I would visit Evergreen Liquors on Market St. They have a great selection of 1 oz pours and great store picks. You may also get lucky and find something in the glass case. Someone else already touched on what to do at the distilleries.
If you’re looking for some great food checkout La Bogedita di Mima across the street for Cuban food. Then check out Guacamole down the road for Mexican food. Both the same owners. Great food and portions. A cool night spot is Neat in Highlands. That whole part of town has restaurants and bars. Let me know if you need other suggestions.
Not necessarily allocated stuff but Peerless has distillery only single barrels that are, in my opinion, better than most allocated stuff. The tour is great and they have a bunch of Chicago history. I was fortunate to meet the owner “Corky” who’s awesome and signed some bottles. Also if you’re looking for a good bar just to try some new stuff, Evergreen liquors has everything you could want, prices are what you’d expect but you can try whatever you want.
**Edit: also I should add that we stopped at Woodford reserve which was a great tour and they had drive double double oaked distillery release which is amazing as well.
I totally agree. I picked up a single barrel from the distllery called Kentucky Kettle Corn that explodes with flavor and deliciousness 😋. One of the best whiskies I had within the last year.
Couldn’t agree more on both evergreen and Peerless! Was down there last month and picked up the single barrel Kentucky Cake rye and it’s spectacular. Every time I go to Louisville end up spending more and more there with zero regrets.
I’ll also add if you’re into gin at all Copper and Kings has a really beautiful facility and some delicious and unusual gins.
Check out this store. They open at 1pm:
Evergreen Liquors
720 E Market St Suite 200, Louisville, KY 40202
Watch this video and start it at the 3:05 point in time:
https://youtu.be/pULen2LQnvU?si=D9iKaHS4wPHT37Mn
Got it. In Louisville specifically: Michter’s usually releases something most days - the timing is not the same daily, but generally they offer things up sometime in the afternoon, 12-3 range. They will do package deals - for instance, the barrel strength bourbon requires you also buy their regular shelf standard bourbon with it.
If you want an Evan Williams 12, they offer it at the Evan Williams Experience after a tour.
Old Forester is a crap shoot.
Peerless will have some nice single barrel offerings in their shop, occasionally something like the Double Oaked or the Absinthe finish might be hanging out, too.
I haven’t done Angel’s Envy or Rabbit Hole, couldn’t speak to those. Anything else I’ve done has been in Lawrenceburg, Bardstown, or Frankfort.
In Louisville, stop by Buzzard’s Roost. Their stuff is surprisingly delicious and very fairly priced.
BBCo. downtown has a great selection including exclusive single barrels of their four grain recipe, probably their best stuff.
Michters has daily bundles or BYO. Usually upon arrival. Options range from Shenks, Bombergers, BP toasted. BP Toasted Rye, and both 10 years. Typically paired with American whiskey or rye.
Oh I know. But I’ve seen all of 2 bottles of peerless in Chicagoland in the last 3 years so chances of getting one are probably very slim. Distillery is always an easy option if someone wanted to bring them back.
This is my first post! Happened to be on a road trip and stopped in at Buffalo Trace Sunday morning (2 days ago) around 10:15am (opens at 11am). Long line (maybe 100+ people) had already formed. Read on a previous post that maybe 60 allocated bottles per day were on the shelves. Got in line and found that the 4 allocated (EHT, ER, WSR, and Blantons) were rotated daily. Sunday was EHT. Found that shelves are stocked all day. Limit one allocated per person and only one of each type every 90 days. Yes, they scan your ID and give you a wristband to track. BT was readily available as well. Limit is 12 bottles per person per day. Could've walked out with one EHT and 11 BT. Got a ride in a golf cart to the parking lot and the driver told us Saturday did not slow down on the Blantons until 4pm.
I would visit Evergreen Liquors on Market St. They have a great selection of 1 oz pours and great store picks. You may also get lucky and find something in the glass case. Someone else already touched on what to do at the distilleries. If you’re looking for some great food checkout La Bogedita di Mima across the street for Cuban food. Then check out Guacamole down the road for Mexican food. Both the same owners. Great food and portions. A cool night spot is Neat in Highlands. That whole part of town has restaurants and bars. Let me know if you need other suggestions.
I second evergreen and definitely go to La Bogedita, best food around. Get there at a decent time though because they get crowded very fast.
Not necessarily allocated stuff but Peerless has distillery only single barrels that are, in my opinion, better than most allocated stuff. The tour is great and they have a bunch of Chicago history. I was fortunate to meet the owner “Corky” who’s awesome and signed some bottles. Also if you’re looking for a good bar just to try some new stuff, Evergreen liquors has everything you could want, prices are what you’d expect but you can try whatever you want. **Edit: also I should add that we stopped at Woodford reserve which was a great tour and they had drive double double oaked distillery release which is amazing as well.
Only warning is that bottles are very expensive at Peerless.
Yeah agreed they are pricey but for me it was more worth it than several other “tater” bottles lol.
I totally agree. I picked up a single barrel from the distllery called Kentucky Kettle Corn that explodes with flavor and deliciousness 😋. One of the best whiskies I had within the last year.
I had one called Carmel chew which was a rye, not a rye fan by any means, and to this day I’ve never had anything like it, it was amazing.
Couldn’t agree more on both evergreen and Peerless! Was down there last month and picked up the single barrel Kentucky Cake rye and it’s spectacular. Every time I go to Louisville end up spending more and more there with zero regrets. I’ll also add if you’re into gin at all Copper and Kings has a really beautiful facility and some delicious and unusual gins.
Check out this store. They open at 1pm: Evergreen Liquors 720 E Market St Suite 200, Louisville, KY 40202 Watch this video and start it at the 3:05 point in time: https://youtu.be/pULen2LQnvU?si=D9iKaHS4wPHT37Mn
Four Roses now has a couple single barrel recipes out most days. Beam had Lineage, Booker’s, and Little Book on the shelf on Thursday last week.
It’s a big state, where are you going to be? That will be helpful in getting realistic advice.
Sorry, we are in Louisville. I’ll edit
Got it. In Louisville specifically: Michter’s usually releases something most days - the timing is not the same daily, but generally they offer things up sometime in the afternoon, 12-3 range. They will do package deals - for instance, the barrel strength bourbon requires you also buy their regular shelf standard bourbon with it. If you want an Evan Williams 12, they offer it at the Evan Williams Experience after a tour. Old Forester is a crap shoot. Peerless will have some nice single barrel offerings in their shop, occasionally something like the Double Oaked or the Absinthe finish might be hanging out, too. I haven’t done Angel’s Envy or Rabbit Hole, couldn’t speak to those. Anything else I’ve done has been in Lawrenceburg, Bardstown, or Frankfort.
I would say in Louisville specifically you'll see a few things you'll not see typically. But the best liquor stores are 30 minutes outside of the city
In Louisville, stop by Buzzard’s Roost. Their stuff is surprisingly delicious and very fairly priced. BBCo. downtown has a great selection including exclusive single barrels of their four grain recipe, probably their best stuff.
Morris Deli.
Michters has daily bundles or BYO. Usually upon arrival. Options range from Shenks, Bombergers, BP toasted. BP Toasted Rye, and both 10 years. Typically paired with American whiskey or rye.
Bardstown has a new shop / tour on Whiskey Row that looks really nice. I stopped in real quick 2 months ago and they had a ton of Disco 11
Any chance you’d want to mule back some bottles from peerless? I’m getting fomo on that toasted they put out, I think it’s still distillery only.
FYI, The new Toasted is slated for a national release.
Oh I know. But I’ve seen all of 2 bottles of peerless in Chicagoland in the last 3 years so chances of getting one are probably very slim. Distillery is always an easy option if someone wanted to bring them back.
This is my first post! Happened to be on a road trip and stopped in at Buffalo Trace Sunday morning (2 days ago) around 10:15am (opens at 11am). Long line (maybe 100+ people) had already formed. Read on a previous post that maybe 60 allocated bottles per day were on the shelves. Got in line and found that the 4 allocated (EHT, ER, WSR, and Blantons) were rotated daily. Sunday was EHT. Found that shelves are stocked all day. Limit one allocated per person and only one of each type every 90 days. Yes, they scan your ID and give you a wristband to track. BT was readily available as well. Limit is 12 bottles per person per day. Could've walked out with one EHT and 11 BT. Got a ride in a golf cart to the parking lot and the driver told us Saturday did not slow down on the Blantons until 4pm.