Old Forester Distillery Tour

My Experience Touring the Old Forester Distillery

The Old Forester distillery is located right off Main Street in the heart of Whiskey Row in Louisville, Kentucky. When you walk in you are greeted and asked to check-in. This review is based on the basic Old Forester distillery tour, which is given multiple times throughout the day for $18 per person.

Arrive On Time

Make sure you arrive on time, I recommend at least 10 minutes early. Trust me, I learned the hard way that Old Forester has a schedule and they stick to it! Your tour guide will call your tour group, you will then be asked to head down into a room that is lined with all the different series that Old Forester has released, including every birthday bourbon! It is pretty cool to see those bottles in person and the lighting on the bottles makes for the perfect photo.

The History of Old Forester

A short historical film will be played on the history of Old Forester. Once the film concludes, “magical doors” will open up to a beautiful fermentation room. In this room, you get the standard information regarding the Old Forester fermentation process. At this point start paying attention to the walls surrounding you, as all the walls on the tour are lined with different facts about the bourbon-making process and the distillery itself. Once you make your way out of this room you will be loaded into an elevator. Be sure you get a spot close to the window so you don’t miss the wonderful view of the multi-story still. 

Old Forester Cooperage

A short trip on the elevator brings you front and center to their in-house cooperage. If you are visiting Tuesday – Saturday, you will most likely see cooperage employees building whiskey barrels. A quick explanation of the process of barrel making and you are whisked off to the rickhouse. Make sure you look down when you get to the rickhouse so you can see where Old Forester private barrel selections take place. If you are like me, this will probably be the only time you get to see a barrel pick. As you make your way around the rickhouse pay attention to the names on the barrels, you might just see a barrel that’s been picked by someone you know or your favorite store!

Barrel Pick Wall of Fame

Right before you exit the rickhouse there is a wall with names of people who have picked the barrels from that facility, see if you can spot any you have had! Next up is the bottling station, which is crazy! It is one thing to see it when the operations are finished but it is another thing to see the mechanics of the bottling machine working at full capacity. Seriously, try to watch a bottle from start to finish, it is not easy. 

The Tour Guides

I have been on multiple tours at Old Forester distillery and have not had a bad tour guide. Each tour guide has been completely different in terms of personalities but all were very knowledgeable. Ask them questions, these guides know their stuff. 

The Tasting

Finally, it’s time for the part of the tour that most people have been waiting for, the tasting. Old Forester’s tasting room is beautifully crafted and makes for another great photo. Everyone is guided into the tasting room and is presented with three tasting glasses. People like to know what they will get to taste, however, Old Forester likes to change it up each day. Personally, I am a fan of this method because I get a new sample every time I do the tour. After you are fully educated on the proper technique for tasting bourbon, the tour concludes conveniently in the gift shop. Go ahead, buy yourself something pretty then go check out George’s Bar!

Tips

1. If you want to do one of the specialty tours, book a few months in advance. There are times when they are booked 4-5 months out! Plan ahead. 
2. Do. Not. Be. Late. Trust me, I have learned this one the hard way. When they say check-in 5 minutes early they mean it!
3. Plan a little extra time to check out George’s Bar. It is to the left of the gift shop and they make some really great drinks!