There’s another reason to visit Old Forester Distilling Co.: the bar. The downtown Louisville distillery is set to open George’s Bar to visitors this week.
Named for founder George Garvin Brown (who marketed the first bottled bourbon), the bar will be a part of the existing tour experience as well as a hotspot during special events.
Old Forester completed their Whiskey Row Distillery this June in the same building that housed the brand prior to Prohibition. Visitors to the 70,000 square foot distillery will see the entirety of the bourbon crafting process (including a 44-foot Vendome Copper still) as well as see the only working cooperage inside a distillery.
Now, tour guests, travelers, and locals will also have the chances to taste everything they see made. George’s cocktail menu will feature each of their bottlings in classic and contemporary cocktails. While their signature “Perfect Old Fashioned” will certainly be popular, they’ll also offer a Statesman Alexander, a 1920 Highball, and an 1870 Urban Jungle. Just here for the history? The monthly “mock tail” is crafted for those with a more theoretical interest in bourbon.
Old Forester and Brown-Forman have had a slew of new releases this year. In addition to their annual Birthday Bourbon, revived single barrel labels The King of Kentucky and President’s Choice have hit the shelves. They’ve also completed their Whiskey Row Series (previously the trio of 1870, 1897, and 1920 labels) with a double-barreled expression called 1910 Old Fine Whisky.
The bar will open to the public for the first time on Wednesday, Nov 7th, and following that will have hours from 10 A.M to 6 P.M. Tuesday through Saturday. During concerts, games, or events at the KFC Yum Center, the distillery will have extended hours and events for the downtown crowd. Click here to learn more.
