recommend it was a great experience full of history and yummy cocktails. Everyone was super friendly and knowledgeable. Must do if you are in Kentucky. read more

See all

We arrived to find an older distillery and were invited to go upstairs to their bar, Garden and Gun Club. After many Old Fashions, we were shocked at how good this one was. And the bartender was extremely enjoyable to talk to. She gave us a brief overview of the property and then told us how the Old Fashions were made. Arrive early or stay late, but visit this bar. This is a walking tour around the property that tells you all of the history and takes you into some historical rooms. By far this was one of the best tours we have experienced. For this trip, we placed it at a tie with Buffalo Trace. read more

See all

Omg 10/10 and I'm not sure if it was our tour guide, or if it's always like this, but it was SO COOL. This is more of a historic tour, if you want something new and more bulleit-related, you can find a tour for that at one of their other locations, but the history at this one is so freaking captivating and cool. We've done 10+ distillery tours and honestly, this one is probably my favorite. It doesn't have much production to see (just a small pilot plant), but if you are an avid bourbon drinker/collector, and have interest in its history, this is where you'll find it. They have so much information, and it's so awesome to hear. You know Pappy Van Winkle? Of course you do, take a walk in his office! They have a cool bar upstairs, so you can definitely hang and grab a drink after. We were on our way to lunch so didn't indulge, but they do have some good options on the menu. Just expect to pay a little more for them! The gift shop is small, but has every bourbon/rye you taste in there to buy, which is awesome. They had a great tasting with tons of options, something for everyone, so I was glad to be able to pick our favorite and grab a bottle on the way out. They also have a ton of cool bourbon related items to look at. Overall, amazing experience. I would recommend to anyone, it was very very cool. Definitely worth the trip! read more

This was such a fun tasting and tour. Our tasting guide, Jon was quite knowledgeable and fun! Not sure what is happening now that there are restrictions but make sure you ask for Jon! read more

See all

Of the many distilleries that Louisville has to offer, this one is off the beaten path and has a great history. This distillery is "as you see it" meaning no frills and no extra exhibits to keep you from enjoying the product. Upstairs is a little bar called the "Garden and Gun Club" that has all of the products which you can sample without taking a tour or tasting. My wife and I got the G&G Meat Board to share which paired well with our cocktails. I got my usual old-fashioned made-with Blade & Bow bourbon. My wife got the Cool Hand Luke which was a little spicy for her because of the cayenne pepper rimmed glass. I will say this is a must if you are doing the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Not only because it is on the trail, but because it is rich in history and remains untouched by the modern world. read more

See all

Simply AWESOME! Tour and tasting was SUPERB! Tucker was FANTASTIC, and he did an excellent job answering but not answering out questions so he could reveal answers throughout the tour. This is not a production facility, so you won't get an in depth look at distilling and the distilling process. You get much more of the history of bourbon and the bourbon industry. You will get to see a distilling room and the Rick Houses loaded with barrels. But this tour is much more about the beautiful campus and the history. If you want to buy the one bottle of Blade and Bow 22 that they sell per day, you need to be there first thing in the morning. The gift shop and tasting room are gorgeous, and there are PLENTY of GREAT photo spots all over campus. This gets a MUST DO! And be sure to ask about the 5 Keys club! Don't miss this bourbon experience! read more

See all

I had a fantastic time here. Started out grabbing a bite and a beverage at the Garden And Gun Club lounge upstairs. The food and service were terrific, the atmosphere was incredible, and the staff were very friendly and attentive. I then went on the progressive walking tasting and tour. Our guide Rico was the best, learning the history of the distillery are area was fascinating, and the whiskey was great. Would highly recommend to anyone that enjoys whiskey and history. read more

Beautiful facility. Annie was our tasting guide. We tasted Bulleit Bourbon, Bulleit Rye, I.W.Harper Bourbon, I.W.Harper 15 year, and Bow and Blade. All were fantastic. The building is full of history and you're allowed to walk around at your leisure, even with a cocktail from the gift shop! Compared to other distilleries in the area, this one definitely had a more refined/high end vibe in terms of decor. Gorgeous gift shop! read more

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

Amazing hospitality from the minute we walked in. The tasting experience & history of the facility was cool! The upstairs bar had great cocktails & tasty light bites. The pimento cheese dip & smoked fish dip were excellent!! read more

Our first distillery stop in Louisville. This place is great and has so much history! Absolutely loved the tour and the tasting! read more

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

See all

Timing was perfect to step back from the KY Bourbon Festival and take in a distillery tour. And, what history the Stitzel-Weller Distillery has to offer. If you are the "slightest bit" interested in bourbon history you cannot get much more detail than here. From A.Ph.Stitzel (distiller) to hiring Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle and Alex Farnsley, to merging wit W.L. Weller and Son (wholesaler / rectifier) you capture some amazing story! Jean was a wonderful tour guide! If this history doesn't grab you, as it does this "geek" then go for the tour and stick around for a beverage and snack at the Garden & Gun Club upstairs. Hopefully you will meet Trevor behind the bar who provide a "less sweet" Old Fashioned lesson. I'm just saddened that Pappy, Sr. or others aren't alive to thank in person. read more

These are old historic grounds that are a must see. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly. The tour took us outside and it was quite cold. Make sure you come bundled up if you go in winter. We didn't stay outside that long and it was fabulous. There is an upstairs bar that has great drinks. We had the charcuterie board and it was great too. We will visit again. read more

Lots of interesting history shared by the tour guide as well as in the main house which is set up with a gift shop, a couple of bars and lots of rooms filled with memorabilia. This tour has a very corporate feel compared to other tours we've been on. That being said, we were glad we went, but we don't feel the need to go more than once. The bourbons we tasted were ok, but we didn't think there was anything special about the tasting if you were already a bourbon fan. read more

This place is great! Loved the walking and tasting aspect and the Garden and Gun Club had a full bar with Hot Toddy's ready to go on the 20 degree morning. Highly recommend! read more

This was our first distillery tour in Louisville. Our friends warned us that there's not much else around the place. In fact, we weren't quite sure we had the directions right as we approached. I'm not a whiskey fan, so I naively thought Stitzel-Weller distilled Weller, my husband knew that wasn't the case going in. The building they run tours out of is cool. The gift shop is extensive, there's a bunch of historical items to browse and there's a bar and restaurant above. We booked a tasting experience. We were classroom style in a room with our guide. She had a lot of info about the history of the brand and the whiskeys they offer. Pro Tip: in hindsight it made sense, but if you see the option to add a Glencairn glass to your tour, it's the glass not a special pour as I originally thought. If you want a souvenir, go for it the tasting doesn't give you one. read more

I participated in the 90 min. Distillery Uncovered Tour. I was transported through time walking through the original buildings and seeing the distillery equipment. Stitzel - Weller did a great job of providing social distancing throughout the session. We had a group size around 16 participants. With 80% of the tour taking place outside and the remaining 20% held in spacious rooms, I felt comfortable keeping my distance from everyone else. I'm not a fan of bourbon but I enjoyed the tasting. I found two that I could enjoy in a cocktail. I had a great time and recommend the tour for anyone intersted in learning about Bourbon. Make sure to get your Bourbon Trail Passport stamped while checking in. They have extra at the register if you're not able to stop at The Frazier before heading to Stitzel-Weller. read more

Stitzel-Weller Distillery - Tasting list. - Distilleries Near Me - Shively, Kentucky

See all

Probably more like 3.1 stars, rounding down. Honestly, not overly impressed. And you could tell that Tom Bulleit loves him some Tom Bulleit. * He named the bourbon after himself. * A goodly portion of the tour is about the life of Tom Bulleit. * You visit Tom Bulleit's office during the tour, where you can touch his desk and sit in his chair. * There are pictures of Tom Bulleit everywhere. And you could tell that the man paid a photographer a lot of money to have these pictures taken. Just a little weird. That aside, it's a good bourbon. The tasting and the setup of the tasting is pretty cool. The grounds are nice but not nearly as nice as other distilleries. The tour guide we had spoke fast and mumbled. She was nice and funny, but difficult to understand on occasion. That aside, the tour was like most distillery tours. Bulleit is a really good "standard" bourbon. Big fan of the product. Not so much the tour. read more

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

Enjoyed the hearing the storied history of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery from the beginning founders until where it is today. The grounds are beautiful and facilities we toured are classic era buildings. Tour and tasting nicely done and Jill was very informative and knowledgeable. I was also excited to be able to find Key number 5 Blade and Bow bourbon, at the gift shop after looking through all of the bottles on display. Found some other items that we can not find in Pennsylvania. Rick, Lori and friends read more

Our guide, Rick, was great at explaining the finer notes of the bourbon we were tasting. I did the chocolate and bourbon tasting, which was a new experience for me. The chocolates offered a new taste to the bourbons which I wasn't expecting - so delicious! The ambiance was so tastefully done and reminded me of "old Kentucky" mansions. The gift shop service was exceptional. I picked up a few shirts read more

Now I will start this off by saying that I have not been to any other distilleries so I have nothing to compare it to. With that said, this tour is very cool though. First off, the grounds this distillery sits on should be considered holy ground for bourbon lovers. The buildings themselves are rich in history and have a very interesting story to tell. Then add into that the fact that this distillery actually went bankrupt and sat abandoned, all while it was filled with casks of whiskey sitting within it's walls. Fast forward to today and you can see that things are back on track. The tour was given in early spring so the warm weather hadn't really kicked in yet. Thus, the aroma of evaporated bourbon was subtle. That in until you step into the racking house. Then the rich aroma of sweet oaky heaven hits your nostrils. It was fascinating to know the extent of evaporation that actually takes place. They call it "the Angels share". I can only imagine how pungent the air gets on a hot sweltering summer day. Our guide talks about how you can smell them from miles away. I don't doubt that at all. Part of the evaporation process causes tin and wood to turn jet black. Thus, the buildings have this very cool, post industrial look to them as they are streaked with a coal dust appearance to them. The trees and fences are a solid black. Apparently in the old days, that's what the feds would look for when trying to find old stills during the prohibition era. Then on to the tastings. At Bulleit the tasting is a combination of four Bourbons and a Rye. Comparing them side by side really gives you the opportunity to dig deep into the subtle differences (or not so subtle) of these amazing creations. I've always been a fan of the orange label. But, after trying the others, I realized just what I was missing out on. Turns out I enjoy the Blade and Bow the best. Too bad it is only sold in 15 cities in the world. Guess, I'll just have to come back to get some more! Bottom line is this. It's an easy drive to get to and worth every minute. Say Hi to Perry on the way in. He's an institution and a really nice guy. Then enjoy a one hour tour of history, stories and some of the best bourbon to ever cross your lips. Then, yes, enjoy the gift shop to take home some valuable treasures to add to your collection. read more

See all

Eighth distillery we've been to, not the best or worst so 3.5 works. Checked hours, no other distilleries told us we needed to call for reservations. The GPS isn't clear on many of these distilleries so thankfully our guess has been good. FYI need more clearer signs. We asked Molly to get into the next tour at 1:30pm she said no, it was booked, even though we drove two hours & I leave for Vegas tomorrow. We then asked a nice gentleman w/ beard & he said yes, gave us two tickets. Thanks! Molly was our tour guide, good sense of humor, not as detailed as our other tours such as whether they use creek water, what the black mold on the trees was & other interesting parts of the process. It was a short walk around, & you can only do the tasting w/ the tour. Everything in the gift shop was way overpriced compared to Buffalo Trace, Jim Beam or Makers Mark. This may be the now bourbon, but quite a few things they could do better by simply going on the other tours. Not a fan of their bourbon compared to the others also. read more

See all

I love Bulleit bourbon and rye whiskey, so obviously coming here on Kentucky Derby Week, and shopping was a treat! Bout some bottles, and a book on cooking with bourbon, because. Bourbon. And food. Uh, yeah obviously. Didn't make it to the tour on time, but it certainly was fun to browse around their free museum, attached to the gift shop and tasting rooms, and learn some interesting facts! Like that this location was one of the distilleries open for business during he prohibition, and certain doctors could write prescriptions for this whiskey, just like medicinal marijuana. Umm yes please that would be for me!! :D read more

See all

Wow, what a great tour! When we arrived, it was very cloudy and raining. Not the best environment to be out for a tour. But entering the gift shop, we were immediately impressed with the smiling faces and friendly nature of the sales staff that welcomed us as we walked through the door. The gift shop was very clean and well organized and full of products. We spent a long time checking everything out and of course buying bourbon for our collection. The tour itself was different from other tours we had taken as this was Bourbon and Chocolate themed. Touring a facility is always nice but having a different twist makes it that much more enjoyable. Jonny, our guide, was very friendly and knowledgeable of the topics. We went up stairs to the Garden and Gun Club and the staff up there was also very friendly and knowledgeable. Our bartender was excellent, too. She recommended the Rasberry drink and my g/f enjoyed it though I took a sip and it didn't appeal to me. My drink was one of your products which I did enjoy. read more

Self guided tour here was awesome. A really beautiful site and lots of distilling history here. Really cool. Nice atmosphere and really friendly staff too. read more

Stitzel-Weller Distillery - Our tasting here. - Distilleries Near Me - Shively, Kentucky

The Garden and Gun bar was a small fun place to enjoy perfect cocktails. The chocolate tasting is superb.

Informative tour just the right amount of time & info. Nice generous pours for tasting - good food (although hummus a tad salty) - hopefully will be back! read more

Wow! Probably the most enjoyable tour of our bourbon trail tours so far. From the minute we turned down the lane into the complex we were greeted by Perry, who is a long time employee. He was affable, explained his long history with the company and made us feel very welcome. Each employee we encountered was knowledgeable and friendly. The tour itself is an interesting piece of history. We saw the R&D 'lab' along with other buildings on the property. Well worth the short drive from downtown Louisville! read more

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

See all

The walking tour was a great tour. None of the people in our group were huge bourbon fans but found a new love and appreciation for the spirit. Our guide Jonny gave a great tour and was very knowledgeable. I would recommend this tour to anyone wanted to sample and learn about bourbon. read more

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

The progressive tour was unique and a great experience. I wish every distillery offered this tour. They spaced out the tasting throughout the tour, allowing more thorough discussion about what you were drinking. This allowed me to enjoy the bourbon much more and I learned a lot. The group was small enough to allow time for questions with the tour guide and picture taking. read more

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

Beautiful location! Gorgeous gift shop and venue. Chocolate tasting experience was so good, especially with the different bourbons! Very informative and interesting and tasty worth the little read more

My first time doing a bourbon tour and it was a great time! I love the staff here. They are all so friendly, knowledgeable, and engaging. Definitely a must do while in Louisville! read more

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

Only came here for a tasting but had a nice experience. John was a great teacher and guide, and taught us a lot while we sipped. One star off for the bar not being open though... If it's early enough for a whiskey tasting, it's early enough for your bar to be open! I really wanted to try the smoked Manhattan. Also Perry is the best greeter! Happy 50th anniversary young man! read more

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

See all

They have nice tours and good tastings! I would go back again. They described the bourbon making experience and walk you around the lot. read more

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

See all

How can you talk about this distillery without talking about the man at the gate, Perry? Well, you can't. We sure we're disappointed to find he was missing during our most recent visit, but relieved to hear he's doing just fine and will hopefully be back soon. The employees were amazing, kind, helpful, and friendly. And shout-out to Shannon for suggesting Ciroc Vodka! We love this place and look forward to our next visit! read more

Great tour for only $14. I'll admit I was getting distillery tour fatigue by now, but at each distillery you learned something new. Wish I had taken more pictures here, as there is so much rich history and unique buildings. We visited on a Saturday and reservations were a must. Tour last 1 hour. read more

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

See all

Bulleit is hands down one of my favorite bourbons. So while in Louisville how could I miss a tour of through the facility they run the goods out of! The grounds they are on are quite unique. One thing you'll notice is how close to town they are, the next is the guy named Perry who greets you at the gate. He's worked there for about 40 or so years of the distillery's 80 plus year history! Good stuff. Upon entering we noticed how immaculate the place is with just a myriad of Bulleit memorabilia. I was in heaven and soaked up as much as i could of this experience. As a matter of fact that's the name of the tour, "The Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience". Our tour guide was a burly young dude who had a few jokes and a whole lot of history of the facility to speak of. He made an hour of time breeze by. This is one of the must go to tours if your in the area. If you love Bulleit bourbon you better not let this pass you by! \ The tasting room was the last stop on the tour and we soaked up shooting down 4 tastes of the good stuff. I have learned a new appreciation for the Bulleit rye whiskey! It is my new favorite! So happy we took the time to knock this tour off the bucket list of bourbon spots to hit! It was well worth the time! Cheers to Bulleit! read more

See all

Great distillery in west Lousiville. You can enjoy bourbon history and cocktails during your visit. Be sure to visit the Garden & Gun Club during your visit for amazing cocktails and pours of some amazing bourbons. read more

Stitzel-Weller Distillery - Orphan Barrel, Old Fashioned, and Harper's 15 year - Distilleries Near Me - Shively, Kentucky