LOUISVILLE, Ky - The bourbon distillers have their famous tourism trail but there is another taste bud treasure map attracting visitors; this time, to metropolitan Louisville.

The “Urban Bourbon Trail” is designed for bars and restaurants. Instead of showing off aging barrels in old warehouses, this trail is meant to display skillful cocktail making and culinary delights infused with America’s native spirit.

"We have so much going on because it’s helping to expand the city..." said Shelby Higginbotham, beverage manager at 8UP on Fourth Street. "It’s all about camaraderie and bonding over our love for a similar spirit."

Higginbotham estimates 20-to-45 people come each busy summer day to buy food and drinks solely because they're following the trail. There are well over 40 restaurants taking part in the marketing ploy, but it wasn't always that way.

"Back in 2008, we were seeing a lot of visitors coming in to do the Kentucky Bourbon Trail," said Jordan Skora, Communications Manager for Louisville Tourism, "and they would stay in Louisville and make their way out to Bardstown, Frankfort, and then come back to Louisville, and, believe it or not, there was not a lot of bourbon experiences to do downtown."

So the tourism bureau brought a new trail to town. Like the distilleries’ path, its urban counterpart boosts visitors and, thus, revenue, dramatically, as patrons visit each stop and receive a literal stamp of approval.

"It’s been great for tourism, hospitality," said David Stodghill, manager at Doc Crows on West Main Street. "We’ll have people come in on a weekly and daily basis asking for the Urban Bourbon Trail. We feature a lot of those bourbons in our food."

Food is what really sets this trail apart. In addition to housing a required 50+ bourbon selection, to be considered a trail stop chefs must use the distinctive spirit to flavor multiple dishes. If not horses, bourbon is king in this state. Louisville intends to capitalize on that.