We’ve only been in Louisville for two hours and already we’re sitting at a bourbon bar. Actually, we’re taking a lesson at the Frazier History Museum.
We’re learning how to make an Old Fashioned bourbon drink in one of the museum’s cocktail classes. Frazier Museum tour guide Madison has the ingredients neatly lined up and is sharing the history of the popular beverage.
Making an Old Fashioned at Frazier History Museum.
It’s appropriate that we’ve begun our Louisville visit at Frazier History Museum, Madison says. “The Frazier is the official starting point for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. There are 43 stops on the trail so it would take you some time to do it all.”
Part of the pleasure of a riverboat cruise is learning more about the wonderful world in which we live. My grandson Logan and I are taking a nine-day cruise from Louisville to Nashville aboard the beautiful American Countess.
As I always recommend, we’ve arrived in Louisville before our cruise starts. With the many difficulties airlines are experiencing, it is always wise to allow extra time to get to an embarkation port.
Logan and I are spending two nights at the Galt Hotel on the Louisville waterfront, then we will check into the historic Brown Hotel with other Countess passengers for the night before our cruise.
Galt House Hotel overlooks the Louisville riverfront.
That is one of the reasons an American Queen Voyages journey is so well organized and stress free. American has scheduled that first night in Louisville before boarding the American Countess so we have extra time to arrive. Plus, we can see some of the city, get a good night’s sleep and have a tasty breakfast at the Brown Hotel before boarding the American Countess to start our cruise.
Louisville is Kentucky’s Largest City
Founded in 1778 by George Rogers Clark, Louisville was named for King Louis XVI of France in appreciation for his assistance during the Revolutionary War. The advent of the steamboat in the early 1800s sparked booming industrial development and today Louisville is the largest city in Kentucky with a population of 621,764.
However, Madison puts that figure into a bigger context. “There are more bourbon barrels than people in Kentucky,” she says. “There are about 11 million bourbon barrels and about 4.6 million people.”
For our pre-cruise trip, Logan and I have an interesting itinerary. After checking into the Galt Hotel, we will visit the Frazier History Museum. Then we will enjoy a Belle of Louisville sunset cruise.
Ingredients for an Old Fashioned
Launched in 1914, the Belle of Louisville is the oldest Mississippi River-style steamboat in the world. A National Historic Landmark, the Belle will take us on a leisurely two-hour cruise up the Ohio River while a live band and singer entertain.
The next day, we will tour the Louisville Slugger Museum and the Muhammad Ali Center. All within easy walking distance of the Galt House. Louisville is definitely a walking city.
Checking into Galt House Hotel
And we are already pleased with our Galt House Hotel room. Although we arrived four hours before official hotel check-in time and thought we would just leave our luggage at the Galt, the receptionist said our room was already ready.
Our living room/kitchen at Galt House Hotel
Really it is two rooms. A large living room with kitchen area and fridge plus a sofa and two comfy chairs, coffee table, breakfast nook, coffee maker and big TV. The bedroom has two full-size beds, nightstand, chair, side table, dresser and large TV. Bathroom has a tub and shower.
Our bedroom at Galt House Hotel
Galt House has seven restaurants and lounges. For dinner, we went to Jockey Silks Bourbon Bar on the second floor of the West Tower at Galt House. One of the first bourbon bars in Louisville, Jockey Silks first opened its doors in 1972 and pours 100 different bourbons in an upscale lounge.
Jockey Silks Bourbon Bar in Galt House
We didn’t have any bourbon but did enjoy delicious fish and chips and double cheeseburger on a pretzel bun. Both came with french fries tossed in rosemary sea salt. Some of the best fries I’ve ever had.
Double cheeseburger at Jockey Silks Bourbon Bar
Long History of Galt House
The Galt House is a treasure chest of Louisville history. The first Galt House opened in March 1835 by Colonel Ariss Throckmorton and was named in honor of Dr. W.C. Galt whose home was once on the hotel site. If the name sounds familiar, Galt was mentioned in the journals of his artist friend John James Audubon.
In January 1865, the Galt House started burning and by the middle of the night was entirely in ruins. The origin of the fire has been a mystery ever since.
In November 1869, a new Galt House designed by architect Henry Whitestone was built a block away from the original hotel. The second Galt House closed in 1919 and the building was destroyed. By the early 1970s, Louisville’s waterfront had been all but abandoned when local developer Al J. Schneider had a vision for what the once booming waterfront could be again.
Schneider opened the Galt House Hotel with one tower in 1972 and his dream proved true. The East Tower was added in 1984. An enclosed walkway with the magnificent Third Floor Conservatory provides a pleasant path between the two towers.
Now part of the Trademark Collection by Wyndham family, the Galt House is a 25-story, 1,300-room hotel with wonderful riverfront views and a staff that welcomes guests with true Kentucky hospitality.
Frazier History Museum Showcases Bluegrass State
To learn more about Kentucky history, the Frazier History Museum is a short walk from the Galt House on Museum Row in the city’s downtown Bourbon District. Founded by Owsley Brown Frazier, the Frazier has three floors chock full of interesting exhibitions and memorabilia.
Bottle Room at Frazier History Museum showcases Kentucky bourbon.
On the third floor, the “Spirit of Kentucky” celebrates the history, craft and culture of bourbon. A hidden speakeasy invites visitors to sit a while with Al Capone for a photo opp. Hands-on interactives in “The Lewis and Clack Experience” follows the explorers as they depart from Louisville to stops across the continent.
The second floor features state highlights and unusual artifacts including 1,000-year-old fishhooks, Daniel Boone family Bible, Teddy Roosevelt’s Big Stick, Geronimo’s bow and George Washington’s rifle, plus one of the largest collections of historic miniatures on permanent public display in the world.
Photo op outside Frazier History Museum
The first floor has a Kentucky multimedia show in the Brown-Forman Theatre celebrating the state’s people, culture, history, music, sports and more. “Cool Kentucky” spotlights some of the state’s famous people – Abraham Lincoln, Loretta Lynn, Rosemary Clooney, George Clooney, Muhammad Ali, Billy Ray Cyrus, Johnny Depp, Dwight Yoakam, and many more.
The Louisville walkway along the river has expansive pedestrian paths.
Making an Old Fashioned
With more than 95 percent of the world’s supply of bourbon produced in the bluegrass state, it seemed appropriate to take the Frazier cocktail class and learn how to make an Old Fashioned.
“No one is really sure where the drink originated but one story says it was generated out of a local gentleman’s club here,” Madison says. That was in 1880 at a private social club called The Pendennis Club where bartender James E. Pepper was said to have created the concoction.
“Kentucky bourbon is so great because of the water and the bed of limestone … When you drink bourbon, you get what we call the Kentucky Hug. You savor the drink slowly and you feel it right here – like a nice warm hug,” Madison says, patting her heart.
If you’d like to try it at home, here is the Frazier History Museum recipe for an Old Fashioned.
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 dashes angostura bitters
- Orange peel
- Cocktail cherry
Muddle sugar and bitters with one teaspoon of water at bottom of a chilled rocks glass. Add bourbon and stir. Add large ice cubes and stir until chilled. Express the oils of orange peel over glass, then loop the peel over the glass. Garnish with cocktail cherry.
Bottom Line: Louisville offers a treasure trove of history, well worth arriving several days before a cruise to enjoy the city. Nothing to complain about. Weather was wonderful. Galt House was easy walk to city attractions. Our Galt House room was larger than expected and quite comfy. Food was delicious, People were friendly. Definitely would recommend adding some Louisville time before boarding an American Queen Voyages riverboat.
Photos by Logan Peters
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