Evan Williams Bourbon Experience

Opened in November 2013, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience is a multi-million dollar artisanal distillery, immersive tourism experience and retail location that celebrates the legacy of Evan Williams, Kentucky's first distiller and namesake of Heaven Hill's flagship Bourbon brand. Heaven Hill Distilleries-the largest family owned and operated distilled spirits company in the country, and producers of Evan Williams, the second largest selling Bourbon in the United States and the world-has renovated their historic building at 528 West Main Street, in the heart of what was once called "Whiskey Row" in Louisville. Evan Williams, who also served as an early Trustee of the City of Louisville, served as wharfmaster, and built the first county clerk's office and city jail, set up his early distillery in 1783 near what is now 6th and Main Streets in downtown Louisville-almost directly across Main Street from where Louisville's newest attraction is located. The highlight of The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience is a fully functioning, artisanal pot still distillery manned by Artisan Distiller Charlie Downs, viewable to visitors and capable of producing a range of American Whiskey types and styles. The gleaming copper pot stills crafted by Louisville's Vendome are a modern version of the same type of equipment Evan Williams himself set up in his distillery along the Ohio River over 200 years ago.