I have always been one to recommend that you should try a whiskey before you buy an expensive bottle. You might find that the whiskey in the bottle is not worth the price they are asking for it. There are several places in Louisville where you can do this.
First of all, there are many tasting rooms run by the distilleries that offer you a chance to do this. There are also several distilleries in Louisville where you can do this as well. The distilleries are Peerless, Rabbit Hole, Buzzard’s Roost, Angel’s Envy, Old Forester, and Michter’s to name a few. The tasting bars are even more numerous with places such as Whiskey Thief, Bardstown Bourbon Company, Green River, and Chicken Cock to name a few. All of these places offer tastings of their products.
However, if you want to try something that is not represented by a distillery in Louisville, there are several options. One of my favorites is Bourbons Bistro which has an excellent whiskey selection and you can get a good meal while you are there. I recommend the pork chop. Just down the road from Bourbons Bistro is Frankfort Avenue Liquors. It is a liquor store with a tasting bar. They have an excellent whiskey selection and if you like what you are drinking, the chances are you can purchase a bottle from the store.
If you are looking to try an older bottle of whiskey, I would recommend Justins’ House of Bourbon at 1st and Market. They have a tasting bar and often have an open dusty bottle where you can purchase a drink. Every whiskey bar in Louisville can do this, but many of them don’t offer you the dusty bottles for sample. Doc Crow’s on Main Street is another place where you can get a taste from an older bottle. They have an excellent whiskey selection that includes a lot of dusty bottles…