Louisville is in LOVE with Bourbon

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (February 12, 2024) – You can’t spell Louisville without love, and you certainly can’t visit Louisville without sampling America’s only native spirit, Bourbon.

Louisville boasts 11 Bourbon distilleries around the city, a culinary and cocktail adventure coined the Urban Bourbon Trail®, Bourbon-infused culinary foodways at area restaurants and a spirited calendar bursting with various Bourbon-themed events all year long. 

According to Garden and Gun Magazine, “throwing a successful whiskey fest requires more than just a roomful of bourbon…a great bourbon gathering emphasizes the spirit of America’s native spirit, with opportunities to mingle with distillers, entertainment, education, camaraderie, and, of course, plenty of sips to try, too. Kentucky remains the epicenter with both longstanding and new events on the docket this year.”

If you are planning a trip to Bourbon City, you might want to center your visit around one of these high-proof events.

February 22-24: Bourbon Classic – The holy trinity for experiencing the very best in the culinary, cocktail and Bourbon arts through a collection of rare, interactive events.

April 11: BourbonVille – Hosted by the Kentucky Derby Festival. Guests will taste signature Bourbon drinks from some of Kentucky’s top distilleries, enjoy Bourbon-inspired cuisine and meet the Master Distillers.

April 23-28: Distilled – A week of once-in-a-lifetime events and experiences curated by Garden & Gun Magazine showcasing Kentucky's Bourbon Country. The six-day event with eight unique experiences offers unparalleled access to the birthplace of bourbon, bringing together featured talent from distillers to chefs, musicians, and more.

June 1-14: Old Fashioned Fortnight – Every year, Louisville celebrates the libation during Old Fashioned Fortnight by shining a spotlight on the spirited Bourbon concoction with special exhibits, events, cocktail classes, dinners and more.

August 15-18: Bourbon SIPosium – The only consumer-based, female-focused whiskey conference in the US. Part industry conference, part girls’ weekend, and part family reunion, SIPosium demonstrates the magic of 400+ bourbon-loving women in the room together.

August 29-September 1: Bourbon Boule – A gathering of premium spirits enthusiasts drawing a unique demographic of African Americans from across the country for a highly curated weekend-long experience.

September 13-15: Kentucky Bourbon Festival – Though hosted in Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the World ®, you can make Louisville your base and catch a complimentary shuttle to the event grounds.

September 19-22: Bourbon and Beyond – Known as the World’s Largest Bourbon & Music Festival, the four-day party brings together the perfect blend of bourbon, food, and music to celebrate what makes Louisville such a beloved festival destination.

December TBD: Sip and Sole – With a focus on adding to the style, culture, and authenticity of the industry – Sip & Sole aims to capture the next generation of spirits drinkers.

Press note to local event producers: If you have an annual Bourbon-centered that was missed, please contact infostaff@gotolouisville.com.

While planning a trip to Louisville, guests can download a copy of Louisville Tourism’s annual Visitor Guide to help plan a tour around Louisville to see the city's top attractions and bourbon distilleries. Visitors also can get additional city attraction, lodging and dining assistance at gotolouisville.com.