Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery

Distillery · West Main

Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery

Distillery · West Main

2

801 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202

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Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery by null

Highlights

Nestled in a historic 1890s building, Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery offers enticing bourbon tastings and craft cocktails that’ll elevate your Louisville experience.  

Featured in Food & Wine
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801 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202 Get directions

michters.com
@hiperole

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801 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202 Get directions

+1 502 389 4290
michters.com
@hiperole
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@michterswhiskey

$$

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Last updated

Jul 7, 2025

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@foodandwine

"Offers comprehensive tastings of its lineup and a mystery bottle experience." - Jonah Flicker

How to Tackle the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
View Postcard for Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery
@foodandwine

"The Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery offers a comprehensive tasting of the entire lineup as well as one 'mystery bottle.'" - Jonah Flicker

How to Tackle the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
View Postcard for Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery

Keith Hagen

Google
I don't know how to rate my experience higher than the 5 stars I'm allowed to give... but i would of i could. Paige led a fantastic tour. She was clearly well versed in all things bourbon and all things Michter's. She had educated answers to a variety of questions from those on the tour and managed the tasting portion of the tour with excitement and great energy for today of us getting to try the great whiskeys Michter's offers. I was very early to my tour and the others in the gift shop area were very helpful with directing me to other things to see downtown Louisville and made everything easy for me to see some other very cool things in their fine city. I also was fortunate ti be able to do the Bottle Your Own experience. If you're going to be in Louisville, make sure to make arrangements to join in this activity. The Barrel Strength Bourbon is absolutely delicious and the fun of bottling your own, personalized bottle is awesome. Finally (but not lastly!) I had a reservation upstairs in the bar. The bar staff made some of the most beautiful cocktails I've seen for others in the bar... and I truly felt I was wasting their incredible talent with my orders... BUT, as a bourbon/whiskey drinker, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to enjoy an amazing selection of some of my very favorite bottles on the planet. Raven, your thoughtfulness and generosity has been commented on and shared numerous times. The company you represent is first rate in everything they do. I cannot thank you enough for what an you did for me. My time at the Fort Nelson Distillery was one of my very favorite parts of an incredible trip to Kentucky. Kentucky has numerous fantastic distilleries... and by all means, visit as many as you can. But... make sure, no matter what all else you do, you make a point to put the Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery on your list and sign up for as many tours and experiences there as you can. You truly won't be disappointed! Cheers!

Torsten Horn

Google
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5) If you're doing the Bourbon Trail, Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery definitely deserves a stop – even if it’s not quite on the same level as Angel’s Envy, Rabbit Hole, or Old Forester when it comes to tour experience. What makes Michter’s unique is the setting: a beautifully restored historic building from 1890 right in the heart of Louisville. It’s compact, full of character, and steeped in bourbon history. The Discovery Tour is short and sweet – ideal for anyone wanting a quick but solid overview of whiskey-making. Since only one barrel a day is produced here, this is more about craftsmanship and heritage than large-scale production. Sadly, video recording is not allowed, which takes away from the chance to fully capture the experience – but you can take photos. The real gem? The second-floor bar. Stylish, welcoming, and stocked with premium Michter’s pours – including some rare ones you might not find elsewhere. It’s the perfect spot to relax, sip, and take in the atmosphere. Tip: Even if you've done the "bigger" tours, come here for the vibe, the bar, and the sense of tradition. It’s a quieter stop on the Trail – but that’s part of its charm.

Jay Hill

Google
I can’t say enough about the amazing experience at Michter’s Fort Nelson. Everything from the building, tour guides, tasting, and the unbelievable bar was just incredible!!! Let’s start with getting there… super easy to get to and parking was easy to find on the street. The team welcomed us with open arms for our tour! The tour was awesome thank you Rory, Jordan, and Jacob, super engaging and learned a ton! We even got to taste the mash before distilling which was really cool. It was my partners 40th birthday and we were invited to bottle our own. This was a highlight of the trip and the team did such a great job making it such a special moment! The bar was just OUT OF CONTROL amazing!!! The service was impeccable, Isiah was such an amazingly attentive server and we loved him, Nicole was such a fun host! The cocktails were just unmatched, easily the best in Louisville and the best we’ve ever had!!!if you have to choose a tour, make it Michter’s and book a spot at the bar, you won’t regret it!

Andrew Sands

Google
This distillery is located in Downtown Louisville in a beautiful historic restored building. That in itself is part of the experience. We visited the Bar at Fort Nelson on the second floor, which was completely different from any other tasting experience/visitor's lounge/bar at any of the other distilleries. It was personalized, elegant, and slow paced. You could really take it all in, and enjoy the craft. Essentially, they allow for each guest to have an hour and 15 minutes in the bar, and is limited to the number of seats in the bar area, which means it's not overcrowded, and you're not rushed. The staff give you personalized attention, and will discuss the bourbon and everything else until your heart's content.

Kim Choong

Google
We had a great experience in the Michter's Distillery downtown. Patrick was a great host. He's not only knowledgeable, but also engaging and humorous. We had a detailed run down of the distillery's history and production process, and a fun tasting to round up the tour. Then we went upstairs to the buzzy bar for some in-house cocktails with natural lighting coming through the big windows. It was a beautiful day for us.

Jennifer Winstead

Google
This is an amazing place to go and learn how whiskey is made. I experienced a taste testing tour and poured and labels my own bottle. And upstairs is just as relaxing. If you weren’t relaxed when you got there, you just may be when you leave. A must visit. Enjoy all!

Ashley Urjil-Mills

Google
We had a fabulous experience with our guide, Ryan. So knowledgeable, so tasty, so fun! I was especially fond of the corny jokes. Obviously, the bourbon was excellent too. Cocktails in the bar after the tour were top notch! Nectar of the Gods delivered the goods. Highly recommend this tour for any bourbon aficionado or a regular person like myself that just enjoys having new & interesting experiences.

Jason Ward

Google
Our visit to Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery was an amazing experience, and Ryan was a huge part of what made it so special. He was our guide during the “Make Your Own Bottle” experience and brought great energy to the entire process. Fun, engaging, and super accommodating, Ryan didn’t just help us fill our bottles — he rolled with all of our picture-taking and video shenanigans like a total pro. Later on in the gift shop, Ryan was just as helpful and welcoming. While the entire staff was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, Ryan truly stood out. His vibe added an extra layer of fun to an already awesome experience. Highly recommend visiting — and if Ryan’s around, you’re in great hands! Yeah

G. W.

Yelp
The Reverse Milk Punch Cocktail was outstanding!! Annie Mae and her team have a lot to be proud of, we were very impressed with their cocktail program, craft ice, tasting experience, service, etc. This is a MUST if you are in the Louisville area -Bravo!

Jonathan R.

Yelp
I really enjoyed my time with Michters, the store is beautiful. Large selection of gifts and alcohol. The bar upstairs is beautiful with fine crafted cocktails, mocktails, and bourbon flights. Loved the Michters American Whiskey. Love that they give you snacks with your cocktails. Service was excellent. Reservations for the bar and tours are highly recommended. Street parking available.

Rich L.

Yelp
The Founders Tour was amazing! Very informative with a great tasting flight at the end. Also enjoyed some fantastic cocktails in the bar afterwards.

Jerry R.

Yelp
The bar upstairs was really nice. We didn't have time for a tour, but we wanted to do a tasting and they were very happy to accommodate us. The bar was pleasant and the service terrific; the tasting was very reasonably priced and even included some complimentary salty bits. The Visitors Center was a bit of a let down: Small, crowded, and not much merchandise to choose from.

Tray J.

Yelp
Tour was good. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and engaged the crowd. The tasting samples were very good also. It was disappointing not to be able to purchase one of the limited release bottles during the tour.

Howard P.

Yelp
Excellent distillery and visitors center! Great friendly bar upstairs to spend some time chilling and relaxing over your favorite flight of Michter's.

Shawn M.

Yelp
Well if you found yourself here, you either lost, buying for someone else, or even better, YOU LOVE WHISKY! Easily one of the best distilleries in Louisville and also one of the best brands of Whisky. These folks have the "dream" job. At least in my head lol. Working for an excellent brand, fine whisky maker must be a very priding job. These folks are nice, helpful, easily to talk too, and 9 chances out of 10 they know whisky. Which means there is an easy topic to go on about. We not only spent time shopping about, but we also checked the bar out! Let me say I could have easily spent all day in there (it's limited to 90 minutes because of very limited seating). The bartenders know their stuff, take pride in their work/job, and just like I said before easy to get along with! The decor upstairs is nice and feels more like a high-end ritsy bar, especially when these drinks are made! The level of detail, and perfection is amazing. They make the experience even better! Anywho I know your here for the whisky. I mean why else would you be doing reading this? They sell the four main lines: Bourbon, Rye, American I blended whisky, and sour mash daily! Now the others are a different topic, they have a "special release" daily too which can be from a variety of things including but not limited to: Bourbon 10yr, rye 10yr, toasted barrel finish, and barrel strength.

Rick M.

Yelp
Very nice tour. Jacob was very knowledgeable as well as providing some comedy to the tour. We will be back for sure.

Kelly W.

Yelp
We did not do the tour at Michters but we did stop by their bar for a drink. This bar was definitely the fanciest or most elevated out of the distillery bars we visited. A close second was the Stitzler Weller bar. This bar was beautiful, staff were very professional and were true craftsmen and women. We each got a cocktails and were wowed by their taste and creative use of ingredients. I got the Jasper & Jinx and it was such a great cold weather drink. It was creamy and warm but not too heavy and full of flavor. Visiting Michters was definitely a great way to start our weekend on the bourbon trail!

Carly M.

Yelp
We had a reservation for their bar are it was so cute! The bartenders and servers were very knowledgeable about all the drinks and were able to guide us towards the ones that we would like. We were seated next to the window and it was a nice view. The drinks were beautiful and were exactly what we wanted. Super impressed with the cocktail selection and love this spot!

Amy M.

Yelp
Super cool spot. It's tiny so expect to wait. Maybe come early to get your name on their list. You have a time limit while seated, but it's more than enough time. They give you the delicious bar snacks, banana chips and crunchy corn kernels. It's upbeat, cozy, and crowded.

Sarah M.

Yelp
My husband and I really enjoyed the distillery tour at Michter's in downtown Louisville! We also did the bottle filling experience afterwards. It was very well directed and very unique. There is also a bar upstairs where we enjoyed a cocktail. The bartenders were very knowledgeable and friendly!

Ashley R.

Yelp
First stop while we were in Louisville was their upstairs cocktail bar. Tasting menu was fantastic! My partner tried several and enjoyed the Michter's 10 year to most. I tried a bourbon sour and it came with a pretty picture on top. The bar tenders are fantastic! Super helpful with recommendations. My next cocktail was even better!! Highly recommend this spot!

Mahritzah W.

Yelp
What a great bar, the service is second to none, friendly stuff and delicious drinks. Nice classical music. One only have an hour and a half but that's enough time for a few drinks. The snacks were okay but they should have plantain chips instead of the sweet banana ones, and perhaps kalamata olives? But I'm picky. We will return next time we're in town.

Matt D.

Yelp
Great experience. For the ultra enthusiasts you can get in line ahead of the open time and get the chance to "fill your own" bottle. They also have rotating/random daily drops available at the same time, but normally sell out before noon. Super friendly staff can answer all your questions. Worth a visit!

Kristi B.

Yelp
We were discovering the main street area and walked into Michter's around 7pm on a Saturday night. Because the tours are done as well as the merchandise shop is closed. The only option is the bar area on the second floor. You have to check in with somebody on the first floor though. because we didn't have reservations we were told it would be a 10 to 15 minute wait. We were happy to wait and put our names on the list. What was not made clear to us was that it would be for standing only and not for seats. In fact when we were called and told that our SEATS were ready, even AT that point in time, it was not mentioned that we would be standing only that the experience was limited to an hour and 15 minutes only (which it was clear wasn't the case as others parties were there longer then we were). When we got upstairs, we were greeted by the hostess, and she walked us over to where we were going to be standing. We mentioned to her that we were told downstairs that we were going to be walked to seats and her response was "oh well they probably just got it confused." We were told our server would be coming over to take our order and it was well over six minutes before anybody approached us. In fact, the woman who did approach us (wasn't our server) just said has anybody taken your order yet? When we said no she was very kind to-jump in to our order. there was a party of three and a party of two that deported shortly after we got there and my husband asked if we could move to one of the seats at the bar and he was told unfortunately there was a reservation for a party of eight that was coming in. My husband ordered a of the Myers 10 year rye and I opted for a cocktail, going for gold. My husband really enjoyed the 10 year rye and definitely mentioned if he can find a bottle he would buy one. The go for gold was good easy to drink. About halfway through our cocktails, one of the bar staff did come over to let us know that a table was going to be opening up and that we could sit there if we wanted to. At that point, we were halfway through our cocktails and knew that we were going to be one and done given the initial experience that we had. as we were getting ready to wrap up our cocktails, another one of the servers came over to let us know that the party of eight had canceled and they now had seating available at the bar. Again this entire experience just kind of left a really weird taste in our mouth as there was nobody waiting downstairs in the lobby area when we were down there. We get it - reservations take priority, just wish that that would've been made clear to us when we had put our name on the list as we probably would have opted to come back a different day. As we were both interested in doing flights, but when you're doing standing only we wanted to just have one drink and be done due to comfort.

Jacque G.

Yelp
We did the distillery tour with no expectations and it was the best experience! Patrick was. Great host! we enjoyed it so much! The upstairs Bar at Fort Nelson was so nice and a perfect way to end our day. Joe was delightful! A must go!

Alex M.

Yelp
If you are looking for a really awesome place with a lot of history to go to this is one of the best distilleries in Louisville Kentucky their bourbon is phenomenal, and for people who wants to start bourbon they have some that are really good. Also, to try the upstairs bar, their drinks upstairs was some of the best that I have tried ever. I cannot tell you we have to go back and have the same drinks again because of how good they were. The staff the bartenders everyone was also super nice there and I highly recommend everyone stopping in this place if they're in the area .

Eric B.

Yelp
MIchter's downtown Louisville location is a young 'un, only 5ish years old, and she's a beauty of a rehab. They gutted one of Louisville's historic buildings and created a very fun experience. The first floor is the gift shop and registration, with the facilities to be toured in the rear. The second floor houses the bar. We've visited twice, once in 2021 or thereabouts, and once in September 2024. I have not done the tour so I cannot speak to that - just the bar, which is worth the trip alone. Its a great place to stop during your Urban Bourbon adventure, relax, and have some superb cocktails in a minimalist, comfortable setting. They make an excellent Bourbon Manhattan using Punt e Mes, and the Acquired Tastefully, a Vieux Carre riff spiked with sherry.

Lauren S.

Yelp
I honestly cannot say anything negative about our visit here! We stumbled upon this distillery when we parked for a museum close by. I consider myself versed enough when it comes to cocktails or alcohol in general. I was surprised that I never heard of or seen Michter's in the liquor stores. We had a little over an hour to kill before our tour started so we decided to stop in for some drinks. Upon entering, we were greeted immediately and asked to show COVID cards. This was the only place on our road trip that actually checked us and we were on our way to NYC! We were then informed of the bar upstairs and were welcomed to walk around the gift shop. I didn't want to browse the shop first in case I was not impressed by the whiskey so we headed upstairs. We found 2 seats at the bar and plopped down. It took some time for us to be greeted and the bartenders did not look too happy. We placed our drink orders and waited a little bit. We received our drinks and we were impressed. We didn't want to get sloshed so we paid our tab after 1 round. When we were done with our tour, we decided to go back for another round. This time, there were no seats at the bar so we sat at a table. We waited longer this time to be greeted but our server was much more pleasant. We had 2 rounds of drinks, paid our tab, and went to browse the shop. Since I never heard of Michter's, I decided to purchase a bottle. There was a manager there who engaged in conversation with us and was so pleasant! I inquired about some of the drink accessories that were in my drinks upstairs and she brought me 2! I was so excited!! If we are ever in Louisville again, I am definitely stopping here. I do want to go on the tour, even though it is probably similar to other tours. I really loved the coziness and ambiance of the bar. Oh and the bathroom was very pretty and clean. I remember something was unique about the bathroom but I rarely take my phone in bathrooms lol.

Raven T.

Yelp
Easily one of our favorite stops on our bourbon trail adventure. We weren't able to get a tour but we stopped in on the Sunday before 4th of July and were able to get a table in the bar area. The building and the space were beautiful. Gorgeous floors and original tall windows made the perfect back drop even on a rainy day. Of course we had to start by trying the product so we each ordered one of their tasting flights. I drank them in ascending order by proof, so backwards from how they're listed on the flight card. I kid you not every pour I drank was better than the last. The snacks were also the perfect complement to the sips. It's like they chose them strategically lol. The spirit flight was perfect, no notes. I probably should have written this review sooner because I can't remember the name or flavor profile of the cocktail but I can tell you it was balanced and tasted as good as it looked (which is not always the case). 10/10 would recommend! I will be buying (if I can find them) and accepting bottles of Michter's henceforth!

Bailey M.

Yelp
Booked a tour ahead of time, very informative and included 6 tastings. Honestly not the most exciting tour, wish they offered just a tasting session. After our tasting we had some time to kill so we visited the bar upstairs. They seat you so everything is very organized, the bar is clean and chill, the drinks were delicious and you even get a little tray with complimentary snacks- which is a very nice touch! If I came back here I would just visit the bar and tour another distillery!

Brian C.

Yelp
A really great tour. I wasn't aware any bourbon was produced at the downtown facility and while's it's minimal, it's great to hear some Michter's is distilled at this historic building. The guide was very informative and it was a great tour. The tasting was great and the way he walked us through the flight was very interesting and educational.

Selena M.

Yelp
We had the opportunity to visit Michter's, and highly recommend making time for the tour and their bar! Our amazing tour guide, Ryan, was insightful and broke down some of the complexities of the process to understandable terms. The bar post-tour was the perfect finish. The drinks are outstanding, the service is top-notch, and the space warm and inviting.

Lora M.

Yelp
Would skip this tour if you have others during your visit to Kentucky. This tour was very short and not a lot to see honestly. Was informative, but the distillery is just small overall. We were basically in one room for the whole tour. However, I would come here for the tastings or maybe the bar upstairs. We didn't get a chance to try the bar but I heard great things and they'll make cocktails with the bourbon. My husband did get to bottle his own bourbon here - so I would definitely recommend this if it is offered. Such a cool experience that wasn't overly crowded like the same experience at other distilleries.

Ron A.

Yelp
My nephew and his fiancé came down form New York for the weekend. We took then to as many places as we could over two days. michter's is always one of the we take visitors too. The cocktails are some of the best in town. It is worth the wait to get into the bar.

Lydia C.

Yelp
Such a fun little bar on Whiskey Row! Super great service - Anne Marie was great in helping us set up our reservation and Kristen was wonderful while we were there. The options are delightful and if you have the opportunity, sit by the bar and chat with the bartenders. While they were unfortunately out of toasted bourbon, the toasted sour was a great alternative.

Marianne D.

Yelp
Three years in a row on the Bourbon Trail and I always make a reservation at The Bar at Fort Nelson at Michter's Distillery. The reservations open up a couple weeks before you want to visit. It's a very small bar on the second floor so make sure to grab reservations. Every year that we have a cocktail at this bar, it's phenomenal. My husband loves the bourbons and I love the bourbon cocktails. We have brought my cousins here two years ago, my kids last year and this year we brought our good friends. Everyone loved their experience. When you sit down, the staff brings a trio of snacks - pretzels, corn nuts, and banana chips. This year we had so much fun engaging with the staff. Our servers, Patrick, Charles and Nicole took great care of us. Haley helped me with an Instagram photo I wanted to take of my cocktail. The young staff members were so much fun to talk to, and they made our night extra special. Not only does Michter's bar have great bourbon and cocktails, but their staff is excellent. Highly recommend!

Andre A.

Yelp
This distillery is the maker of my favorite bourbon but the tour, the tasting, and the bar were nothing special. This is not the main facility where they make their spirits. This is just a bar and tasting facility. I asked the tour guide and he said they don't do tours at the main facility. They have a small copper pot still system here, but none of the products made with it are available for tasting or for sale. We had one cocktail while we waited for our tour and it was very sweet. Maybe that's a southern thing because sweet beverages seem to be a common thing in this area. I recommend visiting if you're a fan of their spirits but it's nothing worth going out of your way for. I'll give it a generous 4 stars out of respect for the brand.

Rosa H.

Yelp
Excellent if brief tour, but very comprehensive tasting experience. We want to go back to check out the bar upstairs.

Paul L.

Yelp
Say hello and thank the off duty cop (in our case Dan) for their service in keeping us all safe! We didn't have a reservation for a tasting but were able to get an 1.25hr tasting a little later in the day. The bar is above the merchandise on the ground floor. Every reservation has 1.25hrs for drinks. I did the most expensive flight- as I love all things Michter. Wow, they did not disappoint. Emily was our waitress and she was a blast. To put up with our party of 4 takes patience and Emily was game! Stop by for a great flight and thank an American hero working Security and ask for Emily upstairs in the tasting room.

Pete V.

Yelp
On my trip to Louisville, I spent waaay too much time at Michter's both standing outside in line and in the brewery and upstairs pub. Let me just stay that the staff here is amazing and really made our visits a delight. We were intent on doing the BYO experience here, so we arrived at 9:00 am to get a good spot in line on our first day. Unfortunately the times didn't work out with our schedule the first day, but we made it work the following day. The tour was great and Jim our tour guide was super knowledgeable and passionate about the product. While we had a few members of our tour who indulged a bit too much earlier in the day, we still had a great time. The BYO was so fun and I can't wait to try the bourbon we bottled! The best part was pulling the lever and getting the bottle in such a cool box and custom label. We also tasted a flight of ryes in the upstairs pub, which was delightful and such a great way to end our day. If you are planning a Louisville visit, Micther's is a must do!

Matt R.

Yelp
Finally got to tour this building! Longtime followers of downtown news will recall that Michter's planned to open this tourist-facing space nearly a decade ago, but they had to figure out a way to keep this amazing building from falling down first. What's crazy to think about is that they were well ahead of the curve once -- there were no true bourbon tours in downtown Louisville when they announced their plans. Fast forwarding to now, not only are there a bunch of distillery options in the heart of town, demand has more than kept up, so they finally opened their doors to a massively growing market. Bourbon tours in Louisville have reached the point where if you're not booking at least a month in advance, you might be completely screwed. But huge kudos to the Michter's people -- they stuck with the plan. They renovated this remarkable century-old structure, definitely not a cheap ordeal, even if it delayed their opening by several years. And the dang ole wall is still standing. And we have one more place to take the uncle when he visits. Yes, it's a good one. I'm not sure I'd put it into my top-3 downtown bourbon attractions, but you won't feel like you're settling either. Our tour guide knew his stuff, and answered questions. You get the history, and the science, and naturally, you get the bourbon tasting at the end. All distilleries are obliged to highlight their unique characteristics, and Michter's is no different. Let's see if I can remember some distinctions. Wheat-free mash bill. Goes into the barrel at a lower proof (meaning less water added later). Wood dries out for a long time at the cooperage, and barrels are toasted before they are fired (making the wood more porous). And they do their own grain milling with a super high-tech machine whose science is beyond my understanding and/or recollection. Bottom line, the bourbon is good. And so is the tour. Fun time? Absolutely.

Monique L.

Yelp
Highly recommend making reservations here. You get 1hr and 15mins to enjoy the bar and their cool drink concoctions. I tried a seasonal warm drink, which was so unique and flavorful. Other friends in the groups got different drinks and they were all delicious with great presentation! Nice, laid back vibes and also very intimate for a date.

Chris P.

Yelp
This should be last on your list of places to stop and do a tasting. First off, just to go upstairs to the tasting room it was a 15 minute process. They wanted cell phone number, which they ran and looked up my info. Then, they scanned my drivers license. So I'm looking forward to both junk mail and robocalls now. After about 15 minutes, and a lot of waiting, we had to be escorted up the elevator to the tasting room. Of course everything was overpriced, even the flights to promote their own whiskey. The servers were knowledgeable and friendly. They made some good cocktails. However, the whole vetting process is a joke. No thanks. I won't be back.

Dan F.

Yelp
Fantastic tour, bar, and gift shop. This was a great experience. Well worth the time to check it out

Rose F.

Yelp
We finally made it to Michter's. The last time we were in Louisville they were closed so we were unable to visit. Located downtown across from the Louisville slugger museum. We booked a 1pm tour and lucked out by having Everett as our guide. What a wonderful and informative guy! I have been on so many tours over the years and Everett managed to make this tour so interesting. I loved hearing about the history of Michters. I love their Rye so was especially looking forward to the tasting and it did not disappoint!! Tasting of six products- two ryes, bourbon barrel strength, sour mash, regular bourbon and American unblended whiskey. I have to say I enjoyed every single one of them. Great product, fun tour and highly recommend.

Phil B.

Yelp
Patrick was great!! Learned a lot & will refer friends!! Phil & Yoly - 041525 Los Angeles

Susanna K.

Yelp
A great tour, intimate space, excellent tasting, friendly staff. The bar upstairs is not to be missed, so many delicious cocktails in an incredible space. The bar staff are incredibly knowledgeable and take their time making creative as well as traditional drinks. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Paul F H.

Yelp
The first tour and tasting of our recent trip to Louisville was Michter's. I've toured smaller distilleries in the US and Europe, but this was my first tour on Whiskey Row in Louisville. Compared to my previous distillery experiences, a scheduled tour for a small group was something new -- and something that I found to be a great way to do it, especially at the end, in other words, at the tasting where the group sits together around a table and is guided through the process by the guide. Our guide was personable and knowledgeable with good communication skills. The tasting room was beautifully designed to complement the architecture of the historic building. And the bourbon was pretty good too -- Michter's bourbon and rye will be regularly available at my home bar from now on.

Joshua B.

Yelp
Great space to hang out with friends. It would be a great space to reserve for an event, not sure if it's available for such venues. Unfortunately, they limit the amount of time you can spend there to one hour and 15 minutes

Fritzi G.

Yelp
Drinks were okay and our waiter was nice. However the bar supervisor (Dallas) was extremely rude. From the moment we sat down (7pm), rather than serving us or saying hello, we were told we had to be out by 8:20pm. It was an instant unwelcoming message. We then went on to order drinks. For our second round, service took over 20 minutes to produce our drinks. When it finally came we were told our time was up and we should have finished our drinks 5 Minutes ago(as in 5 minutes before we received the drinks!). After complaining the supervisor comped those drinks but we were not able to drink them either and were told to leave. The behavior from the supervisor was extremely unwelcoming from the start and he obviously didn't want us to be in this establishment. The group before us were there from 5pm to 7pm, and we waited patiently for our reservation time after arriving early at 6pm. If you expect to be a respected customer then you will not get that from michters and they do not represent the brand well at all. Avoid and go somewhere else. Staff training is needed because clearly this is a common trend here. Maybe they just don't care.

Erick P.

Yelp
Overall a great place to sit back and enjoy some drinks with a nice ambiance and view. The only thing I would say is that the wait time could be long depending on how busy they are and the seating upstairs is limited. The drinks also take some time to make so I would recommend stopping here if you have time to relax and aren't rushing to another event.

Alicia S.

Yelp
Nicole was amazing and friendly. On top of that, my husband enjoyed his rye flight (recommended by Nicole) and the Queen of Hearts was my favorite.

John B.

Yelp
Christy and the team are amazing bartenders!!! My son and I went there 4 nights last week for after dinner drinks and coffee and were never disappointed.

Teah H.

Yelp
Being local my husband & I enjoy visiting the distilleries. We booked a tour to visit for my birthday this year. Upon our arrival we got lucky as they were selling a special release in the gift shop. The gift shop staff held our purchase while we took the tour. The space is very small. The gift shop was very loud & made it hard to hear the information. For me the tour left something to be desired. I personally think there are better tours nearby & would only recommend others to visit the bar. We tried to go to the bar after the tour but it was full. I would like to go back & visit the bar as I've heard great things.

Josh P.

Yelp
My buddy Jacob and I visited michters this morning and they made me so happy! We were able to get a fill your own bottle and a bottle of schenks before our tour. The discovery tour was with Rebecca and she was fantastic! She was very knowledgeable, and brought a nice energy and level of personalization to the tour. After the tour, she did a great job leading us through the tasting which I really enjoyed and learned a lot from. Would definitely recommend

David S.

Yelp
My wife took me to Fort Nelson for my 54th birthday. Michter's is my favorite whiskey. We had the most amazing time. The staff on the ground floor were very gracious and patient. We enjoyed the best cocktails in the second floor lounge. ALL of the staff upstairs were the best you could ever meet. We will return soon for the full tour of the distillery. Thank you so much, David Schlotman

Audrine M.

Yelp
We had a fun afternoon at Michter's distillery. The distillery tself is beautiful and part of the bourbon trail. When we arrived for our tour, all adults got their tour tickets, no problem! But we were told that our toddler will also require a ticket, which I wasn't aware of. Anyway, they waived off the ticket fee for our toddler. So, I really appreciate that. Our tour guide was amazing, gave us some very good information regarding the building, the history, and the whiskey/bourbon making process. We had a good time and will definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Louisville.