Whisky Magazine – August 2019

Whiskey Issues Kentucky

32 Whisky Magazine | Issue 161

“In 2017, we began to consider

how to effectively tour, transport

and develop experiences around

the explosive growth in downtown

Louisville Bourbon tourism,” says

Mint Julep Experiences co-founder

Sean Higgins. “As the downtown

distilleries began to come online, our

Mint Julep Experiences visitors were

looking to stay longer and seeking

more things to do. We knew there was

some potential magic if we were able

to come up with the vehicle to create

a lasting memorable experience. We

discovered a sustainable (electric), safe

(Dept. of Transportation approved)

and responsible (we do all the driving)

approach. The bonus is that they are so

dang fun that we hope all those wishing

to see what downtown Louisville has

to offer find us and the experiences we

have created.”

“All of our curated adventures are

hosted by our Cruiser Captains who

will escort, educate and entertain our

travellers with local knowledge, history,

and lore,” explains Higgins. “We have

sightseeing stops, distillery stops,

cocktail stops, and shopping stops along

the several routes we travel. We have

partnered with several local distilleries,

restaurants, bars, and shops within

the urban Bourbon footprint in hopes

our guests experience Louisville in a

manner they never imagined.”

Sara Havens, a local journalist who

covers drinking culture, is one of the

‘Cruiser Captains’.

Opening pages:

Tuk-tuk tours around

Bourbon city.

These pages, from

left to right:

Outside the Brown

Forman buildings;

Visiting Michter's

new distillery; Views

from the tuk-tuk.

“Bourbon City Cruisers give you

a personalised tour of downtown

Louisville distilleries, cocktail bars

and city highlights from a guide who

is immersed in the history and culture

of the area,” says Havens. “They're

fun, laid-back and even include a

few cocktails or samples of Bourbon,

depending on which tour you choose.

It's the best two-and-a-half hours you'll

have on three wheels. So far I've only

been doing the Cocktail Cruises, so my

favourite stop on that one is definitely

Whiskey Row. Seeing their eyes light

up when I point out all the history,

although I'm guessing they're dazzled

instead by all the bars in the area, as

well as the Old Forester Distillery,

never gets old. It's a fun few blocks of

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