17 Best Bourbon Bars In Louisville

The Silver Dollar is an iconic piece of the city of Louisville. The building, currently operating as a restaurant and bar, was built back in 1890 and was originally a firehouse, according to Hipstorical. It sustained as one of the oldest continuously operating firehouses in the country until it finally closed and became The Silver Dollar in 2009. Since then, The Silver Dollar has accomplished its mission to embody the spirit of the "Bakersfield Sound" that revolutionized country music and served as the soundtrack of the courage of toughness of the westward expansion era.

As for its bourbon selection, The Silver Dollar offers dozens of whiskeys including reliable classics from the full Maker's Mark and Wild Turkey lineups. It was named one of the top 10 bourbon bars in the U.S. by GQ magazine in 2013, and the award for Best Bourbon List 2020 by Leo Readers' Choice.

The Old Seelbach Bar operates within The Seelbach Hilton Louisville. Not only is the bar authentically restored to resemble what it was like in the early 1900s, but the hotel, itself, is a historic landmark in its own right. The hotel first opened in 1905 and welcomed both famous and infamous figures including F. Scott Fitzgerald, who is said to be inspired to write "The Great Gatsby" by the hotel's luxury, as well as a favored hangout of Al Capone, according to the official site of Kentucky Department of Tourism.

The bourbon selection at Old Seelbach Bar is just as expansive as its historical significance. Their concentration on single-barrel bourbons is rivaled by few, and the bar has earned itself a place on the official Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail. If you ever make the pilgrimage, this spot will not disappoint.

What better place to sip on some bourbon than in a building that used to store it? Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar operates inside an 1869 building formerly the home of the Bonnie Bros. Distillers warehouse. Bonnie Bros.' distillery was in the neighborhood of Portland, but their bourbon barrels were housed there. Now, Doc Crow's is a restaurant and bourbon bar steeped in the spirit's history and a staple on Whiskey Row.

Doc Crow's is named after bourbon revolutionary Dr. James C. Crow, who was one of the first innovators to utilize both corn and limestone water in bourbon-making. Doc Crow's has plenty of bourbons to choose from, but, if you need some guidance, they offer whiskey flights. There are eight to choose from, including introductory and intermediate levels as well as flights of rye whiskies and small-batch bourbons. Whether you're a bourbon expert or a beginner, Doc Crow's will take care of you.

When in Louisville, you can pretty much spend all of your time on Whiskey Row and keep finding new places to eat and drink, and Sidebar is no exception. Sidebar At Whiskey Row is a go-to spot to watch Louisville basketball for city residents. They have great food, great bourbon, and a great atmosphere to enjoy them in.

This place is known throughout the city for its burgers, so there is reason to make a visit other than its great selection of bourbon, which is also used to make a wide variety of craft cocktails. The two are even fused together on its menu. For instance, the Hung Jury burger includes a topping of bourbon onions and bourbon mushrooms. If you love burgers, bourbon, or both, Sidebar At Whiskey Row is the place for you.

Merle's Whiskey Kitchen is another Whiskey Row establishment that actually markets itself as a traditional whiskey hall. The bar inside was built in the 1920s, and the ambiance also reflects that historic, old-fashioned vibe. Merle's is a certified stop on the Urban Bourbon Trail as well as a member of the Stave and Thief Society, an organization founded in 2014 and the first bourbon certification program recognized by the industry (via Stave and Thief Society).

The bourbon you get at Merle's Whiskey Kitchen is completely unavailable at any other place. This is because Merle's hand-selected its very own bourbon barrels from various distilleries and had those bourbons tested, manipulated, and bottled especially for them. These include personally selected and private barrels of Russel's Reserve Single barrel, Woodford Reserve, Jefferson's Reserve, Buffalo Trace Single Barrel, Maker's Mark 46, and Old Forester Single barrel. At Merle's Whiskey Kitchen, you are guaranteed a one-of-a-kind bourbon experience brought to you by people passionate about the industry, its craft, and where it comes from.

Levee Bourbon Lounge is the perfect balance between nostalgic and modern. It has a distinctly speakeasy-like feel to it while also being as contemporary, fresh, and stylish as any other cocktail lounge. The bourbon paraphernalia on the walls and warmly colored infrastructure make this place an excellent spot to sip on some great bourbon.

There are 277 bourbons to choose from, to be exact, and if you're thinking such an extensive selection is overwhelming, they've done you the courtesy of putting together 24 different flights as well. These are broken down into numerous categories including by distillery, mash bill, pioneering brands, single barrels, bottle-in-bonds, wine cask finished, and rum cask finished. Most bourbon bars have any bourbon necessary to satisfy your taste. Levee Bourbon Lounge has any flight to do the same.

The original Gertie's Whiskey Bar is located in Nashville, Tennessee, but their Louisville location is just as awesome. The bar is named after Gertrude Cleo Lythgoe, who was referred to as the "Queen of the bootleggers" during the Prohibition Era. Gertie's locations are both quite modern, but they do present an element of history, a history well represented through their collection of whiskeys.

These whiskeys are broken up by their geography, with sections for Kentucky, Tennessee, east of the Mississippi, west of the Mississippi, Scotland, Ireland, and Japan. Their bourbon takes up the majority of the list, however. Not only is there a lot of whiskeys to choose from, but you can also choose where to enjoy it. Gertie's Louisville location offers the main bar area, a speakeasy-style downstairs, and an outdoor patio with high-top tables. There's plenty of room, plenty of whiskeys, and plenty of good times to be had.

Frank's Whiskey Place is the first, and only, bourbon bar on this list to distinctly be pet friendly. Opening just this year, Frank's does not only have a great selection of bourbon, including top-shelf pours for just $13, but it also offers treats for your dog. It doesn't get any better than that.

During the holiday season, Frank's offers a Santa Claus photo-op every Sunday for you and your dog to have your picture taken with Santa. This spot features a super friendly atmosphere all around with whiskey experts to help guide beginners as well as connoisseurs. Sometimes, walking into a serious bourbon or any spirits bar can be a little intimidating. With so much to know about the topic, being a novice about it may not be the most welcoming place. At Frank's Whiskey Place, you can rest assured of walking into a super casual environment open to answering any questions you may have in addition to plenty of great bourbons.

Trouble Bar is one of the most esteemed bourbon bars in the entire state of Kentucky. In fact, it is the only Kentucky establishment to be included in Esquire's "The Best Bars In America" list for 2021.

There is plenty offered at Trouble Bar, including a wide array of specialty and original cocktails, wine, and beer. Of course, it is its bourbon that is best, especially, its flight selection. Each flight is carefully curated by the staff at Trouble Bar, and each comes with a brief background to educate customers on what they are tasting. These include the "Strong Whiskey, Strong Women" flight, dedicated to the founder of Bourbon Women, Peggy Noe Stevens; a flight for beginners; and one called "The Aficionado," which includes a barrel select of Willett 6 Year Family Estate Rye. You will be more than taken care of at Trouble Bar, so come check out this cool space and drink some great whiskey.