The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience: An Inside Look (Photo Essay)

Bourbon

June 4, 2013

There’s something historic going on downtown Louisville. Shimmering Vendome-made post stills are being set up at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Louisville’s first stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and the city’s first Main Street distiller in a long, long time.

I wrote a silly story about this amazing Bourbon Experience last month. But, I dropped the sarcasm and took my Nikon to go watch these historic stills be set up and learn what hid behind those walls for the past 50 years.

CONSTRUCTION: Former Historic Heaven Hill building at 528 West Main Street — From Blueprints to Inside Yesterday’s Walls to the Still

The Sign.
The Sign.

 

The plans.
The plans.

 

Where yesterday's brick meets todays
Where yesterday’s brick meets todays
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Work bench and soda.
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Bird’s eye view of the future tasting room.
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Color coordinated construction

 

 

 

 

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The original boards in the old Heaven Hill building.
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Whiskey from 1949.
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TW Samuels Distillery was purchased by Heaven Hill in the 1940s from Bill Samuels Sr., the founder of Maker’s Mark. The rights to the label was purchased in 1991.
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Who at the old Heaven Hill was drinking Budweiser?
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Finally, a loyal Heaven Hill employee from the 1940s.
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Roamer whiskey.
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Christmas gifts. Proof employees shopped at work.

 

 

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Still wrapped in whiskey Christmas paper from Vendome.
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The first peek under the plastic. Sure is pretty.
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Whiskey.
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People’s pants.

 

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