Uncle Boojie’s Distilling Co. has been named one of the newest destinations on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Experience. The Louisville-based distillery joins three other attractions in the latest expansion of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association’s tourism program. The addition brings the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Experience to a record 74 participating distillery experiences across the Commonwealth.
Uncle Boojie’s is located in Louisville’s Paristown district. It was founded by entrepreneur Steve Smith and built around seven generations of Scotch-Irish Howard family distilling heritage. The distillery is named for Smith’s great-uncle. It brings a 200-year-old Howard family bourbon recipe to the public for the first time.
“We never set out to simply build another bourbon brand,” said Steve Smith, founder of Uncle Boojie’s Distilling Co. “We set out to build a hospitality company where bourbon is part of a much larger story. Our spirits are characters in that story, but Porchlight Hospitality is what truly defines us. We want every guest who walks through our doors to feel like they’ve come home. Becoming part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail allows us to share that experience with visitors from around the world.”
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READ THE STORYGuests are welcomed to Uncle Boojie’s Homeplace, a restored 4,500-square-foot bonded warehouse. The space features reclaimed oak floors, a creekstone fireplace, a full tasting bar, and rows of aging barrels.
Visitors are guided by the distillery’s “Barrel Folks,” all Stave & Thief Certified Bourbon Stewards. Experiences include barrel thieving, single-barrel tastings, and the chance to hand bottle and label their own bourbon.
The Howard family settled in central Kentucky in the late 1700s, becoming known for producing untaxed corn whiskey throughout Nelson County.
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The family’s distilling operation ended on February 28, 1930, when federal revenuers raided the Howardstown site. Descendants still refer to the event as “The Great Pour Out.”
The distillery’s cocktail program features signature drinks such as High Falutin, Hold Your Horses, and All Gussied Up in the Big City.
Uncle Boojie’s opened in 2025. It joins 74 participating experiences on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail that collectively attract visitors from around the globe each year.
