A Vermont based rye whiskey distillery setting up an outpost in Kentucky? Yeah, sure, when pigs fly. Well, apparently, pigs really do fly because WhistlePig Whiskey Distillery in Shoreham, Vermont, just opened up a beautiful immersive visitor experience in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Their new visitor center and tasting room is just minutes away from Angel’s Envy Distillery, Old Forester Distillery, Rabbit Hole Distillery, Copper and Kings American Brandy Company, and many more of the nearly 20 downtown Louisville distillery experiences.
‘The WhistlePig Vault’ Opens to the Public on Repeal Day 2025
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WhistlePig first announced it was opening a new outpost 880 miles from its Vermont home in Louisville in January 2025. Now, less than a year later, that pig dream has landed and they’ve opened The WhistlePig Vault at 403 E. Market St., Louisville.
WhistlePig has completely renovated this historic bank into a wonderful new stop along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. This 1911 Greek-revival limestone building began its life as a bank. The former bank with 24’ ceilings is home to what was once Kentucky’s largest bank vault. WhistlePig was able to keep and completely renovate the vault and make it the centerpiece of its new Kentucky home.
WhistlePig Vault Features a Dozen Years of ‘The Boss Hog’ Whiskey Collection
The Vault is looking to shake and stir up the traditional Bourbon Country experience. WhistlePig invites fans beyond the Vault door into a world-class destination featuring historic bank architecture, hidden design details, hands-on customization of collectible bottles, rare whiskey tastings inside the original bank Vault, and more.
WhistlePig’s new home offers a unique collection of Rye, Bourbon and Single Malt whiskeys with an experience that’s equal parts rare access, whole hog hospitality and irreverent spirit. Located between Whiskey Row and NuLu, The WhistlePig Vault is crashing Louisville’s Bourbon District. The Vault’s pre-prohibition location, combined with WhistlePig’s award-winning spirits, marks the perfect spot for collectors, curious travelers and the local community to access and experience the WhistlePig collection directly for the first time beyond WhistlePig’s Farm & Distillery in rural Vermont.
A WhistlePig Whiskey Kentucky Homecoming
The Vermont and Kentucky WhistlePig connection is rooted in a long-time relationship with one of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fames dearest members and former Maker’s Mark Master Distiller, the late Dave Pickerell.
“WhistlePig was founded 880 miles from the bourbon heartland, but the early seeds were planted here in Kentucky. The Vault pays homage to our founding Distiller, Dave Pickerell, who got his start in the Bluegrass State before going off the grid to start the Rye Revolution in Vermont,” said WhistlePig CEO Charles Gibb.
“Returning to Kentucky with The Vault is a full-circle moment for us. To truly push the boundaries of American whiskey making, WhistlePig had to build a place apart and craft new and unique whiskeys with zero generations of family tradition. We’ve made our own rules and are proud to share that with Bourbon Country friends and connoisseurs.”
If you take a look inside the vault, you’ll see a black felt hat hanging in the corner honoring Pickerell and his trademark black hat.
WhistlePig is banking on Louisville with a first-of-its-kind space that offers in-depth product customization, experiential drinks, and hands-on exploration. The Vault showcases the full brand portfolio with distinct experiences showcasing each of WhistlePig’s signature offerings:
- Marquee cocktail service in the Bank Lobby Bar, complete with “The Flying Pig,” a signature serve crafted with WhistlePig 10 Snout-to-Tail Bourbon and delivered in a pneumatic ATM tube that signals guests are stepping into a rule-breaking whiskey world.
- Private and shared hosted tastings in the Mezzanine Blending Room, tiered for whiskey explorers, connoisseurs and collectors seeking elevated, hands-on experiences. Visitors will be able to craft their own blend of WhistlePig Old World Rye – Aged 12 Years.
- The Whiskey Exchange retail experience, where visitors can dip, seal and stamp the hind of their WhistlePig 10 PiggyBank Rye Limited Edition bottles – a playful nod to WhistlePig’s irreverent craftsmanship.
- The restored 1911 bank Vault, once home to safety deposit boxes for precious metals, gems and documents, now transformed into a showcase of WhistlePig’s rarest and most collectible bottles, including a full collection of The Boss Hog.
WhistlePig Whiskey Distillery is located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm. Their whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey distillers and blenders driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of Rye whiskey. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimenting and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand for innovation. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process.
Related Stories
– Hard Hat Tour – Vermont’s ‘The WhistlePig Vault’ Nears Opening on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Aug 2025
– Vermont’s WhistlePig Whiskey to Open ‘PiggyBank’ Tasting Room and Visitor Experience in Kentucky, Jan 2025
Learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey Distillery.
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