Green River Distilling Co. has begun construction on a new consumer experience that will bring “The Pride of Owensboro” to the streets of Downtown Louisville. Located at 714 W. Main Street, Green River’s Louisville tasting room is set to open mid 2025.

The communal space will feature a horseshoe-shaped tasting and cocktail bar, serving neat pours and straightforward cocktail classics. A retail and bottle shop will offer both everyday whiskies, and limited-edition distillery exclusives. 

Made for friendly, low-key fun, patrons can play “Shoot the Shoe,” a game of skill using the Green River bottle as a goal, or relax in the lounge, complete with an intimate performance stage with flexible seating for VIP experiences. Beyond the main room, a hidden entrance will lead to a speakeasy bar where the brand will host a refined cocktail program, educational experiences and private events.

Green River is owned by Bardstown Bourbon Company, whose tasting room and retail shop located on the same block opened in 2023. More than 100,000 guests have visited the space in the last year.

“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,” Mark Erwin, CEO of Bardstown Bourbon Co., said in a news release. “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.”

Throughout the tasting room, visitors will find Green River memorabilia and artifacts showcasing the brand’s storied history which began in 1885. Relics, photographs, historic blueprints and advertisements will be seamlessly incorporated throughout the 4,400 square foot space.

“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,” said Dan Callaway, VP New Product Development. “Our new tasting room on Whiskey Row will bring the spirit of the 10^th oldest distillery in Kentucky to the welcoming home of bourbon tourism, with fun, spirit and surprises like only Green River can.”

Joseph & Joseph Architects, an architecture, interior design and master planning firm specializing in distillery design and hospitality, designed the space. Earlier this month, Joseph & Joseph was honored by The Kentucky Society of The American Institute of Architects with the 2024 People’s Choice Award for the Bardstown Bourbon Company Louisville Experience.

Buzick Construction will serve as contractor for the project. Bardstown Bourbon Company has previously worked with both Joseph & Joseph and Buzick Construction on the Bardstown campus, including the most recent expansion which brought the organization’s distilling capacity to 18 million proof gallons annually.

Green River Distilling Co. was represented by Reed Weinberg and Jenny Johnston of PRG Commercial Property Advisors, who brokered the transaction.

Read more: Green River to Release New Full Proof Expression

About Green River Distilling Co.

Green River Distilling Co. is a celebration of classic Kentucky – honoring the past while staying firmly planted in the present. The 10th oldest licensed distillery in Kentucky (DSP-KY-10), Green River is known as “the Whiskey Without Regrets,” and enjoys a long, rich history dating back to 1885. Reintroduced in 2022, the distillery is proud to call Owensboro, Kentucky home, and serves as the westernmost outpost of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Authentic and approachable, the brand offers a growing portfolio of whiskeys crafted from historic mashbills. Blended to create a smooth and welcoming taste profile. Green River is part of Bardstown Bourbon Company. For more information, visit greenriverwhiskey.com.