Whiskey Row

Whiskey Row is the name given to the restored stretch of West Main Street that was the commercial heart of Louisville's 19th-century bourbon industry. Several working distilleries have opened here, offering tours and tastings that walk you through the process from grain to barrel to bottle. The most prominent are Angel's Envy, Michter's Fort Nelson, and Old Forester — all are slick operations with well-trained guides, though the differences in style mean you'll get a slightly different experience at each.

The neighbourhood extends across several blocks and includes the Louisville Slugger Museum, the Muhammad Ali Center, and a stretch of cast-iron architecture that has been carefully restored. An afternoon on Whiskey Row can combine bourbon tasting with architecture and two museums — a good Louisville half-day.

things to do sight neighbourhood
A story
Main Street between First and Seventh streets was the centre of the American bourbon trade for over a century. The block of warehouses on West Main Street — now known as Whiskey Row — was largely abandoned after Prohibition and sat derelict for decades until a series of fires forced Louisville to decide what to do with the ruins. The city chose to restore rather than demolish, and the facades of the old distillery buildings now front a stretch of distilleries, bars, and restaurants that has become one of Louisville's most visited attractions.

Other places in Things to Do