Stitzel-Weller Distillery
4.8(1.1K)google
4.7(385)yelp
CraftGuided TourHistory
Overview
Stitzel-Weller Distillery is a sacred, historic cornerstone of the American whiskey industry, originally opening its doors on Derby Day in 1935. Located in Shively, this legendary distillery is revered by spirits historians as the birthplace of iconic wheated bourbon recipes that shaped modern palates. Visitors can take guided architectural and heritage tours through the beautiful brick rickhouses, view the active micro-distillery system, and relax in the elegant Garden & Gun Club lounge. It blends nostalgic, vintage Southern charm with elite contemporary whiskey craft.
Practical Info
Mon10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
TueClosed
Wed10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sun12:00 – 6:00 PM
Suggested Duration2-3 hours
Best TimeYear-round appeal for whiskey purists, but mid-October offers gorgeous changing leaves against the black wood facades. Established in 1935, booking a 10:00 AM morning tour is premier; morning light washes over the historic copper-stills and rows of weathered brick aging rickhouses perfectly as the sweet aroma of the Angels' Share fills the air.
Getting ThereSituated in the historic distilling suburb of Shively at 3860 Fitzgerald Rd. Driven travel via road trip is highly advised; take I-264 W to Exit 5 for Cane Run Rd South, turn left onto Ralph Ave, and head south on Fitzgerald Road directly into the brick gates. The expansive property features its own massive free paved parking lot.
Travel Tips
- Located in Shively, this historic site remains an active industrial storage facility with high forklift traffic; crossing white pedestrian safety lines is banned.
- Historic timber rickhouses contain concentrated ambient ethanol vapors ('Angel's Share'); all open flames, smoking, and e-cigarettes are legally barred.
- The premium Blending Class requires independent allocations and booking 1 month in advance; due to proprietary processes, professional audio recorders are banned.
Reviews
Positive
- The absolute cathedral of historic bourbon and the spiritual home of Pappy Van Winkle; this 1935 brick campus carries unmatched pilgrimage prestige.
- Walking through the legendary, aromatic black-stained aging rickhouses packed with stacked oak barrels provides immense visual and sensory awe.
- The tasting is highly sophisticated, set inside a luxury-designed salon where elite sommeliers break down high-end spirit tasting notes.
- The historic grounds are perfectly manicured, offering a highly orderly, secure facility located just a short convenient drive from downtown Louisville.
Heads up
- Due to global fame, standard and premium tour spaces are incredibly scarce; walk-in availability is virtually zero during travel seasons.
- Ticket pricing sits at the premium luxury end for distillery tours, and highly sought-after bottles and branded goods in the gift shop carry heavy markups.
- Because the site currently focuses mostly on barrel aging and heritage blending, visitors see less of the active heavy industrial distilling machinery.
- The experience completely lacks multilingual translation tools or international text audio booklets, relying entirely on fast spoken English.