Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery
Distillery · West Main ·

Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery

Distillery · West Main ·

Bourbon & rye distillery tours, tastings, and cocktail bar

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

Information

801 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202 Get directions

$$$

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Information

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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

Nov 26, 2025

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@afar
25,132 Postcards · 3,700 Cities

Where to Go on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail - AFAR

"Located on Whiskey Row, this Fort Nelson distillery is noted for a top-notch bar experience that complements its tour offerings." - Kara Newman

https://www.afar.com/magazine/a-complete-guide-to-the-kentucky-bourbon-trail
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery
@foodandwine
6,486 Postcards · 1,677 Cities

How to Tackle the Kentucky Bourbon Trail

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

https://www.foodandwine.com/kentucky-bourbon-trail-11687726
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery
@foodandwine
6,486 Postcards · 1,677 Cities

How to Tackle the Kentucky Bourbon Trail

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

https://www.foodandwine.com/kentucky-bourbon-trail-8550485
Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery

Amanda C.

Google
Bourbon great! Ryan good! Ryan was our tour guide and he did a great job. He clearly knows the history of the distillery and the overall bourbon/whiskey making process. And you can tell he genuinely enjoys teaching people everything he knows. He was able to teach us a lot that we haven’t heard in other tours while also being humorous and made learning fun! His explanation of bourbons as we tasted was great! In the end, the hour flew bye! We got to do the bottling service after the tour and it was fun to be able to fill your own bottle and write your own labels. We also went upstairs to the bar to get drinks after the tour. The lady at the elevator (Nicole) was so nice and funny, it was easy to joke around with her! The waitress (Madeline) was super helpful with what drinks we would like and was extremely nice and accommodating to our large group. I highly recommend this distillery and I also highly recommend having Ryan as your tour guide!!

Wanda R.

Google
Visited Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery in Downtown Louisville, and what an amazing experience we had! Rebecca, was our guide, she is awesome! ☺️ She knows the story very well, and made the tour very interesting and enjoyable! We had (a kind of special 🥰) bottling experience (highly recommended!😉)… she helped us taking pictures and video during the process! Also had the luckiness🍀 of visiting "The Bar" on the 2nd floor, beautiful place, with an industrial/classic vibe! The attention we received and the drinks were on another level. This was such a great experience, I would definitely repeat!🤩. Remember… it’s all about the whiskey!

John N.

Google
A Truly Unforgettable Experience – All Thanks to Ryan at Michter’s! I was recently in Louisville for a work conference with very limited free time, but a few colleagues and I managed to squeeze in a visit to Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery—and I am so glad we did. Without exaggeration, it was one of the best distillery experiences I’ve ever had, and the credit for that goes entirely to our outstanding guide and taster, Ryan. From the moment the tour began, Ryan brought an energy that was both welcoming and engaging. His deep knowledge of Michter’s history, bourbon-making process, and the legacy of the Fort Nelson building itself was impressive—but what truly set him apart was how he shared that knowledge: with passion, humor, and a refreshingly down-to-earth attitude. He struck the perfect balance between informative and entertaining, keeping the group interested and laughing throughout. Once we moved into the tasting room, Ryan's enthusiasm and expertise really shined. He walked us through each of the five whiskeys we sampled with such respect for the craft and genuine excitement. Every pour came with a story, a thoughtful explanation, and—of course—one of his signature dad jokes, which kept the mood light and the smiles wide. It’s clear he loves what he does, and that energy is absolutely contagious. I travel over 50 days a year and make a point to visit breweries, distilleries, and other local spots wherever I go. I can confidently say this was one of the most memorable tours I’ve ever experienced, and that is because of Ryan. His passion, authenticity, and humor made this more than just a tasting—it was a truly meaningful and enjoyable experience. If you're planning a visit to Michter’s, do yourself a favor and go on a day when Ryan is working. You’ll walk away with a deeper appreciation for American whiskey and probably a few new favorite pours—but more importantly, you’ll walk away smiling. Thank you to Michter’s for offering such an exceptional experience—and a heartfelt thank you to Ryan for being the highlight of it all.

Chris C

Google
Pretty cool small scale place in down town Louisville. Most of their operation is at their other location, but it was neat to get an inside look at th "old" way at Fort Nelson. Our tour guide Justice was great, very knowledgeable and a pleasure to have with us. The tasting was great and there were a wide variety of flavors. Gift shop was nice too, lots of stuff to see!

Jaclyn M.

Google
Had an absolutely wonderful time. I’m not a bourban or whiskey drinker but I am a science lover and this tour hits home to all things science behind the bottle. Ryan was an amazing guide and was interactive the entire time. My significant other is the bourban drinker and he had just a great of a time. The part of the tour that involved tasting was obviously his favorite part. Thank you Ryan for a great start of our day!

Eric S.

Google
This tour is excellent. Everything I wanted to know about the distillation process is talked about and seen. Ryan was enthusiastic and very knowledgeable. He was happy to answer any questions we had and ran a very fun tasting session at the end. Highly recommend!

Keith H.

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!

Jay H.

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!

Ashley L.

Yelp
Outstanding job all around! Very educational, great experience, and outstanding whiskeys. Jacqueline was exceptional. Proud to serve Michter's in my restaurants. -The Hangry Bison
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Brian V.

Yelp
Having been a big fan of Michter's products for a long time, this was another place I felt like it was a must visit for me in Louisville. It's located on the west end of Whiskey Row across the street from the Louisville Slugger factory. There's a gift shop right when you walk into the building and you can make reservations or walk into their lounge bar either a floor or two up. Depending on the day, there may be special releases or bottle packages for you to purchase, or you even have the opportunity to fill your own bottle directly from available barrels. They give tours as well. The building, gift shop, and bar area are all very beautiful and gives a sense of place in this area Louisville. The gift shop has a lot of cool stuff you can purchases including lots of great clothing items. I was really tempted to purchase a chance to fill my own bottle, but I was travelling and wanted to stay light for this trip (maybe next time). I went to up to the bar area a little later in the day and got a flight of the bourbons. The folks at the bar are very friendly. Great experience and looking forward to return during my next trip to Louisville.
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Steven E.

Yelp
We started our fun weekend by picking up my childhood buddy, Paul and his lovely bride, Claudia. We had a dozen potential stops whittled down to this place and three others. For a "distillery" I found it quite romantic. For a few brief moments, each couple forgot about the other. Totally emerged in the ambiance, the spirit and the mood. The tour was led by an energetic, Ryan, and it was quite fascinating for us. Much more goes into the process than you would think. Ryan had a definite talent for sharing his incredible knowledge while still entertaining us. This may be a smaller scale version than the main facility, but still quite interesting. The tastings room was where our guide really shined. Tasting the five samples was clearly my favourite part. They're right across from the Louisville Slugger factory and a great representative of the town. 11/25
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JD H.

Yelp
On a first visit to KY, this was the distillery tour I was most looking forward to. I am an amateur Bourbon hunter and have enjoyed Michter's products whenever I have had them. But I was turned off by this tour from the start and it has kind of tainted my view of it as a brand. I had booked this in advance for myself and 3 work colleagues. We arrived 25 min prior to the tour (there are instructions that tell you to arrive at least 15 min prior) and upon walking in, the ladies at the front desk seemed to be bothered that we had walked in. I checked us in and we were told rather sternly that they did not consider us checked in until we showed them our IDs. That's fine as I am sure that they get underage people all the time and they want to make sure that the correct party is checked in for the reservation. But the attitude from the start felt accusatory like we were trying to pull a fast one over on the place. I actually thought her tone with me was a joke at first since we had literally just walked in but it seemed to persist. We did as we were told and went through the motions of the tour. The tour itself was reasonable. Not out of this world interesting or over-the-top educational but it did cover the basics well and we did taste 6 selections at the end so no complaints about the information or the tasting. However, the greeting continued to bother myself and my group (as the leader of my group, I felt responsible for my teammates feeling this way). All of us got the same sense at check-in so it was not directed only at me or somehow misunderstood by only myself. We walked out without purchasing anything to take home (We had fully intended to purchase something from them days before this tour as it was anticipated to be the highlight distillery for us to visit) and I have to admit that this sour mash experience left a very sour taste in all of our mouths regarding Michters as a brand. If I'm being truly honest, I would say that I think Michters produces high quality whiskies and I have liked some of their taste profiles before this interaction. Admittedly, memory and taste is very subjective and, in this case, despite my prior enjoyment of Michters branded products, I will likely not continue to drink them. My colleagues echoed the same thought. There are so many great whiskies out there that can easily fill the void. So, unfortunately, after that experience, Michters has lost 4 fans.
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Mary Kate E.

Yelp
Nothing has really changed since my last review. We still really love this place, and think it has some great drinks. Our visit in March was alright, but our latest visit was even better than expected. We have their product in our cabinet at home, but while in town, we can also enjoy their libations here. I think the other reason we come here is for the atmosphere of the bar. The bar is really chill, and we like the ambiance. We can't really complain about anything. They usually give generous pours, which we want being that you are paying steeply for the drinks.
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Sarah M.

Yelp
My husband, two of our friends, and I had a reservation for drinks here a couple weekends ago while we were in town. We all ordered espressos and they were so cute, came out with little brown sugar cubes, and tasted incredible. I love any excuse to have coffee. We each ordered a round of different cocktails to try and had plenty of tasty little snacks that they brought to the table. Our server made sure we had plenty of water (and snacks) and checked on us frequently. The bar itself was gorgeous and one of the reasons why I wanted to make a reservation here in the first place. The drinks were delicious and we loved how intimate the space is because there are only so many tables, which cuts down on the noise level. I would 100% come back the next time we are in Louisville.
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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.
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Greg A.

Yelp
The place is nice but it's your typical tourist trap. I am a bourbon enthusiast. Let me say the bar is nice but once you get beyond the barrel strength offerings the prices are quite steep. I would expect to pay premium for 20 year and above but unless I read the menu wrong what they are asking for a pour of 10 year is ridiculous. The experience is nice but you pay for it which is fine. Kudos for offering a veteran discount. But honestly I'm glad I didn't pay more than the $11 for the experience. The tasting is oaky. They tease you with barrel proof samples but no option to purchase anything other than their standard watered down options that you can purchase on any liquor store. To get the bottle your own (which you pay for) you need the elevated experience which costs even more. Make no mistake about it Michter's is all about the money and they keep the allocated options very allocated. There are plenty other distilleries and DNP's that offer outstanding bourbons and rye's without the hassle. Also plenty of other experiences that are free or much cheaper.
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Andrew H.

Yelp
Probably one of the coolest bars on whiskey row. We did the put your own first Nelson reserve experience and had a great time. They also had 10y rye bundles with a regular rye for 270 but i didn't like the fact that they force you into a regular rye.
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Angela D.

Yelp
We took the tour at Michael's this week. It was probably one of the most boring tours that we have ever taken. It felt more like a science class than an experience. Typically your tour guides have a great personality and are interactive with the group. Ours just gave her spiel and seemed like she worked in the lab and not a customer facing guide. The facility was small but we did get to see the bourbon fermenting. The tasting was good as well. I just didn't enjoy the guided presentation.
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Mark M.

Yelp
Fort Nelson and the staff are top notch! A fantastic tour and tasting. Spend the extra money and pour your own bottle. Our tour guide Paige was excellent! The bar up stairs is a must! Great service and cocktails.
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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.
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Michael K.

Yelp
A++ experience both for the Fort Nelson tour as well as the bar upstairs. Their hospitality team is sensational and the whiskey is the best in town (IMO). Highly recommend.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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Caroline A.

Yelp
Outstanding drinks, outstanding service. I made reservations for four people and they automatically put you at a table. When we arrived for our reservation I mentioned that we were hoping to sit at the bar and they made it happen for us! They give you some bar snacks along with the cocktails which was nice. They are pricey drinks, but so worth it. Very creative and so well balanced.
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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!
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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.
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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!

Joe O.

Yelp
I came for the Michters tour and stayed for the bar! I was greeted with great service, music/ambiance and the drinks were amazing!!! I highly recommend this place; the team at the bar was friendly, informative and made amazing drinks! I'm more of a neat bourbon drinker, but their Bourbon Manhattan, Whiskey Fix, Lotus flower, and Nectar of the Gods (if you like sweet Horchata) we're all fantastic!!!!
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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!
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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!
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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.
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Star M.

Yelp
What an amazing experience we had at Michter's! from the tour to tasting to their upstairs bar - WOW! A few standouts for us - Patrick who did our tour and Meagan who made sure that we made our way to the bar. Do not miss this one if you are Bourbon tasting in Kentucky!
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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.
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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.
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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 .
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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.
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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.

Jordyn N.

Yelp
A Truly Unforgettable Experience - All Thanks to Ryan at Michter's! I was recently in Louisville for a work conference with very limited free time, but a few colleagues and I managed to squeeze in a visit to Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery--and I am so glad we did. Without exaggeration, it was one of the best distillery experiences I've ever had, and the credit for that goes entirely to our outstanding guide and taster, Ryan. From the moment the tour began, Ryan brought an energy that was both welcoming and engaging. His deep knowledge of Michter's history, bourbon-making process, and the legacy of the Fort Nelson building itself was impressive--but what truly set him apart was how he shared that knowledge: with passion, humor, and a refreshingly down-to-earth attitude. He struck the perfect balance between informative and entertaining, keeping the group interested and laughing throughout. Once we moved into the tasting room, Ryan's enthusiasm and expertise really shined. He walked us through each of the five whiskeys we sampled with such respect for the craft and genuine excitement. Every pour came with a story, a thoughtful explanation, and--of course--one of his signature dad jokes, which kept the mood light and the smiles wide. It's clear he loves what he does, and that energy is absolutely contagious. I travel over 50 days a year and make a point to visit breweries, distilleries, and other local spots wherever I go. I can confidently say this was one of the most memorable tours I've ever experienced, and that is because of Ryan. His passion, authenticity, and humor made this more than just a tasting--it was a truly meaningful and enjoyable experience. If you're planning a visit to Michter's, do yourself a favor and go on a day when Ryan is working. You'll walk away with a deeper appreciation for American whiskey and probably a few new favorite pours--but more importantly, you'll walk away smiling. Thank you to Michter's for offering such an exceptional experience--and a heartfelt thank you to Ryan for being the highlight of it all.
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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!

S B.

Yelp
The tour was very good. It is a little "smaller" than some of the other distillery tours. The taste testing was great! The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about the tasting.
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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.
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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.
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Annmarie F.

Yelp
Great tour! The staff all are excellent and fun. Make sure you stop up to the Bar at Fort Nelson before or after your tour. We had delicious drinks. The bartenders made great suggestions and mixed drinks perfectly.

Jerry F.

Yelp
This was a very informative tour with lots of technical details. Our tour guide, Paige, was excellent. She answered lots of questions from our group during the tasting and the tour. The bourbon selections were excellent and the gift shop had lots of bourbon and whiskey options plus unique merchandise.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.

Jeff F.

Yelp
Not really a distillery, more a demonstration space. No real offerings for sale that you cannot find anywhere else. They also have an elevator bouncer to keep you from the bar that you can only spend an hour in max. Very disappointed.
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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.
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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.
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Rosa H.

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