Latest news with #BourbonTrail
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New whiskey tasting room coming to NuLu in 2025. Here's where to find it
A new whiskey tasting room will open later this year in NuLu. The WhistlePig PiggyBank is expected to open in late August at 403 E. Market St., which marks the Vermont-based whiskey maker WhistlePig's first Kentucky location. The whiskey maker plans to offer by-appointment-only tasting experiences with different tiers of tastings as well as custom cocktails and retail merchandise. "We're super excited to come down and be a part of the (Kentucky) Bourbon Trail," Meghan Ireland, chief blender at WhistlePig, told The Courier Journal. "We've launched our first bourbon in 2022 ... and its price category right now really has allowed us to reach a whole new set of consumers." WhistlePig, which was founded in 2007 at an old 1800s farmstead in Vermont, started as a rye whiskey company. "We like to call it, bringing rye whiskey back to the U.S., but have since really started to grow into other branches of whiskey, including single malt and bourbon, which is part of the reason we're coming down here to the heart of American whiskey," Ireland said. More: Here are 23 food, drink, music and art festivals you can attend this summer in Louisville While the space is currently a construction zone, WhistlePig is ready to bring its vision to life. Upon entering the space, which was once a bank and has been repurposed into a tasting room, visitors will see a host stand and a set of stairs leading up to the mezzanine level private tasting room. On the other side of the space, guests will be greeted by a grand bar where they can sip cocktails. Additionally, the space will feature an outdoor patio for guests to lounge that boasts a "fire pit vibe." There will also be an area where people can buy bottles and wearable merchandise as well as take advantage of photo opportunities. The space will lean deeply into the bank theme throughout. WhistlePig will use the old bank vault to display its "vault" of products including, "super-archived offerings, really rare whiskeys," Lexi Kuerschner, marketing lead for WhistlePig said. More: When is National Bourbon Week? Here are 5 things to know and do to celebrate this year "We got super excited around the idea of the vault, that is something we have been calling our high end and collectible whiskeys for the past two or three years," Ireland said. "We saw this bank come up (for sale) with the vault, and we were like, that's spot on." In addition to the vault, the bank theme will be noticeable at the bar where guests can watch the bartender create a "bank shot," which is a drink that will travel through a bank deposit tube to the guest at the bar. "There's really going to be something for everyone," said Kuerschner. "It's really going to be a unique spirit experience in the sense that you'll be able to taste our entire portfolio in one place, which you cannot get anywhere else." Contact business reporter Olivia Evans at oevans@ or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter at @oliviamevans_. This story was updated to add a gallery. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: WhistlePig to open new whiskey tasting room in NuLu in 2025
USA Today
07-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Kentucky Bourbon Trail adds 15 new locations. Meet the newest distillery members
Kentucky Bourbon Trail adds 15 new locations. Meet the newest distillery members Show Caption Hide Caption Kentucky bourbon industry by the numbers Bourbon production and consumption bring billions into Kentucky's economy. Here are the numbers showing its impact. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail has added 15 new stops to its lineup, bringing the total to 60 destinations across the state. The trail, which sees over 2.5 million annual visitors, aims to offer a comprehensive bourbon experience. New additions include distilleries, tasting rooms, and attractions spread across various Kentucky regions. There are more than a dozen new places where you can sip Kentucky's favorite spirit along the famed Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The trail has added 15 new locations to its route, bringing the total to 60 destinations in 27 of Kentucky's 120 counties. 'As bourbon tourism continues to thrive, our members are creating more opportunities for the world to experience the heart and soul of America's spirit in a variety of ways that meet every visitor's interests,' Colleen Thomas, Kentucky Distillers' Association vice president of operations, said in a news release. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail sees more than 2.5 million visitors annually and more than 80% of all trail visitors come from outside Kentucky, according to the Kentucky Distillers' Association. 'What began as a small group of distilleries (in 1999) now has grown into an ever-expanding bucket list destination with global appeal,' Thomas said. 'Each new addition is more than a stop on a map ― it's a celebration of Kentucky Bourbon's rich history and proud heritage." Bourbon is a $9 billion industry for Kentucky, generating more than 23,100 jobs with $2.2 billion in salaries and benefits, according to the Kentucky Distillers' Association. And even as alcoholic beverages see a slowdown in sales, KDA President Eric Gregory said he does not believe bourbon tourism will be impacted by headwinds like shifts in consumer trends, snowballing taxes, and the threat of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. These 15 new stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail have been added during a pivotal moment for the whiskey industry as a whole. Last week, President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico, which were later suspended for 30 days. The tariffs spurred concern across the nation over potential job loss and the impacts to certain industries such as Kentucky bourbon. This comes on the heels of Louisville-based Brown Forman, which is home to major bourbon brands Old Forester and Woodford Reserve, announcing plans to cut 12% of its workforce. Meanwhile, the American whiskey industry is bracing for a 50% retaliatory tariff from the European Union to resume March 31. While the bourbon industry as whole seems to be facing dynamic political hurdles on the international stage, Kentucky leaders continue to be optimistic about its ability to fuel tourism in the commonwealth. More: How Trump imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico could impact the Kentucky bourbon industry 'Kentucky is the one, true and authentic home for bourbon,' Gregory said in the release. 'While we keep breaking attendance records, there are plenty of people around the world who have never made the pilgrimage to the Birthplace of Bourbon — and many more who are planning to return. Now with 60 different destinations ... there is more for fans to see and taste on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour than ever before." Here are the newest members of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, by geographic location: Bardstown Central Lexington Louisville Northern Western Find more details about the trail at Business reporter Olivia Evans contributed to this report. Reach Courier Journal features columnist Maggie Menderski at mmenderski@
