One of the best-designed modern distilleries in the country. Multi-story tour through the full production process and the Bottle Your Own experience — the standout premium offering on Whiskey Row.
Old Forester holds a special place in bourbon history — it was the first bourbon sold exclusively in sealed glass bottles (1870), and the brand never stopped production, even during Prohibition. Their Whiskey Row distillery is a modern showcase that lives up to that legacy.
The building itself is impressive: a multi-story facility where your tour moves vertically through the distilling process. You start at the top with grain and work your way down through fermentation, distillation, and aging. It's one of the most well-structured tours on the trail — educational without being dry, visual without being gimmicky.
The Bottle Your Own experience is the real draw. You hand-fill a bottle from a barrel selected by their master taster, cork it, seal it, and label it yourself. It's a genuinely premium keepsake and the single best "take something unique home" experience on Whiskey Row.
The standard multi-story tour through the full production process. Well-paced, visually interesting, and includes a guided tasting. One of the better-designed standard tours on the trail.
Hand-fill, cork, seal, and label your own bottle from a selected barrel. The most personal souvenir you can take home from the trail. Includes a tour and tasting. Books out faster than the standard tour.
Old Forester is moderately competitive. The standard tour usually has availability at 2–3 weeks, but the Bottle Your Own sells out 3–4 weeks ahead on weekends. Weekdays are easier across the board.
If you can only book one premium experience on Whiskey Row, make it the Bottle Your Own here or the tasting at Angel's Envy — both are genuinely worth the premium.
Solid gift shop with standard bottles at MSRP. They often have distillery-exclusive single barrel picks and limited releases. The Birthday Bourbon (annual release) sometimes appears here before wider distribution. Branded merchandise is well-designed.
Old Forester is the best all-around experience on Whiskey Row. The tour is the most well-designed, the Bottle Your Own experience is genuinely unique, and the bourbon itself is excellent. If you're only doing one premium tour in Louisville, make it this one. Pair with Evan Williams (morning) and Angel's Envy (afternoon) for a complete Day 1.
Address: 119 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 10 AM – 6 PM, Sunday 12 PM – 5 PM. Closed Monday.
Parking: Street parking and nearby garages. No dedicated lot.
Stunning rooftop bar and port-finished bourbon tasting.
Most affordable Whiskey Row tour. Good starter.
Casual smoked meats right on Whiskey Row.
Excellent cocktail program and elevated bar food.
Old Forester Distillery is featured in our 3-Day Bourbon Trail Itinerary. See the full day-by-day route for how it fits with nearby stops.