Final Day in Louisville - Evan Williams Bourbon Experience

Throughout our stay in Louisville we had been meaning to make our way to a distillery.  As I am sure many of you know, Kentucky is home to bourbon.  Bourbon, which I came to find out, is nothing more than moonshine aged in charred oak barrels.  They story we were told involves a barn fire, a priest, and a slow trip down the Mississippi which all culminated in bourbon.  

I know there is Bourbon Alley or the Bourbon tour but we decided to stay in town and visit the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience.  We had a blast!  It wasn't busy.  In fact, we had a private tour with just Rebecca and myself.  Furthermore, our host, Vicky was a blast and did a phenomenal job.  We learned about the history of Evan Williams, a port master, among other professions.  We also learned one of the Jim Beam family members came over to Evan Williams after Prohibition to get them up and running again.  

There was a free tasting at the end of our tour which accompanied free bourbon balls.  I think it was around $12 or $14 for the tour.  It was an awesome place and I would definitely recommend it while in Louisville.  How it compares to the other distilleries and their tours, I can't compare.  

After the tour we stopped next door and had some Mexican and then walked around the downtown area for a bit.  Anyway, here are some photos!

(Evan Williams Bourbon Experience)

(Fun display they have set up as soon as you walk in the door)

('It's a fountain,' says Rebecca)

(Here I am and you can just see the tip of the bottle which continues to the 2nd floor)

(Since 1783 - Evan Williams Bourbon)

(Old Distilling Equipment.  The tour actually took us through time beginning in the 1700s and finishing in the modern era.  They did a great job and even used minutes from a meeting held hundreds of years ago.)

(The new toys)

(Someone even gets the job of testing the moonshine and bourbon - Where do I sign up?)

(Someone signs each of the toppers in the barrels)

(The barrels are actually placed in a large warehouse and the change in temperature from season to season is what causes the moonshine to move in and out of the charred wood, thus giving bourbon its color and flavor.)

(A long time ago, people used to mess up borbon, quite often.  When this happened you could take it to a rectifier and they would add some ingredients to try and make it taste better and then they would sell it.)

(Our tasting room)

(Hidden within each of the tables and countertops are these secret compartments filled with scent tubes, 2 types of bourbon, and water)

(Here is our fantastic host - Vicky - as she explains the 2 types of bourbon we will be trying.  You can just see her enthusiasm!)

(Each bottle is marked with date it was barreled on, the barrel number, as well as the date it was bottled on - phenomenal quality control)

(I was half tempted to steal one of these glasses because they were awesome, BUT I didn't and 'stealing is wrong')

(The 2 kinds of bourbon we tried)

(Memorabilia to add some ambiance to the room)

(Here are the ladies enjoying each other's company as well as a different view of the room)

(More goodies)

(During prohibition bourbon and liquor was sold as medicine)

(If you click on the picture you can read the purpose of this bottle)

(All different colors and sizes, each of course for different diseases and remedies)

(The 'Mad Men' room.  We were not able to taste test in this room but since there was nobody behind we were able to stop in and check it out.)

(An oak barrel splayed open)

(If you look close enough you can see the large bottle from the start of the tour reflected in the glass windows)

(Jim joined us after the tour as we tried a few more types of bourbon and bourbon related products, including BBQ sauce)

(Either Lewis or Clark and Rebecca)

(I can't quite recall this gentleman)

(Rebecca tried to take a sneak shot and this is what we ended up with)

(A sweet bench so we decided to take some fun photos)

(As we were snapping away a group of women walked by and kindly took our photos)

(Here is Rebecca modeling)

(A special government building, a courthouse perhaps)

(A sweet bell or sorts with angels)

(Another sweet building, maybe city hall)

(King Louis the 16th)

Day 4 - Big Four Bridge to Nowhere but Adventure

Our 4th day in Louisville turned out to be a bit of an adventure.  We heard about a waterfront park and bridge where you could 'walk to Indiana.'  So, off we went, first stopping at Barbara Lee's for some classic breakfast.  A spunky diner run by a family of Kentucky Wildcat fans.  After breakfast we made our way to the Big Four Bridge, a walking bridge that connects Louisville, Kentucky with Jeffersonville, Indiana.  It was chilly, to say the least and as we made our way to the bridge's opening we were asked if we wanted to be interviewed about a different bridge project.  We told the reporters we were not from the area and so politely declined, took a few jump photos, and made our way cross the bridge.  

Well, the other side, apparently is having some construction work done and so was not open quite yet.  There were thoughts and even discussions of hopping but we decided it against and instead planned on driving to Jeffersonville.  We took a few minutes to play on a playground, kind of figured that's why they were built.

We were in search of the Levee - a dive bar.  

Well, we didn't find the Levee at first, but we did find the South Indiana Visitor Center.  By this point it started to rain and so our helpful visitor center informationist gave us a few ideas - one of which was Schimpff's Candy store.  Seeing as how I'm from Hershey this decided like a good idea.  Sweet older couple gave us a mini-tour and we chatted with them for about half an hour.  There was a ton of great memorabilia and a lot of history, including a 5 cent candy machine.  

I forgot to mention, on the way to Schimpff's we passed the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile.  So, we turned around, got out, and took photos.  Another guy there told us he saw it from the highway and turned around so he could take photos with this iconic piece of American history.  Then we were off on an adventure, in search of coffee.  Passed Becca's Wash House.  Found a Dunkin' Doughnuts and played some crib.

Eventually we made it to the Levee and met Regina, our bartender for the evening.  We shot some pool and shot the shit with her.  Rebecca even did a shot with her.  She was quite the lady and commented on my appearance as soon as we approached the bar.  There was also a chalk wall so you could write anything you wanted and leave your mark.  Rebecca did.  It was our kind of place and had we had more time we probably would have stayed longer.  However, we were off to meet our next set of hosts and ran into Ernest at the Dizzy Whizz.  This is a story best saved for the next post, but here are some photos to enjoy!

 (Big Four Bridge to Nowhere)

 (A shot of downtown Louisville)

(Finally starting to get the jump shots down)

(And here's Rebecca with her big ups!)

 (A little spin the Merry-Go-Round)

(Fun couples shot)

(And then she snuck in a kiss and took a photo...)

 (Pole sliding)

(Who could that be coming down the slide?  Well it ain't me...)

 (This was an interesting wall on historic Frankfort Ave and just stood there, by itself, without any other walls)

 (Fun time photos)

 (I wonder what she was looking at because it sure wasn't me...)

 (South Indiana Visitor Center + Bridal Show sign)

 (Oscar Mayer)

(She was super pumped to see the Weinermobile)

(I, of course, had to do a jump shot with it.  There is a faint recollection I've seen it around Hershey a time or two.)

 (Pig outside Schimpff's)

 (Those are the rollers used to press the candy to make certain shapes - largest collection either in the world or North America and they aren't made anymore because everything is now on a much larger scale.)

 (Dipping some candy into chocolate)

(More rollers and the work space)

 (Antique table used to cool the candy before it goes to the press)

 (Shot of the press, as you can see it is not a very large scale operation)

(Each press has a corresponding piece)

(Lots of old time boxes)

 (5 cent candy machine)

 (You drop your nickle in the slot, pull the tab, and the drawer slides down)

(Here you can see the drawer sliding down which reveals the candy)

 (There was a ton, I mean a ton of candy goodies, a lot of it very old...)

(Old Hershey's vending machine)

(Chief Watta Pop I believe was this guy's name)

 (Becca's Wash House - Dial 28B-ECCA)

(Just kinda funny we stumbled across this place)

 (Rebecca leaving her mark)

 (Time for some pool and a few drinks)

(My turn to shoot, and I do believe I did much better this game...)

('TJ is a Weird' and 'Beer Will Change the World')