The Frazier History Museum (829 W. Main St.) and the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) finalized its partnership to mutually develop a Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center & Exhibit that will be located at the Frazier along Louisville’s famed Whiskey Row.

The center will become the “Official Starting Point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Experiences” when it opens in August 2018, showcasing the iconic members of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail (KBT) and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour (KBTCT) featuring the state’s micro distilleries.

The interactive, state-of-the-art experience will include Kentucky Bourbon-related historical exhibits and educate visitors on why the Bluegrass has the perfect mix of water, climate, corn and natural conditions that make it the one, true, authentic home of America’s only native spirit.

A main feature will be a Kentucky Bourbon Trail concierge service located in the museum’s new entrance that will help thousands of visitors plan their trip to KBT and KBTCT distilleries, as well as navigating Louisville’s burgeoning bourbon culinary and nightlife scene.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said, “The popularity of bourbon is a big reason our economy’s experiencing such tremendous growth right now. This Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center will help us keep that momentum going by bringing even more people to Louisville and beyond.” There are 11 distillery experiences open, under construction, or in the planning stages in Louisville. There are 52 distilleries total in the Commonwealth.

Visitors made more than 1 million stops to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour distilleries in 2016.

Kentucky Bourbon is a thriving $8.5 billion economic engine that generates as many as 17,500 jobs with an annual payroll topping $800 million, and pours $825 million into tax coffers each year.