Nashville Barrel Co opens Louisville site
The Louisville Rickhouse Whiskey Company marks the third brick-and-mortar location for Nashville Barrel Company and its expansion into Kentucky.
The site, situated in Louisville’s NuLu district, will offer a range of whiskey experiences, from guided tastings barrel-side and flights to bottle purchases, a private barrel programme, and private events.
It had its grand opening at NuLu’s Summerfest and is now open seven days a week.
Mike Hinds, co-founder of Nashville Barrel Company and Louisville Rickhouse Whiskey Co, said: “Louisville has always been the beating heart of American whiskey, and opening our doors during NuLu Summerfest felt like the perfect way to introduce ourselves to this community.
“Louisville Rickhouse Whiskey Co is more than an extension of what we’ve built in Nashville – it’s an opportunity to distil, age, and share whiskey in a city that’s been doing it right for centuries. We can’t wait for people to pull up a seat at the bar and experience what we’ve been working on.”
Louisville Rickhouse Whiskey Co features a small on-site still and also acts as a working bonded rickhouse, which Hind said has over 100-200 barrels on-site. The venue will create seven to 10 jobs.
“The buildout and equipment phase one with the building itself was a little over US$3 million,” he said of the cost of the project, noting the team plans on adding to it, which may be another US$1m.
Some of the curated tastings for guests include an experimental deep dive, a rare and allocated tasting, and a whiskey and chocolate pairing. The full tasting bar, meanwhile, will offer flights of Bourbon, rye and American whiskey; from barrel-strength pours to hand-selected single barrels and rotating picks.
Louisville Rickhouse Whiskey Co is located at 717 E Market Street.
Nashville Barrel Co was founded in 2018 by Hinds, James Davenport, and Casey Kostrzebski.
The company distributes to more than 30 US states, and its third brick-and-mortar location and move to Kentucky is said to represent the next chapter of its story and continued growth.
Vice-president of brands, Kelly O’Shea, added: “Louisville has such an incredible whiskey heritage, and we’re honoured to become part of that community while bringing the hospitality, education, and memorable experiences guests have come to expect from Nashville Barrel Company.”
In other Kentucky news, the state’s Bourbon Trail added four new destinations earlier in July, including two in Louisville.
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