Louisville: Prohibition Ghosts & Cocktails Walking Tour

Summary

Ghost tales, speakeasy cocktails and Prohibition secrets in downtown Louisville

You’ll taste bourbon cocktails in hidden speakeasies, hear wild stories of Louisville’s Prohibition days, and walk through haunted streets with a local guide. Expect small bites at cozy pubs, tales of bootleggers and mobsters, and maybe even a chill down your spine as you look out over the city at night.

What’s the experience like?

Someone slides a heavy door open under Whiskey Row and suddenly we’re inside—dim lights, old jazz on the speakers, the air thick with that sharp tang of bourbon. Our guide, Jamie, hands me a glass that smells like caramel and smoke. “This was illegal once,” she grins. I try not to spill it as she starts in on stories about bootleggers hiding barrels in river tunnels right beneath our feet. There’s a weird thrill sipping a cocktail where people used to whisper passwords just to get inside.

We wander out onto Main Street, past the Old Forester Distillery—Jamie points at a window and says some folks still see shadows moving after midnight. The next stop is a pub next door; I can’t remember the name but the fried pickles were salty and perfect with another bourbon drink (mocktail for my friend, who got teased for it). Someone at the bar tells us about an axe-wielding woman who tried to smash up every bottle she found during Prohibition. I laugh but also check over my shoulder—just in case.

Later we duck into this bowling alley from the 1920s—wood floors creaking under our shoes—and sip something tart with gin while Jamie talks about Gatsby’s real-life inspiration living right here in Louisville. Al Capone apparently played cards upstairs once. I didn’t expect to care about old mobsters but it’s different when you’re sitting where they sat. Dessert comes with a view over the city lights; I’m tired but don’t really want it to end yet. There’s something about ghost stories mixed with bourbon that sticks with you longer than you’d think.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Prohibition history and cocktail tasting

• Begin tour with speakeasy cocktail
• Pass Old Forester Distillery, learn ghost stories
• Stop at pub for bites and bourbon cocktail
• Hear about bootlegger and mobster history
• Visit speakeasy and 1920s bowling alley
• Listen to ghost tales at historic jail
• Enjoy final drink and dessert with skyline view

Top questions

How long is the Louisville Prohibition ghosts & cocktails tour?

The walking tour lasts around 3 hours through downtown Louisville.

Are drinks and food included on this haunted cocktail tour?

Yes, Prohibition-era cocktails (or mocktails) and small bites are included at multiple stops.

Is this ghost & cocktail tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces on the tour are wheelchair accessible.

What age do you have to be for this Louisville cocktail tour?

This tour is strictly 21+ due to Kentucky law; infants are not allowed.

Does the tour run in bad weather?

Tours run rain or shine unless weather becomes dangerous or severe.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

Vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are available if notified 24 hours before the tour.

How much walking is involved on this food & cocktail tour?

The route covers roughly 1.5 miles through downtown Louisville.

What’s included

Your evening includes guided storytelling by a local expert, several handcrafted Prohibition-era cocktails (with mocktails if you prefer), delicious small bites at different stops along Whiskey Row and nearby pubs, plus plenty of history and ghost tales—all within easy walking distance downtown.