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Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. is teaming up with the Louisville Bats to open a first-of-its-kind speakeasy for minor league baseball fans.
Now as local fans and visitors cheer on Louisville's Tripe A minor league baseball team, they're getting a unique taste of Kentucky's bourbon culture, too.
Beginning with the upcoming 2026 season, the ballpark is launching two new premiere club experiences in partnership with Frankfort-based Whiskey Thief Distilling Co., which operates a tasting room in Louisville's NuLu district, 10 Nanny Goat Strut.
A speakeasy-style bourbon lounge, known as the Whiskey Thief Backstop, will open behind home plate beneath the stadium. The new Whiskey Thief Stadium Club, which will be located behind home plate on the second level of Louisville Slugger Field, 401 E. Main St., will feature a bar, lounge with indoor seating, and a panoramic view of the ballpark and of downtown Louisville's eastern waterfront area.
Announced on March 3 at a news conference, both experiences are expected to open by opening day, held this year on March 27.
More bourbon news: Bulleit releases first-of-its-kind Mesquite Smoked bourbon. What to know
“Bringing together two teams known for creating authentic, experience-driven moments, it’s a distinctly Louisville collaboration built for fans who believe bourbon and baseball simply belong together," Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. CEO and Founder Walter Zausch said in a news release.
The Backstop, which puts spectators closer to the catcher than even the pitcher is, will replace the stadium's On-Deck Club. Both areas will serve premium products from Whiskey Thief, which is known in the Kentucky bourbon community for its single barrel production model.
“We’re proud to partner with Whiskey Thief Distilling Co., a strong Kentucky brand that aligns with our commitment to enhancing the fan experience at Louisville Slugger Field,” Louisville Bats president Greg Galiette said in a news release.
This new partnership builds on the Louisville Bat's 25-year legacy of creating great experiences in the Louisville community, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said at a news conference on March 3.
"We have two great partners that both have big visions for their own respective organizations and for our entire community," Greenberg said.
More bourbon news: Looking for a new bourbon? Here are 7 new releases to try this month
As part of the new partnership, Whiskey Thief will also be the presenting partner of the Louisville Mashers, one of the Bats’ most iconic alternate identities. The Mashers name refers to the first step in the bourbon-making process, the cooking and fermentation of grains called mash. The Bats will be playing as the Louisville Mashers three times during the 2026 season. During these games, fans will be invited to taste select products from Whiskey Thief on the concourse behind home plate.
Reach Courier Journal reporter Bailey Reed at [email protected]. Reach Maggie Menderski at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Slugger Field new bourbon lounge Whiskey Thief Distilling
Continue reading...
Now as local fans and visitors cheer on Louisville's Tripe A minor league baseball team, they're getting a unique taste of Kentucky's bourbon culture, too.
Beginning with the upcoming 2026 season, the ballpark is launching two new premiere club experiences in partnership with Frankfort-based Whiskey Thief Distilling Co., which operates a tasting room in Louisville's NuLu district, 10 Nanny Goat Strut.
A speakeasy-style bourbon lounge, known as the Whiskey Thief Backstop, will open behind home plate beneath the stadium. The new Whiskey Thief Stadium Club, which will be located behind home plate on the second level of Louisville Slugger Field, 401 E. Main St., will feature a bar, lounge with indoor seating, and a panoramic view of the ballpark and of downtown Louisville's eastern waterfront area.
Announced on March 3 at a news conference, both experiences are expected to open by opening day, held this year on March 27.
More bourbon news: Bulleit releases first-of-its-kind Mesquite Smoked bourbon. What to know
“Bringing together two teams known for creating authentic, experience-driven moments, it’s a distinctly Louisville collaboration built for fans who believe bourbon and baseball simply belong together," Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. CEO and Founder Walter Zausch said in a news release.
The Backstop, which puts spectators closer to the catcher than even the pitcher is, will replace the stadium's On-Deck Club. Both areas will serve premium products from Whiskey Thief, which is known in the Kentucky bourbon community for its single barrel production model.
“We’re proud to partner with Whiskey Thief Distilling Co., a strong Kentucky brand that aligns with our commitment to enhancing the fan experience at Louisville Slugger Field,” Louisville Bats president Greg Galiette said in a news release.
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This new partnership builds on the Louisville Bat's 25-year legacy of creating great experiences in the Louisville community, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said at a news conference on March 3.
"We have two great partners that both have big visions for their own respective organizations and for our entire community," Greenberg said.
More bourbon news: Looking for a new bourbon? Here are 7 new releases to try this month
As part of the new partnership, Whiskey Thief will also be the presenting partner of the Louisville Mashers, one of the Bats’ most iconic alternate identities. The Mashers name refers to the first step in the bourbon-making process, the cooking and fermentation of grains called mash. The Bats will be playing as the Louisville Mashers three times during the 2026 season. During these games, fans will be invited to taste select products from Whiskey Thief on the concourse behind home plate.
Reach Courier Journal reporter Bailey Reed at [email protected]. Reach Maggie Menderski at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Slugger Field new bourbon lounge Whiskey Thief Distilling
Continue reading...
