The short version
- A craft distillery in NuLu — on-site distillation plus a government-bonded rickhouse at 717 E Market St
- Barrel-strength tastings — whiskey poured straight from the cask, uncut and unfiltered
- Pick your own single barrel — taste, choose, and leave with a bottle that's yours
- Walk-ins welcome — barrel flights when space allows; book ahead for tastings & single-barrel sessions
A working craft distillery on East Market Street
Most Louisville distilleries fall into two camps: the big production houses you tour from behind a rope, and the rural stops an hour out of town. Louisville Rickhouse is a different thing — a craft distillery and government-bonded rickhouse right in NuLu, where the barrels age on site and you taste straight from them. We distill on a small still in house, age and independently select single barrels, and pour them at cask strength a few feet from where they rest.
It's hands-on by design: no rope line, no scripted bus tour. Just barrel-strength whiskey, a single-barrel program you actually participate in, and a bottle to take home.
Distillery, rickhouse, or bottler — what's the difference?
A distillery makes the spirit. A rickhouse is the bonded warehouse where bourbon ages in barrels. An independent bottler hand-selects and bottles exceptional single barrels. Louisville Rickhouse is all three under one roof in NuLu — which is why you can watch, taste, and bottle in a single visit.
NuLu is the walkable distillery district
People picture the Kentucky Bourbon Trail as distilleries spread an hour apart. NuLu — Louisville's East Market District — is the opposite: a compact, urban cluster of distilleries you can taste between on foot. Louisville Rickhouse sits in the middle of it at 717 E Market Street, with Angel's Envy, Rabbit Hole, Whiskey Thief, and Heaven's Door all a short stroll away, and Whiskey Row a quick ride west. If you're looking for distilleries in Louisville you can actually walk between, this is the block.
Taste straight from the barrel
Curated side-by-side flights pulled straight from the cask — uncut, unfiltered, and poured in the rickhouse. The easiest way to start, and walk-ins are welcome when there's room. See the five experiences →
Pick your own single barrel
Taste through barrels, choose your favorite, and leave with a bottle that's uniquely yours. Pick a single barrel →
Take a bottle home
Shop independently selected bourbon and whiskey, or grab a bottle of the barrel you picked. Bourbon gifts →
Plan your visit
Where: 717 E Market Street, NuLu (East Market District), Louisville, KY 40202 — walkable from NuLu's restaurants and boutique hotels, a short ride from Whiskey Row. Hours: Wed–Thu 12–7, Fri–Sat 11–8, Sun 12–5. Walk-ins: barrel flights welcome when space allows; book tastings and single-barrel sessions online, especially on weekends and during Derby season. Age: 21+ to taste.
Common questions
Is Louisville Rickhouse a distillery?
Yes — a craft distillery and government-bonded rickhouse in NuLu. We distill on a small still on site, age and independently select single barrels, and pour barrel-strength whiskey straight from the cask at 717 E Market St.
Where is Louisville Rickhouse located?
717 E Market Street, in the heart of NuLu (the East Market District), Louisville, KY — a walkable bourbon cluster a few blocks from Whiskey Row.
What distilleries are in NuLu, Louisville?
NuLu is Louisville's most walkable distillery district. Within a few blocks: Louisville Rickhouse, Angel's Envy, Rabbit Hole, Whiskey Thief, and Heaven's Door's The Last Refuge. Louisville Rickhouse sits at the center at 717 E Market St, with walk-in flights and single-barrel picks. For a full plan, see our guide to the best distillery tours in Louisville.
Can you visit without a reservation?
Walk-in barrel flights are welcome when space allows. Tastings and the Single Barrel Experience are best booked online, especially on weekends and during Derby season.
What is the difference between a rickhouse and a distillery?
A distillery makes the spirit; a rickhouse is the bonded warehouse where bourbon ages in barrels. Louisville Rickhouse is both — a working craft distillery and aging house where you taste straight from barrels resting on site.
Can you buy bourbon to take home?
Yes — pick your own single barrel and leave with a bottle, or shop our independently selected bourbon and whiskey. Single-barrel sessions include a take-home bottle.