The Bourbon Trail – Bardstown, KY
While Louisville and Lexington tend to get all of the attention on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the Bardstown area has a ton to offer bourbon enthusiasts. It’s only a short drive from these cities, and you’ll be glad you made the trip.
When it comes to tours, Marker’s Mark is in Loretto, KY (just a short drive south of Bardstown), and they really know how to welcome visitors. In addition to signing in (or signing up) for their Ambassador Program when you arrive, the tour of the grounds in greats. From where they make the labels, to dipping the bottles in wax, to their new multi-million dollar cellar where they do barrel selections and experiments, it’s one of the must-do tours on the Bourbon Trail. When you finish the tour, you must take time to hand dip your own bottle – and if you’re an Ambassador (and your barrel is ready), have your name printed on a bottle label.
Just a short drive even further south is Limestone Branch Distillery – and one of my favorite Bourbon Trail experiences ever. The home of Yellowstone bourbon is surprisingly small. However, the tour feels like they’re welcoming you into the family, and the small shipping container rickhouse is a nice contrast to the massive distilleries on the Trail. After our tour, Steve Beam joined us for the tasting and was incredibly friendly and welcoming.
Another can’t miss stop in the Bardstown area is Heaven Hill Distillery, home of the Bourbon Heritage Center. Over the past decade, Heaven Hill has continued to up it’s game every few years when it comes to welcoming guests. They offer some great history and education, as well as the potential to get harder to find bottles, such as Old Fitzgerald, Parker’s, and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof.
Directly across the street from Heaven Hill is Willett Distillery. Again, this smaller, family-run distillery creates a great contrast to the massive Heaven Hill Distillery across the street from it. The times we have visited, I’ve always been able to pick up a bottle of their great Family Estate bourbon. Their Pot Still bottle is also a wonderful addition to display on your home bar.
If you’re looking for lunch, the Kitchen & Bar at the Bardstown Bourbon Company is a great stop for both bourbon-infused food and drinks. The recently completed complex is top notch and beautiful. Although the dining, drinking and shopping experience here are great, the actual distilling production feels quite industrial. Similarly, the newest addition to the Bourbon Trail – the Lux Row Distillery – is directly across the street. Due to its newness, it also feels quite modern and industrial. Although the tasting experience at Lux Row was pretty nice.
These are just a few of the things to do if you’re enjoying the Bardstown area portion of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. There are several other places to dine, shop, and taste bourbon in the area. Definitely take time to make the Bardstown area a stop on your Kentucky bourbon experience.
