Breweries, Wineries, & Distilleries in Bowling Green, KY
In addition to its bourbon heritage and college town vibes, Bowling Green, KY is proud to have a thriving local craft beverage scene. Whether you’re a spirits fan, wine lover, or any combination of the three, this city has plenty of opportunities to imbibe. Get to know Bowling Green’s breweries, wineries, and distilleries—where they are, what they serve, and why they’re well worth a visit.
Find the Right Local Tasting Experience
Breweries
Sip some suds while enjoying tasty snacks, trivia and bingo games, and the warmth of the Bowling Green community at these local breweries.
White Squirrel Brewery in the heart of downtown’s Shake Rag Historic District serves pale ales, nut brown ales, seasonal ales, stouts, and IPAs. Named Best Brewery in Kentucky in the 2023 Best of Kentucky awards, they regularly host food trucks and events like trivia, bingo, and live music.
Another top spot in the area is Blue Holler Brewery, which is the only craft brewery in Southern Kentucky to offer an on-site home brew store. In addition to enjoying Blue Holler’s 20+ housemade beers on tap, you can find everything you need to make beer at home, along with classes to up your homebrewing game.
Wineries
Yes, there are wineries in Bowling Green, Kentucky! This town’s wineries proudly use Kentucky-grown fruit to create their varietals.
Bluegrass Vineyard welcomes guests right on their grape-growing property, and they offer tastings and purchases of Chardonnay, Cabernet, and Riesling (among others) by the glass or bottle. At Reid’s Livery Winery, you’ll try wines made with indigenous Southern grapes and locally-grown fruits like peaches, apples, and strawberries. Plus, Reid's is an active livery in addition to being a winery, offering lessons in horsemanship or viewing the horses while they graze.
Distilleries
Kentucky is known for its bourbon but has many other spirits to savor, and the Bowling Green area offers a diverse selection.
Purple Toad Winery & Distillery in Bowling Green is foremost a winery but works with a sister distillery in Paducah, KY to make beautiful Kentucky bourbon, making for an ideal destination for when your group has different tastes to satisfy. With fruit spirits and wines made with local plants, everyone will be sure to find something to sip and enjoy.
In the neighboring town of Smiths Grove, Balance Distilling Company specializes in bourbon, gin, rum, and flavored moonshines while offering tastings and tours on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 5pm.
Plan a Brewery, Winery, or Distillery Visit in Bowling Green
To make the most of your brewery, winery, or distillery visits, follow this advice:
- Be sure to check venue hours before heading over, as special events and holidays can alter availability.
- Visit each location’s website to get the latest news on seasonal happenings, live music, and special pours or limited releases.
- If you’re traveling with a larger group, consider using the Elite Transport Group or another local car service to help you get safely between stops.
- Combine your beer, wine, and spirits tour with a hearty meal by exploring Bowling Green’s food scene.
- Finish the night by catching a live show at one of Bowling Green’s music and entertainment venues.
When you're exploring the beverage scene in Downtown Bowling Green or even venturing beyond the city, you'll discover that this region of Kentucky is home to top-quality breweries, distilleries, and wineries. Start planning your Bowling Green area beverage crawl today!