There’s nothing like thieving and tasting straight from a whiskey barrel and now those living in or visiting Louisville will have a new option for the experience.
Whiskey Thief Distilling Company, who has been distilling whiskey for more than a decade on their 127-acre working farm in Franklin County, will soon open a second location in the NuLu neighborhood of Louisville.
Straight From The Barrel
Whiskey Thief NuLu, located at 610 Nanny Goat Strut, will be the second Whiskey Thief facility where fans can taste a variety of bourbons and rye whiskeys straight-from-the-barrel and use a whiskey thief to fill their own bottle.
“You are the master of your glass when visiting Whiskey Thief Distilling Co.,” said owner & CEO Walter Zausch. “Our goal is to be the best single-barrel bourbon tasting experience. In the NuLu location, guests will partake in our signature straight-from-the-barrel, uncut and unfiltered tasting and thieving experience, sampling bourbons and rye whiskeys from our distillery in Frankfort.”
Following two years of ideation, Whiskey Thief NuLu will offer a straight-from-the-barrel, hands-on tasting and thieving experience from five barrels – typically four bourbons and one rye whiskey – that are always changing.
“Barrel Tenders” will lead guests through the tastings, which, as Zausch explains, are customized to each person.
“If a guest wants to know every nuance of the proof and mash bill, we will thoughtfully guide them,” said Zausch. “However, if someone wants to casually taste and hang out, they are welcome to do so. We have a great time helping people create lasting Kentucky bourbon memories.”
With a capacity of more than 200 people and a unique tasting experience that generates excitement, walk-ins will be welcomed in Louisville just as they are in Franklin County.
If guests want to take home their favorite bourbon tasted, they are invited to use a whiskey thief to fill a bottle straight from the barrel.
“Whiskey Thief’s spirits are not distributed and are only available on the farm and soon at the Louisville location,” said Zausch.
Additionally, a cocktail bar, indoor and outdoor seating areas with live music several days of the week, a private event space, and retail area will be available.
Customer-Focused Experiences
Zausch, whose background is in technology and architecture, brought his customer experience skills to Whiskey Thief when he became the owner and CEO of the Whiskey Thief brand four years ago.
A native of Henderson, KY and graduate of the University of Kentucky, Zausch worked for Apple and Microsoft before returning to his home state in 2013.
“While living in California and visiting Napa and Sonoma wine country, I witnessed first-hand the unique experiences created by some of the wineries,” said Zausch. “With memories of those visits, we created an experience that is authentic, hands-on, and individual. We believe that the single best way to engage with Kentucky Bourbon is straight from the source.”
The one-to-one customer interaction offered by the team in Franklin County will also be showcased in Louisville.
Whiskey Thief hand-picked and hired many of the former employees of Flying Axes, the previous tenant at 610 Nanny Goat Strut, including Shane Hockersmith, who will manage the NuLu location for Whiskey Thief.
“Because of the popularity of bourbon, it can be tough to reserve a tour at many distilleries around Kentucky without planning months in advance,” said Zausch. “People really appreciate the ability to walk onto our Franklin County farm without a booking. We will offer that same casual and relaxing experience in Louisville.”
More details, such as hours of operation, will be announced later this fall.
For more information, visit whiskeythief.com.
