As the American whiskey revival swept the nation this century, hotels increasingly played their part in keeping enthusiasts happy, amassing extensive bourbon collections, creating whiskey programs for guests, and even launching their own distilleries.
Whether you’re engaging in whiskey-specific travel or hoping to infuse some bourbon into a trip that isn’t built around it, the hotels on this list–from Louisville’s Whiskey Row to a mega-resort in Las Vegas–provide the kind of immersive whiskey experience that can take a vacation from fine to outstanding.
Because for some whiskey lovers (like us), the journey never ends, especially when we're traveling.
Hotel Distil Louisville, KY
This recent addition to Louisville’s increasingly famed Whiskey Row opened in 2019 on the site of the former barrel house for J.T.S. Brown and Sons. It not only puts guests within spitting distance of several distilleries, to which its name alludes, but focuses on whiskey in house, as well, including with rare bourbon pours available at its bar and restaurants, plus a daily celebration of 1933’s Repeal Day, when Prohibition ended.
The Stanley Estes Park, CO
Yes, this is the hotel that inspired Stephen King’s The Shining, but it’s boasting different kinds of spirits these days. The Whiskey Bar here claims to feature the largest selection of whiskey in Colorado and offers private, specially curated tastings from its vault to sippers at all stages of knowledge.
The Cavalier Hotel Virginia Beach, VA
This nearly century-old resort more recently opened the Tarnished Truth Distillery within the walls of the hotel itself. It’s connected to the Hunt Room, where guests can make a night of sipping the distillery’s bourbon and rye or participate in cocktail classes that use a house-crafted spirit as the base for each recipe. Distillery tours are also available.
Hotel Covington Covington, KY
As a base for exploring the growing number of bourbon distilleries in northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, including New Riff and Northside Distilling, there’s no better spot. Guests can book the Bourbon Flight experience to sample the hotel’s select private barrels, all locally sourced, or head to the bar to order a classic whiskey cocktail using the bourbon of their choice.
The Wynn Las Vegas
Take every other hotel’s whiskey program, put it on steroids, and you’ve got the experiences available at the Wynn Las Vegas. Among the astounding 34 drinking establishments within the resort–almost all of which feature a signature old fashioned–you’ll find exclusive single barrel pours from over a dozen distilleries, among other rare bottles. Check out Whiskey Advocate’s recent rundown of the property’s whiskey offerings for all the exhaustive detail.
The Cantilever Hotel Ranier, MN
Named after the adjacent Cantilever Bridge, which served as a key transport point for booze between the US and Canada during Prohibition, this Minnesota hotel at the country’s northern border today is connected to a distillery of the same name, which produces bourbon, rye, and vodka from locally sourced grains. Tours and tastings are available to guests, and in the hotel’s Cocktail Room, bartenders craft a full menu of cocktails using the house spirits.
Brush Creek Ranch Saratoga, WY
This 30,000-acre working ranch and resort includes its own distillery, which produces whiskey, vodka, and gin. In addition to touring the facility, guests can sample spirits straight from the barrels at various stages of the aging process. Meanwhile, at the resort’s Spirit Vault, bartenders pour selections from a 100-bottle strong collection of rare and significant whiskeys.
21C Museum Hotel Lexington, KY
Any of the 21C outposts in Lexington, Louisville, or Cincinnati make a great base for exploring bourbon country, but we’re particularly smitten with the Lexington hotel, located in a grand former downtown bank building. Here, bourbon is always front of mind–the hotel is an official sponsor of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, after all. The biggest bourbon bonus: You’ll find Pinhook both in the hotel’s bar and restaurant, Lockbox and its retail shop.
Live! by Loews St. Louis, MO
As it’s situated directly across the street from the St. Louis Cardinals’ Busch Stadium, your thoughts may first drift toward beer at this three-year-old hotel. But don’t be fooled–its Whiskey Bar, in the back of the Clark & Bourbon restaurant, is aptly named, with almost 500 bottles of bourbon, rye, and other whiskeys on offer. Tastings and other whiskey-centric programs are regularly available.
