Water Tastings

In Kentucky, bourbon tastings are a signature experience. Instead of sniffing and sipping bourbon, Louisville Water offers a tasting experience of its own – one that invites guests to slow down and think differently about something they enjoy every day: their drinking water.

First, a shift in perspective

A water tasting isn’t about ranking your favorite glass or proving you have a refined palate. It’s about learning how water gets its taste – and why it can vary from source to source. Guests are encouraged to pay attention to how water looks, smells, and tastes, just like they would with bourbon or wine.

What the tasting looks like

Much like a bourbon flight, a Louisville Water tasting typically includes four different waters. Guests sample a mix of bottled and tap waters, poured side by side for easy comparison.

Before tasting, the guide explains an important rule: the goal is not to decide which water is “best.” Instead, the focus is on understanding why different waters taste the way they do.

That lesson quickly turns to science and chemistry. Water picks up characteristics from the environment it travels through. Limestone can contribute a subtle sweetness, while other rock types may add a more mineral‑forward profile. These differences are often measured using total dissolved solids (TDS), which reflect the minerals present in a given water source.

What you’ll take away

By the end of a Louisville Water tasting, guests often realize they’ve never paid this much attention to water before. That’s exactly the point.

Louisville Water hopes tastings encourage people to think differently about their tap water – and to appreciate the professionals, science, and innovation behind every drop.

Want to arrange a tasting?

Groups interested in scheduling a water tasting and tour of Louisville Water Tower can reach out to Kelley Dearing Smith at ksmith@LouisvilleWater.com.