On Monday, June 16, Green River Distillery opened its first satellite tasting room and bottle shop in Louisville’s thriving Whiskey Row area of downtown. The historic distillery has its roots firmly planted in Owensboro, Ky., about 107 miles west of Louisville, and is the 10th oldest licensed distillery in Kentucky (DSP-KY-10).
Since the distillery is quite a distance from Louisville, where many tourists stay to take on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the company decided it would be a great opportunity to create a mini distillery experience along Whiskey Row to help spread the word of the brand that began in 1885.
Located at 714 W. Main St., the Green River tasting room is just steps away from its sister distillery, Bardstown Bourbon Company, and its equally impressive tasting room (730 W. Main St.).
The 4,400-square-foot space offers a full bar experience with tastings and cocktails, a bottle shop featuring all the Green River expressions, a speakeasy, a fortune-telling machine, comfy couches where you can lounge, and even a stage for music or VIP events.
The ambiance is both inviting and comfortable, a place where you could catch up with a friend or delight in a bourbon tasting with co-workers.
“For 140 years, Green River Distilling Co. has built a history of quality, approachability and resilience,” said Mark Erwin, CEO of Lofted Spirits (the parent company of both Green River and BBCo), in a news release. “The Whiskey Row experience will raise the spirits of enthusiasts and bourbon-newcomers while becoming a welcoming spot for locals to unwind.”
What’s it like?
I was able to attend a sneak peek event for local media before the tasting room opened, and I had a great time exploring the many things you can do. Of course the bar offers a full menu of eclectic cocktails as well as tasting experiences, but I recommend you make your way back to the speakeasy in a secret location. Called the Department of Spirit Preservation, the speakeasy is only accessible once you get the code from a payphone near the back of the room.
Once inside, there’s a whole different menu of cocktails, and you can also fill your own special Green River decanter with a rotating menu of barrel strength bourbon and whiskey recipes for $80.
Back in the main room, the fun fortune teller machine will give you various fortunes — some that include free merch and others that offer up drink recipes or historical facts about the distillery. And, of course, they have the Shoot the Shoe game where you try to get a special coin into the bottom of a Green River bottle, kind of like shuffleboard.
The Green River Tasting Room is definitely worth checking out if you’re in Louisville and don’t have time to visit Owensboro. With its whimsical charm and welcoming environment, it’s as close to Owensboro as you can get without the famous barbecue.
CaskX is a partner of Green River and offers barrels of various Green River expressions to clients throughout the year. If you’re interested in investing, click here.
Here are more images from the experience:
