Make the most of your time by including a diverse mix of ones to visit, from big names in the industry, to up-and-coming, smaller-batch operations. KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL: Pick out which distilleries to visit in our article Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. If you are looking for a large-format map, you should buy an printer that is large-format. MIDRANGE: Homewood Suites. Most distilleries give you a few, tiny sips of several of their bourbons, just enough to get a good taste, and not so much that you will walk around schnockered for the rest of the day. The tour takes you through the entire distilling process from start to finish, so you'll get to see the still, the warehouse, and the bottling process. Visit their website here. During this time, most tours will be full and many will sell out in advance. Located just outside of Lexington, stay in a suite or one-bedroom apartment, perfect if you like having extra space or a kitchenette. Cheers, Julie. NASHVILLE: For recommendations on what to do in Nashville, check out our articles Best Things to Do in Nashville and Best Eats in Nashville. Its centrally located, so you can walk to many of the sights and distilleries on Whiskey Row. It has received accolades from Conde Nast Traveler, Southern Living, and Travel & Leisure. This distillery features bourbon finished in port wine barrels and rye whiskey finished in rum barrels. Buffalo Trace. If you want to see the entire bourbon distilling process from start to finish, including the making of the barrels and the bottling of the final product, take the Old Forester Discovery Tour. You do not have to take a tour at each distillery. Before heading out of Lexington, check out the citys historic Distillery District, home to the recently revived James E. Pepper Distiller (and several other restaurants, bars, and breweries), one of Kentuckys first bourbon brands originally created during the American Revolution. Today, bourbons popularity is at an all-time high, and in the past 20 years or so, many new distilleries have popped up among old favorites. Then it's on to Heaven Hill Bourbon, which offers a cheaper "mini-tour" if you're getting tired of hearing the same thing over and over again at every distillery. Even if you dont plan on staying here, a drink in the Lobby Bar is a must-do while in Louisville. Julie Last updated: December 16, 2022 United States 13 Comments. A combination of ideal weather, limestone water sources, and a long history of the craft make Central Kentucky the bourbon capital of the world. To maximize value, do not get too big or small. Afternoon: Take a tour at Old Forester Distillery. Many of these distilleries are historic and their story is fascinating. Kentucky Bourbon is perfectly aged. 1280 Veterans Memorial Hwy, Lebanon, KY, US. This day includes three must-visit distilleries on Whiskey Row with suggestions for Louisvilles best eats. Tours last one hour and end with a tasting. Creating a snapshot image is easy since all dimensions are measured in pixels. This is Louisvilles landmark hotel. This cocktail class is only offered once a day, so if you like this idea, plan your other distillery visits around this class. Bring your military ID, if you have one. Make sure to stop for a drink at the Bluegrass Tavern, a Lexington classic that boasts the largest bourbon collection in the state. Since it is located off of the Bourbon Trail and does not have the actual log cabin that Abraham Lincoln was born in, this is only worth it if you have an interest in American history or Abraham Lincoln. A 24" x 18" layout will fold more efficiently than the 22" x 20" layout for example. Then visit the Town Branch Distillery from Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company, and maybe cut all that booze with a beer or two as well! And dont miss our post about all eighteen distilleries, the Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. For lunch and/or dinner, we recommend Kitchen& Bar, the restaurant at Bardstown Bourbon. Starting off in Louisville, visit the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to Your Places, click Maps, and you will see this map on your list. In this article, learn how to plan your Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary, with suggestions on where to stay and what else to add in as you tour the trail. There are some other very cool things to do in this part of Kentucky and I didnt want to leave those out. If you want to tour all eighteen distilleries, you need a minimum of seven days. It is said to be the oldest western stagecoach stop in America and legend has it that Jesse James left behind bullet holes in the tavern. But they see map making as a necessary problem, one which requires a significant amount of time and money. In no particular order, the three distilleries to visit in Bardstown are Lux Row, Bardstown Bourbon, and Heaven Hill. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Take your pick from day #4 (the Best of Bardstown), day #5 (Makers Mark and the Kentucky Cooperage), or day #6 (Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey, Four Roses, and maybe Wilderness Trail). Visit Your Favorite Distillery. At the end of this article, we list specific hotel and B&B recommendations for Louisville, Bardstown, and Lexington. Sleep in Louisville. The tour gives a fabulous insight to the making of bourbon, the property is gorgeous, the history behind Makers Mark is intriguing, and the bourbon is delicious. It is also possible to save the map in a PDF format. They offer both tours and tastings individually, so if you'd rather skip seeing the still and warehouse, you can just sample their wares-- try the sweet and spicy Wild Turkey Honey Stinger! On our most recent tour in November 2019, we booked all of our tours in advance but only one of them was sold out (the Inside the Barrel Tour at Angels Envy). If you have specific non-KBT distilleries in mind I recommend checking their websites for pricing information. Sleep in Louisville. Foaling begins in late January and will continue through May, so visit in the spring if you want to meet the youngest future racehorses! They have 10 different varieties of bourbon, and a really unusual, Spanish-style building that houses the distillery. Day 1 and 2 for sure then a day on the road. When you're ready for a hearty meal, there's super delicious BBQ right off I-75 at Red State BBQ. How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. Why not? Download the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Distillery Map Download Now Join Our Newsletter Mailing List Fields marked with an * are required First Name * Last Name * Email * If you are a human seeing this field, please leave it empty. Jack Frys and the Brown Hotel Lobby Bar are also great options. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail website includes a map of all area distilleries, general exploring tips, and a calendar of upcoming distillery events. Tim and I stayed here on our most recent visit to Louisville and we had a very nice experience here. It's one of the biggest in Bardstown, which is certainly worth seeing. The weather is nice and all of the distilleries should be in operation. The historic grounds are beautiful to visit, the history behind Makers Mark is intriguing, and at the end of the tour you get to hand dip a bottle in red wax. Any advice you have on this front would be greatly appreciated, since Ive heard mixed answers. Evans William Experience in Louisville. Nothing can be added to the whiskey other than water. Dive deeper into the history behind bourbon distilling. Cheers, Julie, We are thinking about making this trip in an RV in early November.. are there nice places to stay and how does the pandemic affect things, Hello Jan. As far as to where to stay with your RV, I am not sure, since we had a car and stayed in hotels. Lexington Brewing Company offers a wide variety of tours as well as a mixology class. A visit to Buffalo Trace is definitely worthwhile when you are in the area, even if it is not officially on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Very interested in a 3 day trip. Some of these yeast strains have been used for decades at each distillery. Follow day #4 and #5, sleeping in either Bardstown or Louisville. If time allows, consider the areas other great export: thoroughbred horses. Our website uses cookies. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. We visited both but prefer the American Stillhouse. If you are short on time, or have no desire to visit all eighteen distilleries, here is a short list of the top experiences to have on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The memorial is free to visit. If you need a break from bourbon, a fine margarita at Corto Lima, or craft cocktail at West Main Crafting Co., will do the trick. It is not the actual log cabin of Abraham Lincolns birthplace. Unfortunately, I do not have any private drivers to recommend. We have links to each distillery in our Best Distilleries post. The samples were pretty small, but it's straight bourbon, so you're probably gonna feel pretty good afterward. The tour is very well done and you get to see a few things that many tours do not include. However, there is a lot more to do in this part of Kentucky than just tour bourbon distilleries. Each of these bourbon distilleries must be a member of the Kentucky Distillers Association, which requires paying a fee. Since it's the largest maker of Kentucky bourbon, you'll get a different view: that of a larger-scale operation. How to Experience the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Day 2: Louisville to Lexington: Clermont, Shelbyville, and Loretto, Day 3: Lexington, Frankfort, Versailles, and Lawrenceburg. For more information about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, we have two more articles that will help you plan your trip: The Ultimate Guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour New Riff Distilling 24 Distillery Way Newport, KY 41071 See on Map More Info Second Sight Spirits 301 B Elm Street Ludlow, KY 41016 See on Map More Info The Old Pogue Distillery 715 Germantown Road Maysville, KY 41056 See on Map More Info Boone County Distilling Co. 10601 Toebben Drive Walk across the street to Proof on Main. While you are in the area, consider a tour at Buffalo Trace, adding on a visit to Bulleit in Shelbyville, or lunch or dinner in Lexington. We are wine drinkers. See our privacy policy here. Next up is the Buffalo Trace Distillery. HISTORIC: Jailers Inn Bed & Breakfast. From Bardstown it is a 45 minute drive. All of these distilleries offer tours and tastings. While in Bardstown, head to the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskeyso you can learn all about the liquid gold you've been knocking back! You can also inquire for a quote with our team of cartographers. Anything you plan or save automagically syncs with the apps, ready for you to hit the road! Our favorite experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail was the cocktail class at Bardstown Bourbon. Old Forester Discovery Tour. Ride sharing services are abundant in the area, and there are many guided tour options as well. Some printers from the past might require you to connect to your computer before printing. However, there are few places to visit out this way, if you are interested. Touring the distilleries, learning about the origins of bourbon, and tasting lots and lots of bourbon whiskey is an excellent way to spend a long weekend. Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 2 Days: Follow days #1 and #2. Angels Envy puts a twist on whiskey distilling. 528 W Main St Louisville, Kentucky (502) 272-2623. Why not? Angels Envy. Learn how to create your own. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail began in 1999 as a way to bring tourism to Kentucky. But how big should the maps be? In 2008, it was Historic Hotels of Americas top pick. Bourbon Country Map Use this interactive map of Kentucky to plan your visit by finding nearby attractions, hotels, shopping, and restaurants. The distilling of bourbon began in Kentucky in the 1700s in Bourbon County. There are eighteen distilleries on the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Plus, everyone who visits gets a mini souvenir Louisville Slugger for themselves! Visiting the winding trail of bourbon distilleries here (now officially called the Kentucky Bourbon Trail) has become a main draw to the area, and a whole tourism industry itself. First, decide on the size of your printout. This is the biggest driving day on this Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary. BUDGET: Glo Best Western Lexington. Also, remember that the quality of maps is unbeatable! If you pay extra, we can also produce these maps in specialist file formats. Distilling Company Tennessee | DISCUS, Hand Sanitizer 802 Royal Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38107 Beechtree Distillery We recommend staying in Louisville. All standard one-hour tours are roughly the samea tour of the facility ending with a tasting. MAMMOTH CAVE: Mammoth Cave is a national park in Kentucky and it makes a great day trip from Louisville and Nashville. How you do it is completely up to you. Did you know: If you use the Roadtrippers mobile app, your trips will instantly auto-sync over Ready for navigation and good times! It is not the actual log cabin of Abraham Lincolns birthplace. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour is celebrating its 22nd birthday with a new Bourbon Trail Passport & Field Guide for visitors but this year, there's a twist. On the other hand, you may want to sit back, enjoy the ride, and join a tour. Buffalo Trace has a long and fascinating history. This is a must-see tour. In order to see all four, you should be at the first distillery at opening time. UPSCALE: 21c Museum Hotel. But inside are stacks and stacks of bourbon filled barrels, slowly maturing and filling the air with a wonderful aroma. Just spent two nights in Bardstown and took the cocktail class which was awesome. Green River is the outlier, located almost two hours west of Louisville, in a small town named Owensboro. This budget hotel gets good reviews and is conveniently located in Bardstown. Here's how. Luckily, there's lots to do (and eat) in Kentucky while traveling from distillery to distillery (or rather, from sample of bourbon to sample of bourbon). We took the Shaken & Stirred class at Bardstown Bourbon and it was our favorite experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Also, take some time to enjoy the bucolic setting of this distillery. #1 Louisville: Intro to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, #3 Green River and Stitzel-Weller Distillery, #5 Makers Mark, Jim Beam, & the Kentucky Cooperage, #6 Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey, Four Roses & Wilderness Trail, #7 Bulleit, Buffalo Trace, and Town Branch. Renting a car was cheap, driving between the distilleries was easy (and gorgeous), and we could make our own schedule. Similar to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the Craft Tour takes bourbon touring and tasting to the next level. Several distilleries now offer cocktail or mixology classes. Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. Over in Lebanon, hit up the Limestone Branch Distillery, which seeks to make everything as authentic as possible, and as a family-owned and operated craft distillery, their local heritage goes back a few generations. On Google Chrome, go to Bookmarks -> Bookmark This Tab and then this post will be saved in your bookmarks. BUDGET: Hampton Inn Bardstown. I give links to each distillery in these daily itineraries. Morning: Evan Williams Experience. Most distilleries offer free or discounted tours for military personnel. Morning: Stitzel-Weller Distillery. With driving times averaging about twenty minutes between distilleries, most people can fit in three tours per day (in some distilleries, tours are only offered on the hour). My father, who is a Bourbon man, will be celebrating his birthday next month and I thought of taking him on a Bourbon tour. Four Roses distillery was built in 1910 and features Spanish Mission-Style architecture, a rarity in Kentucky. The 1 hour Discovery Tour ends with a tasting at their bar on the second floor. Bardstown Bourbon. It's located next to a field full of giant rickhouses, which is what the building where barrels of bourbon age are called. The rickhouse is where the barrels are stored. We chose the self-driving option. Dine on Central American food prepared by the chef who grew up on the Yucatan Peninsula. George Washington's Distillery and Gristmill. LOUISVILLE: Plan your visit to Louisville with our articles about the Best Things to Do in Louisville and Best Places to Eat in Louisville. Tim and I stayed here on our first visit to Louisville in 2016. Being on our own, we could choose which distilleries to tour and which ones to just do a tasting. Bulleit Distilling Company. Are children allowed on the tours? This is Louisvilles landmark hotel. Dont miss out on the beautiful horse farms in the Lexington area! It is possible to print maps by choosing the print option in your printer menu. Visiting the winding trail of bourbon distilleries here (now officially called the Kentucky Bourbon Trail) has become a main draw to the area, and a whole tourism industry itself. If you dont want to take a cocktail class, Bardstown Bourbon also offers a one hour tour that starts with a tasting and ends with tasting straight out of the bourbon barrel. Lexington or Louisville arent the only places to eat well in bourbon country. Most tours cost $10 to $15 (including tastings), and are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tim and I stayed here on our first visit to Louisville in 2016. They have a few iconic bourbon brands that are produced here: Buffalo Trace, Blanton's (with the little horse on top of the round bottle), and Eagle Rare. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a collection of eighteen whiskey distilleries. We saw their vans everywhere! For pricing for each distillery, take a look at our best distilleries post. For most people, a combination of tours and tastings is the perfect way to sample the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Surprisingly, it is not part of the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail. There are many distilleries you can visit in Kentucky that are not part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The grand finale of the tour isthe bourbon tasting. During the aging process, a small percentage of the bourbon evaporates per year, what is referred to as the angels share. If you want to take home this aroma, many gift shops sell bourbon-scented candles. To read about our favorite bourbon distillery, read this post. Your email address will not be published. Evening: Michters Distillery. While you are in the area, consider a visit to the Kentucky Cooperage, where the barrels are made for the storing and aging of bourbon. Some distilleries are closed Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 3 Days: Follow days #1 and #2. You can also spend a few days in Nashville or visit nearby New River Gorge National Park. With so many great distilleries spread across the rolling hills of Kentucky, planning a trip on the Bourbon Trail can feel a bit overwhelming. One of these is the very famous Buffalo Trace Distillery (which we include on this itinerary). This is more than just a hotel, it is also an art museum. This was our all-around best tour experience. If you have plans to tour the Kentucky Bourbon Trail between July and early November, make your reservations in advance. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Be prepared for an experience for all five senses. There are many more distilleries you can visit in Kentucky that are not part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. They specialize in bourbon barrel-aged brews as well as bourbons, and since it's a smaller operation than other stops on this trip, the tour is a totally difference experience. Buffalo Trace is the oldest continuously operating distillery in America. It smells so good in here!! This is a great resource for getting an in-depth history of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail as well as additional information to help plan your trip. The red markers are the seventeen distilleries on the trail. Carry it with you, and allow it to guide you to adventures unknown. This will minimize your driving and let you stay in the small towns in Kentucky. More Information for Your Trip to Louisville. Take a Tour of Makers Mark. Kentucky Cooperage. What distinguishes one bourbon from another is the mash bill, the strain of yeast used by each distillery (some strains dating back decades), and how long the whiskey ages in the oak barrels. The 6 Best Distilleries to Visit in Lexington, Kentucky, Your Trip to Lexington: The Complete Guide, The Top 13 Things to Do in Lexington, Kentucky, The Best Day Trips From Lexington, Kentucky, The Spirits Industry Is Broken, But a Sustainable Revolution Is Coming, 12 Best Things to Do for Free in Louisville, Kentucky, The 11 Best Things to Do in Galena, Illinois, The Kentucky Horse Park: A Complete Guide. One of our favorite parts of the tour was a visit to the rickhouse. Cheers, Julie. At Lux Row, the first few rows of the rickhouse are removed, forming a small lobby. Standing here, you get to appreciate just how many barrels sit on the shelves of a rickhouse. If you are a bourbon drinker and have a favorite distillery thats on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, make sure you include it on your tour of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Tim and I stayed here on our most recent visit to Louisville and we had a very nice experience here. Wild Turkey produces one of the most popular bourbons in the US and one of the best-selling bourbons in the world. Their signature tour is a one-hour tour of the distillery. About this Kentucky Bourbon Trail Itinerary, For more restaurant recommendations, check out our article, For more ideas of what to do in Louisville, read our article about. Trail builders, on the other hand prefer to be in the woods in order to use chainsaws to make their trails. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. Is May a good month to do the Bourbon Trail? By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Our website uses cookies. To get to Evan Williams and/or to get back to your hotel, consider driving or using Uber (we used Uber while in Louisville and kept our car parked at our hotel). Then its on to Makers Mark, one of the farther distilleries (about an hour out of the way in Loretto, Kentucky) but a favorite for the hand-dipped bottles, gorgeous 1,000-acre farm, and onsite restaurant. There are six distilleries in Louisville (seven if you count the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse), five located in and around Lexington, one in Danville, five in and around Bardstown, and one in Owensboro. Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. In 2008, it was Historic Hotels of Americas top pick.
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