Green River lands on Louisville’s Whiskey Row

With a main campus in Owensboro, Kentucky, Green River will open a tasting room and bottle shop in the heart of downtown Louisville.

Louisville’s ‘iconic’ Whiskey Row, a stretch of downtown real estate that includes several Bourbon distilleries and visitor centres, is growing ever larger as Green River Distilling has announced a new consumer experience at 714 W. Main St. that will open mid 2025.

The new space will feature a horseshoe shaped tasting and cocktail bar, and a retail shop that will offer both everyday whiskeys and limited edition distillery exclusives.

Based in Owensboro, Kentucky, Green River was the 10th distillery to open in the state, with a history that dates back to 1885. It was purchased by Bardstown Bourbon Company in 2022, which already has a presence on Whiskey Row, with a tasting room that has seen more than 100,000 guests since it opened in October 2023.

“Through our brand homeplaces in Bardstown and Owensboro, and our tasting room in Louisville, visitors have come to expect first class experiences that engage, educate and delight,” CEO Mark Erwin said. “Green River Distilling Co. has a rich history and an even better revival story, and the Main Street experience will embody the brand’s timelessness and approachability.”

Guests to the new space will be able to enjoy low-key fun games, or relax in the lounge space that will feature a performance stage and flexible VIP seating. Beyond the main room, there is a hidden entrance to a speakeasy bar, where the brand will host cocktail programs, educational experiences, and private events.

The tasting room will likewise feature Green River memorabilia and artefacts that showcase the brand’s storied history. The 4,400-square-foot space will be decorated with relics, photographs, and historic blueprints and advertisements.

“Our Owensboro distillery is a special place steeped with the history and grit of a brand that has seen prohibition, natural disasters and changing palates,” vice-president of new product development Dan Callaway said. “Our new tasting room on Whiskey Row will bring the spirit of the 10th oldest distillery in Kentucky to the welcoming home of Bourbon tourism, with fun, spirit and surprises like only Green River can.”

The Louisville space was designed by Joseph & Joseph Architects with Buzick Construction serving as contractor for the project. Both entities worked with Bardstown Bourbon Company previously on its Bardstown campus, including a recent expansion that brought distilling capacity to 18 million proof gallons annually.