Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail

A sprig of mint, a shot or two of bourbon, a little sugar, ice and water—these ingredients make up Kentucky's signature drink, the mint julep. You can sample this refreshing drink, several times over if you wish, when you take a self-guided tour around Louisville on the Urban Bourbon Trail. Get caught up in the world of American whiskey, live like a Gatsby in the roaring 20s and learn a bit about Louisville's colorful past.

Bourbon Scavenger Hunt

The Louisville Urban Bourbon Trail gives you a chance to sample this Kentucky staple in several spots around town. First, head for the Visitors Center and pick up your Bourbon Passport. An app is also available for an electronic passport. In either case, every time you make a purchase at a participating vendor on the trail, you'll receive a stamp. Six stamps wins you an Urban Bourbon Trailblazer T-shirt. A certificate naming you an official Citizen of Bourbon Country will be mailed to you at a later date. Take as many days as you like to explore the Urban Bourbon Trail. Don’t forget to collect your stamps along the way.

Famous Bars on the Bourbon Trail

You'll think you've stepped back in time when you enter the Lobby Bar in the Brown Hotel—it dates back to Prohibition days. Sample a Kentucky Derby—bourbon and pink grapefruit juice—or a Kentucky Cider, which combines bourbon with apple cider. The Old Seelbach Bar, also dating back to the early 1900s, is another must-see stop. The bar was a hangout for Al Capone and other high-profile gangsters during the Prohibition Era. Wander into the billiard room where Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason shot scenes for "The Hustler." The Jockey Silks Bourbon Bar in the Galt House Hotel combines the twin passions of bourbon and horse racing and stocks more than 150 varieties of sippin' whiskey.

Other Not-to-miss Spots

You'll find horse racing memorabilia and more at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Meet Winston, the museum's miniature horse mascot, who wanders about outside with his current thoroughbred companion. Walk through the Oaks Garden Terrace to see the graves of five Kentucky Derby winners. For a tasty souvenir, head over to the Please & Thank You Coffee Shop and Bakery for some Derby Bar Mix. Add bourbon and butter and bake your own blondie bars when you get home. If you're in Louisville in August, be sure to check out the Derby City Jazz Festival.

See the Distilleries

At Kentucky Peerless Distilling, you can follow the entire bourbon-making process as the grains are ground, cooked, fermented, distilled and barreled. Tours are available Wednesdays through Saturdays. If you stop at the onsite retail shop, you can pick up a bottle or two of your favorite bourbon or rye to take home. Check out the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, featuring a guided distillery tour, bourbon tasting in an old-style saloon and history lesson on whiskey-making in the late 18th century.

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