Do you love Bourbon or are you curious to learn a thing or two about what is called America's Native Spirit? We thought so. Lucky for you, there is a place that is home to amazing distilleries and approximately 95% of the bourbon the world over.
There is no better place to start exploring the world of Bourbon than in its birthplace - the great state of Kentucky. BUT - before we proceed any further, - This content is not intended for minors. By continuing to read this content, you agree that you are of legal drinking age in your local jurisdiction.
There are 18 distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and another 19 on the Bourbon Trail Craft Tour and even more “off-trail” distilleries from which to choose within an hour or two of Louisville. Heck, there are six distilleries and/or tasting rooms in downtown Louisville.
If you want to do a portion of the Trail (visiting all 18 distilleries would likely take 7 or 8 days) you can join a driving tour offered by many Experience tour operators, or, arrange your itinerary yourself and self-transport.
We created our itinerary (we didn’t bother with getting a passport) so we can’t comment on the organized trail tours. We’re sure they are lovely and offer you the opportunity to sample profoundly at and en route to the distilleries. Plus, you don't really need to think about where you're heading next. They'll do the thinking and planning for you. By driving ourselves, we had more flexibility and the freedom to explore the countryside and seek out dining options en route. If you are self-driving, Be Safe. It will be best to have a designated driver.
We visited the following distilleries: Angel’s Envy, Bardstown Bourbon Co., Barton’s 1792, Buffalo Trace, Evan Williams, Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Jim Beam, Michter’s, Preservation, Rabbit Hole, Wild Turkey, Willett, and Woodford Reserve.
We did full tours at only two of the distilleries we visited, Buffalo Trace and Barton’s 1792 (neither of these is officially part of the bourbon trail). We did tastings at Bardstown, Barton’s, Buffalo Trace, Evan Williams, Four Roses, Michter’s, Rabbit Hole, Willett, and Woodford Reserve. You can start the tour wherever you want. You can use the passport, or not.
Most, though not all, distilleries offer tours. A few are free, most will charge between $10 and $20 per person. Some tours and experiences will be more than that. You can visit the tasting room and gift shops at each of the distilleries free of charge. Some have food, others do not. It’s best to do your research and book your tours ahead of time. There is no need to do a tour at every distillery – the distilling process is the same, and after hearing it a few times, you'll get the idea. If you don't, keep taking the tours until you do. Sheesh!
We were able to handle five distilleries or tap-rooms each day. We may have also had some cocktails before and after dinner. Just saying. You may want to plan on visiting three per day. That will give you more time at each location and more time for lunch or just plain lollygagging while exploring the rich countryside and rolling bluegrass hills.
Louisville and Bardstown make excellent bases from which to explore and visit distilleries. Most of the distilleries you will visit will be within an hour or so of either town. Bardstown is a little smaller and quieter than Louisville. If you plan on spending 2-3 days on the trail, staying in one or the other of these places makes sense. If you are going to be there for a week or more, it might make sense to move from one to the other or another town closer to some of the distilleries further afield. Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, and Airbnb lodgings abound for your sleeping pleasure.
Whatever your experience level with bourbon may be, do some research before you leave. Know the hours and days of operation. If you're not a bourbon drinker, try some bourbon neat or in cocktails before you go and know a bit about which distilleries you'd like to visit. You can follow the links to each of the distilleries on the trail from the Kentucky Bourbon Trail website.
Group your distilleries by area to minimize driving time and distances and make your visits more efficient. Angel's Envy, Evan Williams, Michter's, Old Forester, Rabbit Hole, and Stitzel-Weller are all located in Louisville. Bulleit, Buffalo Trace, Glen's Creek, Four Roses, Kentucky Artisan, Wild Turkey, and Woodford Reserve are all near enough to one another in and around Louisville, Frankfort/Lawrenceburg/Versailles and are easily reached from Louisville or Lexington.
Town Branch is located a little further east in Lexington but could be done together with that group or on its own on another day. Who would think of stopping you?
Bardstown Bourbon, Barton's 1792, Heaven Hill, Jim Beam, Lux Rox, Preservation, and Willett are all in or very near to Bardstown. Maker's Mark is a bit further south but easily reachable.
O.Z. Tyler is a couple of hours west in Owensboro and worth a trip on its own, or combined one or two craft distilleries in western Kentucky.
Dress for the weather. Bring Water. If you visit in the summer, the barrel aging houses can get quite warm. You’ll want to stay hydrated if you are sampling whiskeys, and it’s good to cleanse your palate between tastings. You can also add a drop or two of water to your sample if you want to open up the whiskey or just mellow it out a bit.
Relax, Enjoy Yourself, and Be Safe!
See these other posts to learn more about Louisville and The Kentucky Bourbon Trail
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