The Kentucky bourbon experience scene has another sparkling jewel in its crown: Uncle Boojie’s Homeplace in Paristown near downtown Louisville.
The Uncle Boojie’s Distilling Co. recently opened its bonded warehouse tour and tasting experience in a spectacularly renovated 4500 square-foot space with a beautiful bar, massive limestone fireplace, oak floors, and, of course, barrels of bourbon. At the grand opening, the folks at Uncle Boojie’s didn’t just cut a ribbon. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg pulled the bung out of a barrel and thieved whiskey straight from it. Just like you’ll get to do when you visit.
I recently toured Uncle Boojie’s Homeplace with its Proprietor, Steve Smith.
And yes, Uncle Boojie was a real person. Smith’s great uncle, Uncle Boojie was part of the seven generations of the Scotch-Irish Howard family that settled in Skeeter Holler in southern Nelson County, west of Lebanon, Kentucky in 1785. Howardstown is still there today.
A common skill that ran through generations of Howards all the way to Uncle Boojie: this was one moonshining family. And the tradition continues (legally) today. But the modern-day descendants let their whiskey age and actually develop some real flavor. There’s no rush when you’re actually paying your taxes.
Smith is quite knowledgable about the Howard family tree, the Kentucky “untaxed corn whiskey” scene in those early years, and the role government played in shaping life in poverty stricken Appalachia.
The party in Howardstown abruptly ended in 1930, when the federal “revenuers” raided the family whiskey making operation. Thousands of gallons of untaxed whiskey were dumped in what the family called “The Great Pour Out,” and the glory days came to an end. At least until now.
“Back in the heyday of the Roaring 20s, life in Howardstown was a whirlwind of excitement, opportunity, and just a little nip of trouble. Now you see, Uncle Boojie and his friends were in the business of making “untaxed” corn whiskey and had quite a few interesting customers from all over the country. Old Jesse Spalding ran the card games at the Seelbach Hotel up there in Louisville and shook a lot of hands in the big city so he would have a knack for knowin’ just when the feds were planning their raids on their manufacturing facilities. Jesse would keep the Howardstown boys informed by a party line installed at the Howard’s General Store, the only phone in town and thus for decades the Howardstown operation was always one step of the law!”
The Cocktail Crew
Everyone leading tours and tastings at Uncle Boojie’s (they’re called Barrel Folks) is a Stave & Thief Certified Bourbon Steward. The Cocktail Crew is on hand with a number of interestingly named (and delicious tasting) offerings like High Falutin, Hold Your Horses, and All Gussied Up in the Big City. On my two visits, I’ve sampled an amazing fresh blackberry cocktail called That Damn Dog (see recipe below) and a noteworthy High Cotton Old Fashioned. Come for the tour, stay for a cocktail!
“In our bourbon tasting warehouse, you’ll sample Kentucky bourbon whiskey straight from the barrel - raw, unfiltered, and bold. Each nip lets that Kentucky fire dance on your tongue. Find a bourbon barrel you love, and you have the option to bottle it yourself, label it, and take home a one-of-a-kind keepsake. While sippin’ we’ll share tales of our ancestors who brought the whiskey tradition to America, dodgin’ storms and revenuers. Most stories are true, but a few might grow taller with each nip.”
Don’t just sip — discover
Tours last about an hour and are usually limited to 10 people. Reservations are recommended, but walkups are welcome. (See details below for a special Whiskey Network discount on your visit.)
“At Uncle Boojie’s Homeplace, guests don’t just sip—they discover,” said Smith. “We pull barrels straight from the rick house, customers choose their favorite barrel, and walk away with a labeled bottle filled by their own hands. It’s personal. It’s powerful. It’s unlike anything else in Kentucky.”
The Howard family whisky recipe is still used today, more than 200 years after it was first distilled in Skeeter Holler.
“This is bourbon the way it was meant to be: bold, raw, and honest. Come taste single-barrel pours, explore heirloom mash bills, and connect with a two-century-old legacy—one barrel at a time,” Smith said.
Later this month, the Skeeter Holler Barbecue joint will open in the Village Market Food Hall at Paristown, giving you one more flavorful reason to come for a visit.
You can also rent Uncle Boojie’s Homeplace for special events outside of normal operating hours. It can accommodate up to 72 guests for a seated dinner or up to 150 guests for a cocktail-style reception.
After we finished our conversation ended, I watched Smith approach the tour group that was about to begin thieving whiskey straight from the barrels. He noticed the visitors had been admiring the Kentucky long rifle hanging on the wall that belonged to one of his ancestors. So he took it off the wall and let them feel the heft of an authentic frontier firearm.
Just one more example of the hands-on experience you can expect when you visit Uncle Boojie’s Homeplace.
When You Go to Uncle Boojie’s Distilling Co.
Here is also the link to book tours at Uncle Boojie’s Distilling Co. Use the code “Whiskeynetwork” and when you book one tour for $35, you’ll get a second tour for half price.
https://www.uncleboojies.com/experiences/
Uncle Boojie’s Distilling Co.
700 Vine St., Louisville, KY 40204
Hours:
Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Paristown
Uncle Boojie’s Distilling Co. is in Paristown, just a few blocks from downtown Louisville. The website for Paristown describes it this way: “Established in 1854 along Beargrass Creek, Paristown is a mixed-use community of workplaces, residences, and local businesses with both a fascinating past and bright future.”
In addition to Uncle Boojie’s Distilling Company, Paristown includes:
Stoneware & Co. pottery factory, where you can tour and paint your own pottery.
The Cafe, featuring “comforting, home-cooked, and Southern-accented” food.
Clay Venue, where you can hold your next big event.
The Village Market Food Hall, Louisville first collective food hall with five restaurant concepts, Jeff’s Donuts, and a full bar; Paristown’s Art District, which “hosts outdoor concerts, festivals, fitness classes, art fairs and holiday celebrations year-round.”
Fleur de Flea Vintage Market, a permanent 35,000 square-foot indoor warehouse with more than 150 vendors selling “vintage, vinyl, antiques, mid-century, art deco, plants, books, repurposed and more.”
Old Forester’s Paristown Hall, “a standing-room, general admission venue for national touring bands, collaborative projects, local and regional artists, new works and nontraditional performance experiences.”
Christy’s Garden, “an urban garden connected to Paristown Hall, fit for outdoor community and neighborhood events, festivals, movie nights, and more.”
About Uncle Boojie's
(From the distillery) Uncle Boojie’s® is a Kentucky bourbon brand built on five generations of family tradition, guided by a vision to preserve authenticity and flavor above all else. Born from the legacy of our founder Steve Smith family and inspired by the original “Uncle Boojie,” a master of untaxed whiskey during Prohibition in Howardstown, Kentucky, our whiskey is made from a proprietary family mash recipe passed down for over 200 years. Every barrel is distilled, aged, and bottled in Kentucky—never blended, never rushed, and always aged to perfection, not a calendar. With a signature “Boojie sugar-and-spice finish” and a minimum of five years of aging, each single barrel is a testament to craftsmanship, patience, and pride. Today, Uncle Boojie’s continues to honor its roots through bold, flavor-first innovation, ensuring every pour carries forward the spirit of Kentucky’s true whiskey-making heritage.
