Kentucky Bourbon Trail - Day 4 Evans Williams and a Total Surprise

After another trip to White Castle for breakfast, Jayne and I had a short list of places in Louisville that would be open. We headed back downtown and went first to the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. We skipped the tour, which I was told later was a mistake, and headed straight to the third-floor bar. I figured I could get a tasting there, and I was right.

I tried a tasting with Elijah Craig, Rittenhouse, and Pikesville rye. I tried rye all weekend. These were not my favorites of the weekend but not bad at all.

Surprise, Jayne had a Kentucky Bloody.

After our stop at Evan Williams, we headed down the street to another place that happened to be open on Labor Day. I had not previously heard of Buzzard’s Roost, but it was open and close, so why not? There were a couple groups, but we found a nice spot at the bar, and I ordered the Ryefecta because, well, I love rye. Jayne had a very nice cocktail, the Tropic Like It’s Hot. Our bartender, Ryan, was awesome. She was even nice enough to give me a sample of their Single Barrel Rye. I loved it.

Jayne decided we should stay for another round because we were having fun and enjoyed the cocktails.

As I finished my rye, Jayne ordered the That’s My Jam, another drink she loved.

The Single Barrel was so good, I looked for it on the shelf in the giftshop with no luck. I asked Ryan where I could find it and she told me something like, “in the bottling room.” Surprised I would be allowed back there, she explained that in fact I would be able to bottle it myself, straight from the barrel. Ryan asked if I was interested. Let me get this right. I get to use a whiskey thief to bottle my own rye, on my birthday? HELL YES I WAS INTERESTED!

Ryan’s co-worker Scott took us to the bottling room and got me set up with some quick instruction. It took longer than expected. The whiskey thief, which is kinda heavy, was not collecting much rye with each dip because the barrel was getting low.

For strict bourbon lovers, there was a barrel of that which you can also bottle yourself.

The afternoon was drawing to a close, and since Jayne and I had a long drive home the next day – with now 17 bottles of various liquid patience to quench our liquid curiosity, we headed back to the very comfortable VRBO and ordered pizza for my birthday dinner. And we had a nightcap or two. 

We went to bed incredibly grateful for the weekend we had spent with great friends. Labor Day Weekend 2026 was a true blessing.

We will return to The Bourbon Trail, soon.

Who’s going with us?