Prova Spirits Earns San Francisco World Spirits Competition Medals and Expands National Access Through Online Bottle Shop

LOUISVILLE, KY - Prova Spirits is pleased to announce its national recognition at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, alongside the launch of a national direct-to-consumer online bottle shop, designed to broaden access to its cocktail-driven portfolio. The Louisville nano distillery received three medals across key releases: Aperitivo Rosso earned a Silver medal, the company’s gin received a Gold medal with a 92-point score, and Amaro Castello was awarded Double Gold - an honor typically reserved for spirits that achieve the highest level of consensus among judges. For Prova Spirits, the announcement marks a milestone in a short but deliberate journey. The company was created in 2024 and opened to the public in August 2025 with a model that looks different from many distilleries in Kentucky. Rather than centering the business on aging warehouses and high-volume production, Prova operates as a hospitality-led nano distillery, pairing on-site distillation with a cocktail program that introduces guests to spirits in the context they were built for: the glass. That approach has resonated in Louisville, where bourbon anchors the region’s identity and where visitors often arrive with a familiar expectation of what a distillery experience will be. Prova has steadily built an alternative lane - one inspired by Italian aperitivo tradition and focused on vermouths, amari, liqueurs, and cocktail-forward spirits engineered for balance. The results from San Francisco offer external validation for that direction, recognizing products designed not as one-off novelties, but as dependable components for cocktail programs. The medals arrive as Prova Spirits expands distribution through its new national direct-to-consumer bottle shop on the company’s website. The launch is intended to improve availability for cocktail enthusiasts and hospitality professionals outside Kentucky who have followed the brand’s growth but lacked a straightforward way to purchase bottles. “Prova is still a small distillery, and that is by design,” says Giuseppe Paoulos, Founder of Prova Spirits. “Receiving recognition at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition is meaningful because it reflects the time, discipline, and care that go into building these spirits. The online bottle shop helps more people access what Prova makes, whether they first discovered the brand in Louisville or are meeting it for the first time.” With national shipping now integrated into the brand’s commercial path, Prova Spirits plans to continue developing spirits that support classic and contemporary cocktails while maintaining the hands-on standards of nano-scale production. The company’s hospitality-first foundation remains central: spirits are developed with real service in mind, and the cocktail bar experience continues to shape how products are refined and presented

Prova Spirits Launches Prova Select, a Cocktail-Driven Line of Cask-Strength Single Barrel Bourbon and Rye

Prova Spirits is thrilled to announce the launch of Prova Select a new line of aged spirits hand selected by the Louisville nano distillery to meet one standard first: performance in cocktails. The initial Prova Select releases will include two bottles, both cask-strength, single barrel expressions, featuring a bourbon and a rye whiskey chosen specifically for how they stand up in classic builds and modern bar programs.

Prova Spirits is known locally for a cocktail-first model that treats the bar as the primary stage for its spirits. Operating out of a compact 1,000-square-foot nano distillery in the heart of bourbon country, the company has built its identity around in-house production of cocktail ingredients and Italian-inspired spirits such as aperitivo, vermouth, amaro, and liqueurs. Limited square footage and an intentionally small footprint leave little room for extended on-site aging—yet the demand for thoughtfully selected aged whiskey within a cocktail program remains a constant in Louisville.

At its core, Prova Select was created to bridge that gap without compromising the brand’s original intent. Rather than evaluating barrels only for neat sipping, the Prova team approached selection through the lens of a working bar: proof, structure, aroma, and how those elements carry through dilution, ice, and familiar modifiers. The goal is to deliver barrels that remain expressive when stirred, bright when shaken, and resilient in recipes where whiskey has to do more than taste good on its own.

The launch also reflects the brand’s broader story shaped by hospitality and heritage. Founder Giuseppe Paoulos built Prova Spirits as a modern interpretation of Italian-inspired drinking culture, informed by family tradition and a belief that spirits are most meaningful when shared. In Louisville, where bourbon is part of the city’s daily language, Prova has sought to complement that legacy by introducing a different kind of distilling destination - one where cocktail craft and production sit side by side.

“Prova Select was built for bartenders and cocktail drinkers who want a whiskey that holds its shape in a real recipe,” says Giuseppe Paoulos, Founder of Prova Spirits. “Whiskey is often judged by how it tastes neat, and that matters, but these barrels were chosen because they keep their character in the cocktails people actually order - whether that’s a classic Manhattan, an Old Fashioned, or something new.”

Prova Select releases will be introduced through the company’s Louisville experience and broader retail availability supported by the company’s direct-to-consumer channel, enabling cocktail enthusiasts outside Kentucky to access the same barrels selected for Prova’s own menu. Additional Prova Select releases are expected to follow, guided by the same cocktail-first criteria.

Prova Spirits Introduces Handcrafted Small-Batch Rum Twice Distilled on a Pot Still in Louisville

Prova Spirits is pleased to announce the release of Prova Spirits Rum, a handcrafted small-batch rum produced at the company’s Louisville nano distillery and developed for cocktail-driven service. Distilled twice on Prova’s pot still and made from a blend of cane sugar and molasses, the new rum expands Prova’s growing portfolio of spirits designed to shine in mixed drinks, reflecting the brand’s hospitality-first approach in the heart of America’s bourbon country.
At its core, Prova Spirits Rum was created as a versatile foundation for classic and contemporary rum cocktails while maintaining a distinct, ingredient-forward character. The rum presents flavor notes described as sweetgrass, young coconut, banana, and caramel—an aromatic profile intended to be expressive in a daiquiri-style build, add dimension to highballs, and contribute depth to stirred and shaken cocktails alike. The company’s production team developed the rum with bar performance in mind, focusing on a balance that supports both clean mixing and recognizable flavor.

As a nano distillery, Prova Spirits operates at a smaller scale than many craft and microdistilleries, allowing for hands-on production and iterative development. That approach supports frequent refinement of spirits based on real-world cocktail use and guest feedback. Prova Spirits has built its identity around hospitality and cocktail execution, positioning the tasting room and cocktail bar experience as the primary way most guests encounter the brand. The release of Prova Spirits Rum continues that model by offering a spirit intended to be experienced first in the glass, not just on the shelf.

While Louisville and Kentucky are widely known for bourbon, Prova Spirits has focused on building a distinct lane centered on cocktail-forward spirits and modifiers that complement the region’s broader beverage culture. The company has emphasized spirits that integrate naturally into cocktail programs, supporting both bartenders and guests who value balance, intention, and ingredients crafted with the final serve in mind.

“Rum is a spirit with incredible range, and Prova’s goal was to create a small-batch rum that feels honest, mixable, and immediately useful behind the bar,” said Giuseppe Paoulos, Founder of Prova Spirits. “Twice distilling on a pot still gave us the structure we wanted, and the cane sugar and molasses blend helped shape a profile that reads as sweetgrass, young coconut, banana, and caramel—flavors that can carry a cocktail without taking it over.”

Prova Spirits will introduce Prova Spirits Rum through its on-site cocktail program, with serves and recipe development designed to highlight the rum’s flavor notes across multiple formats. The company expects the release to support ongoing outreach to hospitality professionals and cocktail audiences seeking a Louisville distillery experience built around cocktails, small-batch production, and spirits designed to perform in real-world service.

Prova Spirits Announces Bourbon Barrel Fernet Release, Pairing a Bartender Classic with a Louisville Finish

LOUISVILLE, KY — Prova Spirits is pleased to announce the release of its Bourbon Barrel Fernet, a limited spirit developed at the company’s Louisville nano distillery as a cocktail-first tribute to one of the industry’s most recognizable bitter profiles. Produced with Prova’s hospitality-driven approach, the release is designed to support bartenders and cocktail programs seeking a Fernet  ingredient that respects tradition while adding a distinctly Kentucky signature through a bourbon barrel finish.

Often described within bar culture as a “bartender’s handshake,” Fernet has long held a place as a quiet ritual, shared between new colleagues, celebrated after a long service, or offered as a gesture of respect. Prova Spirits’ Bourbon Barrel Fernet was created to honor that tradition while reflecting Louisville’s spirit identity. Finished in bourbon barrels at Prova’s nano distillery, the expression layers classic bitter character with a subtle, warming finish intended to integrate naturally into cocktails and service moments alike.

“Bourbon Barrel Fernet is Prova’s love letter to bartenders everywhere,” says Giuseppe Paoulos, Founder of Prova Spirits. “It pays homage to one of the world’s most iconic spirits and that unspoken ritual behind the bar - then adds a gentle Kentucky ‘hug’ through a bourbon barrel finish that feels unmistakably Louisville.”

Prova Spirits operates as a nano distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, with a concept built around cocktail performance rather than production volume. The company focuses on developing spirits and modifiers intended to shine in mixed drinks, with an emphasis on balance, usability, and hospitality. Prova’s model differs from many traditional distilleries by treating the on-site guest experience as central to how its spirits are introduced and understood. The Bourbon Barrel Fernet release reflects that approach by prioritizing a bartender-forward story and a product profile meant for real-world cocktail application.

The Bourbon Barrel Fernet release supports Prova Spirits’ broader effort to expand awareness of its cocktail-first program in America’s bourbon country. While Louisville is globally associated with whiskey, Prova Spirits continues to build recognition for Italian-inspired spirits and cocktail components that complement the region’s heritage while offering a distinct point of view for the bar community.

Prova Spirits will celebrate the release with an on-site event in Louisville on February 28, 2026, inviting guests and hospitality professionals to experience the new expression and explore Prova’s nano-distillery model firsthand.

For more information about Prova Spirits, please visit https://www.provaspirits.com/. 

About Prova Spirits

Prova Spirits is a cocktail-driven nano distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, founded by Giuseppe Paoulos. Created in 2024 and opened to the public in August 2025, Prova Spirits produces vermouths, amari, liqueurs, and other spirits designed to shine in cocktails, with many ingredients made and distilled in-house. Prova Spirits pairs small-scale distillation with a hospitality-first cocktail experience, offering guests a distinctive destination in the heart of America’s bourbon country.

Contact Information

Giuseppe Paoulos
press@provaspirits.com
502-606-5366
https://www.provaspirits.com/ 

Discover the Italian Style Aperitivo Being Crafted in the Heart of Kentucky's Bourbon Country by Prova Spirits

LOUISVILLE, KY, UNITED STATES, January 22, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Prova Spirits, the only nano distillery in Louisville, is proud to launch Aperitivo Rosso, a vermouth-style aperitivo crafted in the heart of a city most renowned for bourbon making! The bright red, dry, and complex drink is a celebration of Italian tradition and is the flagship drink for the family-run company.

While Kentucky might be more synonymous with oak barrels and amber-hued bourbon, Louisville’s Prova Spirits is going against the grain by offering a range of Italian-inspired drinks, led by its signature Aperitivo Rosso. The drink begins as a dry white wine that is carefully macerated with a proprietary blend of botanicals and tart Michigan cherries, which lend the spirit its vivid crimson color and layered flavor profile. The resulting drink is a delicious and balanced aperitivo that is perfect for use in cocktails or on its own over ice.

For founder Giuseppe Paoulos, Aperitivo Rosso is a deeply personal creation. It was the first beverage he designed and perfected while building the concept that would become Prova Spirits, a cocktail driven nano distillery. Drawing inspiration from his Italian heritage and memories of his Nonna’s kitchen, the resulting blend of tradition and experimentation now defines Prova’s mission of creating spirits that not only connect past and future but are designed to be shared and enjoyed together.

Giuseppe Paoulos added, “Although we are in the heart of bourbon country, at Prova Spirits we’re on a mission to give drinkers a unique taste of Italy with our flagship vermouth-style Aperitivo Rosso. The unique blend of botanicals and tart Michigan cherries creates a truly unique flavor profile that is guaranteed to capture your attention and delight the senses!”

Alongside the Aperitivo Rosso, Prova Spirits offers a wide range of spirits, including Limoncello, Castello, Gin, and Vodka. The entire collection is available to purchase now exclusively from www.provaspirits.com.

About Prova Spirits
Prova Spirits is a cocktail-driven nano distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, founded by Giuseppe Paoulos. Created in 2024 and opened to the public in August 2025, Prova Spirits produces vermouths, amari, liqueurs, and other spirits designed to shine in cocktails, with many ingredients made and distilled in-house. Prova Spirits pairs small-scale distillation with a hospitality-first cocktail experience, offering guests a distinctive destination in the heart of America’s bourbon country.

Giuseppe Paoulos
Prova Spirits
press@provaspirits.com
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Prova Spirits Announces Cocktail-First Nano Distillery Program Featuring House-Made Vermouth and Amari in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, KY, UNITED STATES, January 20, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Prova Spirits is pleased to announce its continued expansion of a cocktail-driven nano distillery program in Louisville, Kentucky, designed to introduce a broader audience to its hospitality-first approach to spirits. Located in the heart of America’s bourbon country, Prova Spirits focuses on vermouths, amari, liqueurs, and other cocktail components created to perform in mixed drinks, offering an alternative lens on Kentucky’s celebrated beverage culture without competing with the region’s whiskey heritage.

Operating at a nano-distillery scale, Prova Spirits emphasizes small-batch production and hands-on development. The company’s portfolio is built for cocktail application, with alcohol strength and sweetness calibrated to support balance, structure, and versatility behind the bar. Prova Spirits does not currently produce aged spirits such as whiskey or aged rum, instead prioritizing spirits and modifiers intended for immediate use in classic and contemporary cocktails.

At its core, Prova’s model is distinct within the broader spirits landscape because it functions as both a distillery and a hospitality destination. Many cocktail programs rely on outside suppliers for vermouth, amaro, and specialty ingredients. Prova Spirits, by contrast, uses its distilling capability to produce key components in-house, enabling quicker iteration, tighter quality control, and a bar program designed around what is made on site. The result is a guest experience shaped by the same team developing the ingredients, with cocktails serving as the primary way most customers encounter the spirits.

Additionally, Prova Spirits benefits from access to specialized, high-tech equipment typically unavailable to bars that are not also licensed distilleries. This capability supports aromatic extraction and spirit development methods used to shape flavor profiles with precision. Not only that, but the company also de-alcoholizes wine in-house to support a dedicated non-alcoholic offering, aiming to provide guests with alcohol-free options that reflect the same care, complexity, and cocktail intent as The Core menu.

The brand’s story is rooted in Italian heritage and the traditions of hospitality that inspired its founder, Giuseppe Paoulos. Prova Spirits was created in 2024 and opened to the public in August 2025, building a presence in Louisville with a concept that blends past and future, tradition and innovation, and a belief that spirits are most meaningful when shared.

“Prova Spirits exists to create spirits that spark connection—between past and future, between tradition and innovation, and between the people who share them,” says Giuseppe Paoulos, Founder of Prova Spirits. “Every bottle is a handcrafted tribute to history, infused with a creative twist, and made to elevate the familiar or inspire something entirely new.”

As Prova Spirits expands awareness of its program, the company remains focused on reaching hospitality professionals, cocktail enthusiasts, and local and visiting guests seeking a distinctive, cocktail-forward destination in Louisville. By centering the experience on in-house production and on-site hospitality, Prova Spirits aims to broaden recognition of what a modern nano distillery can offer in a city known worldwide for bourbon.

For more information about Prova Spirits, please visit https://www.provaspirits.com/.

About Prova Spirits
Prova Spirits is a cocktail-driven nano distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, founded by Giuseppe Paoulos. Created in 2024 and opened to the public in August 2025, Prova Spirits produces vermouths, amari, liqueurs, and other spirits designed to shine in cocktails, with many ingredients made and distilled in-house. Prova Spirits pairs small-scale distillation with a hospitality-first cocktail experience, offering guests a distinctive destination in the heart of America’s bourbon country.

Giuseppe Paoulos
Prova Spirits
press@provaspirits.com
Visit us on social media:
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