Top 5 Essential Tips for an Unforgettable Kentucky Bourbon Trail Trip
Planning a trip to Bourbon country in Kentucky or finally getting around to hitting the Bourbon Trail? With the popularity of Bourbon on the rise, so has the number of distilleries in the state. While the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail varies from year to year, there are about 18 distilleries on the Bourbon Trail, and 24 more on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour. Overall, there are around 70 distilleries in the state of Kentucky.
Here are our top 5 tips to help you plan an awesome trip through Bourbon country. From planning your itinerary to checking out the gift shops, these tips will help you make the most of your trip and enjoy the best Bourbon that Kentucky has to offer.
Tip #1: Focus on the Three Big Bourbon Areas within Kentucky
If you’re planning a trip to Bourbon country in Kentucky, it’s important to know that most of the distilleries are concentrated around three main areas: Louisville, Bardstown, and the Lexington-Frankfort area. By planning your trip around these areas, you can make the most of your time and visit as many distilleries as possible.
Louisville, KYMost distilleries are not located next door to each other. So if you want to visit a lot of distilleries and don’t have a lot of time, head to Louisville and Whiskey Row. Louisville is the largest city in the state and home to Whiskey Row, a block of historic buildings that have been transformed into bars, restaurants, and distilleries. Here, you can visit multiple distilleries, all within walking distance of each other, including Old Forester, Angel’s Envy, Evan Williams, Michter’s, Rabbit Hole, and Kentucky Peerless. There’s also an Urban Bourbon Trail in Louisville that includes some of the best bourbon bars and restaurants in the country. If you don’t mind venturing out a bit, the Bulleit Bourbon visitor center, also known as Stitzel-Weller, is a short drive from downtown. If you’ve had enough bourbon and want to try some other distilled spirits, there’s also Copper & Kings distillery on the east side of Whiskey Row. Beer lovers will also love Louisville, as there are some great beer bars – including Sergio’s World of Beers and Holy Grale – as well as several breweries near downtown, such as Against the Grain, Goodwood, and Akasha. |
Bardstown, KYBardstown is known as the “Bourbon Capital of the World” and is home to Heaven Hill, Willett, and Barton 1792 distilleries – although Barton 1792 distillery is no longer open to tours. Some of the newest additions to the Bourbon trail are in Bardstown, including Lux Row Distillery and Bardstown Bourbon Company. Both of these distilleries have been built in the last several years and are among the most modern you’ll see in the state. There are several iconic distilleries just a short drive outside of Bardstown, including Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark. Also south of Bardstown is Limestone Branch distillery, maker of Yellowstone bourbon. If you want to learn more than just about the distilling process, the Kentucky Cooperage – maker of American white oak barrels used in aging bourbon – is near Limestone Branch. The charming town of Bardstown is also home to My Old Kentucky Home State Park, which offers tours of the historic mansion that inspired Stephen Foster’s famous song. Unfortunately, what Bardstown doesn’t have much of are hotels. So, if you’re looking at heading to Bardstown, it’s a good day trip from either Louisville or Lexington. |
Lexington-Frankfort, KYIf you’re a Bourbon lover, a visit to the Lexington and Frankfort area of Kentucky is a must. The area is home to several iconic distilleries and offers a unique and authentic Bourbon experience. In Lexington, you’ll find the Town Branch Distillery, which is famous for both its Bourbon and beer offerings, as well as James E. Pepper distillery in the Distillery District. The Frankfort area has some of the most scenic distilleries anywhere. One of the most famous is Buffalo Trace, the oldest continuously operating distillery in the United States. Sample some Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon or snap up a bottle of hard to find bourbon Blanton’s. Another one of the must-visit distilleries in the area is Woodford Reserve. The historic property surrounded by horse farms dates back to the 1800s. The Castle & Key distillery is restoring the former Old Taylor Distillery to its former glory, and is a beautiful place to take in the scenery. To the south of Frankfort are Wild Turkey Distillery and Four Roses, both scenic properties with tours of excellent bourbon distilleries. |
When planning your trip to Bourbon country, it’s important to focus on these three main areas. While Whiskey Row in Louisville is an exception, most distilleries are not located next door to each other, so planning your itinerary ahead of time is crucial to ensure you don’t miss any must-visit distilleries. By doing so, you can maximize your time and make the most of your trip. That’s why our second tip is:
Tip #2: Plan Ahead and Make an Itinerary to Visit Distilleries
While planning your itinerary, keep in mind that most distilleries offer tours at specific times, and the drives between each one can often take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes. Therefore, mapping out your trip ahead of time is crucial to ensure that you make the most of your time. You’ll also probably find that with the popularity of bourbon growing so much, many distillery tours and tastings are sold out well in advance. Plan ahead and make reservations as soon as you can.
There are probably a few Bourbons you love and distilleries you know you want to hit. So, our recommendation is to only take tours at these spots. After a few tours, you’ll notice that the process of making Bourbon doesn’t change much. Therefore, only plan tours at a few, but definitely do tastings wherever you can. They’re super educational, and you’ll learn even more about what you like and don’t like.
Tip #3: Check Out the Gift Shops
Distilleries in Kentucky are limited to 1.75 ounces worth of samples. Most places you go will offer you a few samples ranging from a quarter to a half ounce. When you combine that with an hour-long tour and a half hour drive between distilleries, you will be able to enjoy the Bourbon trail without getting drunk. If you find a Bourbon you want to buy or there’s one on your wish list, you might find it at the distillery gift shop. We’ve been lucky enough to score Blanton’s during our visit to Buffalo Trace, an autographed bottle of Russell’s Reserve from Wild Turkey, a bottle of Willett Family Estate, a bottle of Michter’s toasted barrel and a bottle of Michter’s 10 Year during our tours at each.
Several distilleries offer special experiences at their gift shops. Perhaps the most well-known is the dip your own bottle at Maker’s Mark. However, Jim Beam, Angel’s Envy, and Copper & Kings distilleries now offer bottle your own experiences as well. Most of these also let you engrave or print your name on the bottle to commemorate the experience.
Tip #4: Venture Off the Trail
While Bourbon may be the main attraction in Kentucky, the great restaurants and other craft beverages should not be overlooked. One of the top destinations for craft beer lovers is the Against the Grain Brewery in Louisville. This award-winning brewery offers a variety of unique and flavorful beers, including the Citra Ass Down IPA, Bo and Luke Imperial Stout, and the London Balling English-Style Barleywine. The brewery also has a full-service restaurant that serves up burgers, sandwiches, and smoked meats. We loved the pork belly on a stick! Another must-visit brewery in the area is the Country Boy Brewing Company in Lexington. This brewery has some innovative and creative beers, including the Shotgun Wedding Vanilla Brown Ale and the Nacho Bait Jalapeño Beer. In the Distillery District, Ethereal Brewing is almost next door to James E. Pepper distillery.
When it comes to restaurants, stop by the Brown Hotel in Louisville for true “Kentucky Hot Brown” that has been copied all over the state, or visit Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse on Whiskey Row. In Lexington, The Village Idiot offers pub fare with a modern twist, such as the pork belly tacos and the black bean burger, which you can pair with their extensive craft beer selection.
Tip #5: Take in the Scenery
Finally, any chance you get, step into a rackhouse (or rickhouse or rik house) and take a deep breath. That rich smell of oaken Bourbon is something you’ll never forget but always want to recapture. Bring a camera; the Kentucky countryside is incredibly picturesque, and the distilleries have some beautiful architecture and scenic views. Some of our favorites include the view of the valley from the patio at Wild Turkey, the rolling hills of the horse farms near Woodford Reserve, and the views of the property at Castle & Key and Maker’s Mark.
