When you step in the lobby off Main Street, you are welcomed by a fantastic display of a glass of bourbon overflowing from a bottle that appears from outside as though it stands several floors tall. There you can find some historical information about the company along with a display of various test bourbons from the past.

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience has a curated selection of five tours; from a historic presentation, to tailored tastings, to distilling methods exploration and a bootcamp where you work alongside the distillery team in producing that day’s barrel. For this visit I chose the Evan Williams Traditional Tour & Bourbon Tasting. Bill was our group’s “host”. He explained that the difference between a “host” and “guide” is that the “host” can partake in the tasting. Bill was extremely knowledgeable, entertaining, and a terrific host.

The Evan Williams Traditional Tour & Bourbon Tasting is a mixture of displays of 18th century, barrel storage, and the actual on-site production facility, along with large video screens that include a step back in time to 1783 when Evan Williams opened Kentucky’s first commercial distillery there beside the Ohio River. The plot of land was called Square 6 (and at that time across the street). The videos recreate a meeting between Williams and the city council, which appointed him as Wharfmaster. Louisville was located at the Falls of the Ohio River, which was a major port for river traffic. Boats were unloaded above the Falls and the freight had to be carried over land, where it was then reloaded on boats below the Falls to be shipped to New Orleans. Louisville harbor was small, so as Wharfmaster, Williams provided oversite to avoid overcrowding. This included ensuring that boats complied with a regulation stipulating that all boats had to be unloaded and moved out of the harbor within forty-eight hours after arrival.

The tour includes a large media wall that shows the distilling process from start to finish. From there the tour moves on to a wall of windows for viewing the small batch distillery in production there.

The tour also covers the effects of Prohibition using a small mock up of the city’s nearly deserted Main Street.

The tour ends with a bourbon tasting in one of the various tasting rooms. Ours took place in a replica of a The Phil Hollenbach Company bar from the 1920s.

The tasting included four selected bourbons, listed here with the producers notes.

Evan Williams Single Barrel – Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon is handcrafted and specially selected by our Master Distillers. A five-time winner of “Whiskey of the Year,” it’s our most premium and decorated Bourbon that measures up to exacting standards. Finish: Long, graceful, and relaxed Proof: 86.6 Proof Color: Delicate amber gold Nose: Dark caramel, sweet oak, and charred wood Taste: Lush and spicy. Oak with honey, apple, and orange notes

Evan Williams 12-year-old – Distilled from a time-honored formula originated in 1783, Evan Williams is produced in the heart of Kentucky’s Bourbon country. This Bourbon is aged 12 years for a smoother, more complex flavor, world-renowned by Bourbon lovers. Available at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience and select Kentucky retailers. Finish: Brown Sugar, Smoky Oak; Long and Vanilla-Like Proof: 101 Proof Color: Burnished Copper Nose: Honeyed Almond, Mint, and Fruitcake notes Taste: Boldly spicy, with Rye notes and a hint of Licorice

Evan Williams Master Blend – A masterful blend of various expressions, these well-crafted Bourbons have been married together to form a rare and unique bottling of Bourbon. The expressions from the Evan Williams family include: 23-year-old, Single Barrel, 1783, Bottled-In-Bond & Signature Black. Finish: Long and Delicate Proof: 90 Proof Color: Golden Amber Nose: Caramel, Citrus, Vanilla, Floral Taste: Soft and Sweet, Honey, Citrus, and Butterscotch

Square 6 Wheated Bourbon – Handcrafted at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville, KY by Artisanal Distiller Jodie Filiatreau, Square 6 by Evan Williams pays homage to the plot of land that housed Kentucky’s first commercial distillery, founded by Evan Williams in 1783. Square 6 Wheated Bourbon is comprised of two distinct Wheated Bourbon mashbills which were carefully blended post-aging. The first mashbill consists of 74% Corn, 16% Wheat, and 10% Malted Barley, and the second mashbill consists of 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, and 12% Malted Barley. This product is unique to the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience and select Kentucky retailers. Proof: 105 Proof Color: Brilliant Dark Amber Nose: Caramel, Vanilla, Figs, Bing Cherries, and Oak, Taste: Sweet Confectioners Sugar, Walnuts Finish: Walnuts, Oak Tannins, Baking Spice, Cinnamon, and Cola

I enjoyed all of the selections, but my purchase for the day included the Master Blend and Square 6 Wheated. These are both Kentucky Exclusives, meaning that they are only available in Kentucky and select locations.

This visit was truly an “experience”. I hope some day to visit Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, KY. Heaven Hills launched the Evan Williams Bourbon brand in 1957 and produces many other brands including Heaven Hill, Elijah Craig, Pikesville, Parkers, Henry McKenna, Bernheim, Larceny, Old Fitzgerald, Rittenhouse, and Mellow Corn. I can only imagine what the “experience” might provide there.

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, 528 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202

Scott Morris

The post Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Louisville KY first appeared on CU4Wine & More.

Jessie, my server for the visit, started with a warm greeting and then continued to answer questions and offer suggestions, and discuss her own likings.

I decided to their unique Collaborative Series Flight that included the following that includes descriptions from the producer.

Goose Island Bourbon County – “Iconic trailblazers of craft brewing, Goose Island is a perfect partner for innovation. This bespoke blend of 6 and 7 year Kentucky bourbon has been aged an additional 12 months in Bourbon County stout barrels, then married with a beautiful 9 year Kentucky bourbon, creating an expression bursting with chocolate malt and dried cherry.” 100 Proof

Silver Oak – “For over fifty years, Silver Oak has created exquisite California cabernets aged exclusively in premium oak barrels, establishing themselves as a trailblazer in Napa, CA. Finding the perfect balance of fruit to barrel notes, this expression features a custom blend of 9 to 14 year-old bourbon, which was then finished in Silver Oak barrels for 17 months, creating a beautiful balance of ripe fruit, caramel, and roasted nuts.” 108 Proof

Amrut – “Bardstown Bourbon Co. continues to push boundaries through innovation, exploring new flavors in this collaborative release with the Amrut Distillery, trailblazers of authentic Indian single malt whisky. Showcasing imagination, creativity, and the power of global connection, this limited-edition whiskey earned Double Gold at the 2024 San Francisco Wine & Spirits Competition and the highest rated bourbon of 2024 in Whisky Advocate.” 110 Proof

West Virginia Great Barrel Co. – “Our first cooperage collaboration celebrates the forward-thinking West Virginia Great Barrel Company. Our synergy in modern production led to a custom blend aged in cherry wood barrels toasted with infrared technology. This truly unique flavor exemplifies the potential of two brands at the forefront of innovation.” 110 Proof

When asked, Jessie shared her favorite of their products, so I of course had to give it a try.

Wheated Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon – “Honoring tradition and authenticity, our Origin Series Wheated Bottled-in-Bond 6-year expression presents the best locally-sourced Kentucky corn and wheat grains. This expression features 20% wheat in the mash bill, creating a modern expression of beautifully balanced bourbon.” 100 Proof

I must say, this was my favorite of all that I tried.

The tasting room includes a beautiful retail shop with exclusive bottles and merchandise. Walking off the street in this historic downtown area and into a luxurious modern interior is an experience in itself. Interacting with the staff and others sitting at the bar while enjoying bourbon selections makes it even more memorable.

Bardstown Bourbon Company, 730 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202

Scott Morris

The post Bardstown Bourbon Company, Louisville KY first appeared on CU4Wine & More.

Matt Cunningham started the company in 2016 at the age of 22. While he was in college at the University of Arkansas, he became interested in the crafting of alcohol and after graduating, returned to his hometown of Clarksville where he spent all of his time, when not working as a firefighter, in developing the business.

Old Glory Distilling Co. is a small batch Tennessee whiskey, bourbon, moonshine, rum, and vodka distillery. What sets them apart from other producers is the use of sweet mash, instead of sour, and single use mash. This takes much more maintenance but provides better control over quality since they are starting each batch with new yeast instead of reusing the yeast, or backset, from a previous batch.

Izzy was our sever this day, She is a transplant to the area from California, and although only being there for several months conveyed much knowledge of the products and processes. She was also a delight in conversation.

My flight included:

• Tennessee Bourbon, Small Batch – 73% Corn, 19% Rye, 8% Malted Barley, 90 Proof
• Tennessee Whiskey, Small Batch – 73% Corn, 19% Wheat, 8% Malted Barley, 90 Proof
• Tennessee Bourbon, Bottled-In-Bond – 73% Corn, 19% Rye, 8% Malted Barley, 100 Proof
• Tennessee Whiskey, Bottled-In-Bond – 73% Corn, 19% Wheat, 8% Malted Barley, 100 Proof
• Tennessee Bourbon, Single Barrel – 73% Corn, 19% Rye, 8% Malted Barley, Barrel Proof

They have other products to try as well, such as Gin, Vodka, Blueberry Lemonade Shine, Strawberry Lemonade Shine, Spiced Lemonade Shine, and Apple Cide Moonshine.

My purchase on this visit was the Tennessee Bourbon, Bottled-In-Bond. I’m looking forward to sharing it with my family and friends.

A large area in the large brick building includes the tasting room connected to the shop that carries all of the bottled products along with merchandise.

Two months before our visit Old Glory Restaurant & Silo Park was opened, serving lunch M-F, dinner every night, and brunch on the weekend. The meu includes a large variety of what they describe as “spirit-inspired American cuisine”.

I’d like to thank Andrea Van Ry for her kindness and hospitality. She joined us for a short visit, where we found that like Izzy, she had also come to Clarksville from California. Much like me, her experience was also with wine, but she is now very well acclimated to the bourbon and whiskey scene.

Old Glory Distilling Co., 451 Alfred Thun Rd, Clarksville, TN 37040

Scott Morris

The post Old Glory Distilling Co., Clarksville TN first appeared on CU4Wine & More.

I’m the first to admit that I do not know much about bourbon or whiskey or their production, as I do with wine. Although I’ve visited other distilleries and taken some tours, I learned a great deal from Ross Miller at Drop Zone. Ross is a Master Distiller who works with the production of moonshine, whiskey, bourbon, vodka, and rums, and has won several gold and silver awards with rum and vodkas that he produced while working in a previous distillery. 

The founder of Drop Zone Distilling is Rod “Sarge” Parton. He is a 4th generation moonshiner with family recipes going back to his great-grandfather in 1934. Rod spent 8 years in the US Army as a Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division and is a Gulf War Veteran, thus the company name, Drop Zone Distilling! Rod was also a Tennessee State Trooper and firefighter where he was on the dive and recovery team in Blount Co., TN.

The development of the distillery began in 2019 and the current location opened on Veterans Day, November 11, 2022. This location not only houses the distilling operations and warehouse, but also includes a tasting room and shop. Rod is currently working on expanding to a second location in West Knoxville with a distillery and restaurant.

Ross was very gracious and helpful during our tasting. He was eager to answer questions and explain some of the processes. The samples I tasted were as follows:

• Drop Zone – “Jump Master Reserve” Light Whiskey
• Drop Zone – “Jump Master Reserve” Rye Whiskey
• Drop Zone – “Jump Master Reserve” Bourbon Whiskey
• Drop Zone – “Jump Masters Reserve” American Single Malt Whiskey. One of my purchases.
• Drop Zone – Camo Salted Caramel Whiskey. Of course, I purchased a bottle!

 “The Jumpmaster’s Reserve” name is to honor Rod’s family heritage in the liquor making and military tradition. Rod follows in his grandfather, great uncle and uncle’s footsteps of military service. His grandfather served in WWII, along with his great uncle who unfortunately didn’t return from that war. Rod’s Uncle was a Top Gun Fighter Pilot in the Navy during the Vietnam War.

Drop Zone also offers tours of the facility, and ask that reservations be made for more than 6 participants. They also hold Jeep, motorcycle, car club and other events, along with food trucks and cocktails.

A big thanks to Ross for his guidance through the tasting, and for the great conversation!

Drop Zone Distillery, 806 E. Gov, E Governor John Sevier Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37920

Scott Morris

The post Drop Zone Distillery, Knoxville TN first appeared on CU4Wine & More.