Also known as the Independent Stave Company, this is where the barrels are constructed for many of the bourbon distilleries in Kentucky. We loved everything we tasted on this tour (as did many other people we spoke to who were also touring the trail). While in Bardstown, head to the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskeyso you can learn all about the liquid gold you've been knocking back! Four Roses distillery was built in 1910 and features Spanish Mission-Style architecture, a rarity in Kentucky. This is a beautiful distillery. Im looking into doing at least part of the trail myself with some friends when weve all been vaccinated. All distilleries are legally limited to how much bourbon you can drink while on a tour. Jim Beam has two locations on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail: the American Stillhouse, which is located in Clermont, and the Urban Stillhouse, which is located in downtown Louisville. This is a must-see tour. Surprisingly, it is not part of the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail. For lunch, dine at Star Hill Provisions at Makers Mark or Ragettis Italian Food in Lebanon. MIDRANGE: Staybridge Suites Lexington. 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. Choose the size you would like to print and click OK. After that, select your print quality. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail began in 1999 as a way to bring tourism to Kentucky. 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY, US. This distillery is so new that their bourbon is still aging, although they do have other liquor you can sample when you visit, like rum aged in old bourbon bottles and unfiltered vodka. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Rather than paying the fee to join the Kentucky Distillers Association, they prefer to offer free tours and tastings to their visitors. If you are only planning a quick visit to Kentucky (3 to 4 days tops), I recommend choosing one place and making this your home base. Local Chef Ouita Michel is at the forefront of Bourbon Trail gourmet dining, with top-notch restaurants in Midway, Versailles, and Lexington. The Old Talbott Tavern, located in Bardstown, is also a great pick. These newer operations often restore the beautiful, historical properties of Kentuckys original stillscenturies-old distilleries that either never reopened after prohibition or closed for other reasons. Evening: Michters Distillery. Louisville is the most logical choice, with its relatively central location, abundance of hotels and restaurants, and easy access to the airport. Some have limited to no hours on certain days and hours can change based on the season. The Field Guide is your passport to exploring the people and the places behind the Bourbon. Summer and autumn are busy months to visit the Bourbon Trail, so I also recommend booking your tours in advance at these times, even on weekdays. There are 37 distilleries total, but whether you tackle them all is entirely up to you! This will minimize your driving and let you stay in the small towns in Kentucky. MAMMOTH CAVE: Mammoth Cave is a national park in Kentucky and it makes a great day trip from Louisville and Nashville. Bourbon Country Map Use this interactive map of Kentucky to plan your visit by finding nearby attractions, hotels, shopping, and restaurants. Some of these yeast strains have been used for decades at each distillery. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. Why not? If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USA, visit our United States Travel Guide for more inspiration and travel planning tips. Cheers, Julie. 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. If you want to stay in a historical, luxurious hotel in Louisville, your hotel search can end right here. Many offer tours and a few are very near to the popular distilleries! Afternoon: Take a tour at Old Forester Distillery. Distilleries to visit along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Tours last one hour and end with a tasting. Read on to learn how to use printable maps. A combination of ideal weather, limestone water sources, and a long history of the craft make Central Kentucky the bourbon capital of the world. It does require more ink than printing text. There is even an art museum located inside of the hotel. Are you? These distilleries are located within 110 miles of Louisville, mostly clustered between Louisville and Lexington. As you drive back to Louisville, you have the option to stop at the Lincoln Boyhood Home and National Museum and/or Santa Claus, Indiana. The rickhouse is where the barrels are stored. Even if you dont plan on staying here, a drink in the Lobby Bar is a must-do while in Louisville. Located just outside of Lexington, stay in a suite or one-bedroom apartment, perfect if you like having extra space or a kitchenette. If you have hotel reserved, the staff might be able to make some recommendations for you. Looking to plan trip in mid June 2020, I recommend checking the official websites of the distilleries to see if they are open. Whether you have two days or a week, there is plenty here to keep you busy. We have been twice, the same weekend both times (the weekend before Thanksgiving). This is Louisvilles landmark hotel. 526 Happy Hollow Road, Shepherdsville, KY, US. 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. Yes! My husband has been thinking about taking me to one for out anniversary. The blue markers are restaurant recommendations, Buffalo Trace Distillery, and other notable experiences to add into your Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary. Walk across the street to Proof on Main. Morning: Makers Mark. Distillery Trail is the place to start your distillery tour experience. If you prefer, you can inquire for a quote with our group of cartographers. Check the Churchill Downs website for the race schedule before you go. Morning: Evan Williams Experience. Learn how to create your own. You can search by name, state, spirit, amenity or simply click on the map to discover distilleries you never knew existed! If you pay extra, we can also produce these maps in specialist file formats. Each distillery has a gift shop selling bourbon and related souvenirs. Yes, you can push CTRL+P and that will bring up the printer dialog box. Then make a quick stop at folk legend Daniel Boone's Gravesite for a great photo op (especially if you happen to have one of those coontail hats). You also get to see the bottling line in action. You can also take a tour where you bottle the single barrel whiskey, but spaces are limited and the tour is expensive (but you do end up with a cool souvenir to take home!). Optional Detour: Abraham Lincoln Birthplace. Yes, all of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail distilleries charge a fee for a tour or a tasting. They were one of only three bourbon distilleries that were allowed to operate during Prohibition, producing medicinal bourbon. Explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail experiences and find what youre looking for in our map below. Do you have to be a bourbon drinker to have a good time on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail? If you want to print a different dimension, choose an alternative size from the drop-down list , then alter the size of the page. Bulleit Distilling Company. Sleep in Louisville. In fact, if you visit every. This distillery is located in Shively, very close to downtown Louisville. Tours are offered Monday through Friday; they do not offer tours on weekends. Theres something here for everyone. The samples were pretty small, but it's straight bourbon, so you're probably gonna feel pretty good afterward. Learn how to create your own. To tour the Kentucky Bourbon Trail you have two options: self-drive the bourbon trail or join a tour group. Santa Claus is a small town filled with Christmas-themed hotels, shops, restaurants, and even an amusement park. Nearest Green Distillery. For more information on these tours and experience, read our article, More Information for Your Trip to Kentucky. Over in Bardstown, there's Willett Distillery. For most people, a combination of tours and tastings is the perfect way to sample the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. At the end of this article, we list specific hotel and B&B recommendations for Louisville, Bardstown, and Lexington. Did you know: If you use the Roadtrippers mobile app, your trips will instantly auto-sync over Ready for navigation and good times! It's a pretty cool museum and factory tour, and will definitely make you appreciate old hitters and their bats. At your first distillery, pick up a Kentucky Bourbon Trail Passport. From the Brown, you can walk (or call a rideshare) to distilleries along the citys historic Whiskey Row by the Ohio River, such as Angels Envy, Old Forester Distilling Co., and the modern Rabbit Hole Distillery in Louisvilles artsy NULU district. However, note that the map will display an uninspiring look, since it will be used only for only one printing session. Hotel Tango Distillery. Many places offer tastings without a tour. In this post, we cover everything you need to know to have the best experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. UPSCALE: 21c Museum Hotel. As soon as you step out of your car, you can smell the grains cooking, the first part of the distillation process. Some distilleries are closed on Mondays. Several distilleries now offer cocktail or mixology classes. Take a late afternoon or early evening tour of Michters Distillery. If you pay extra, we can also produce these maps in specialist file formats. Morning: Rabbit Hole. Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 2 Days: Follow days #1 and #2. If you are really short on time, you can simply visit the gift shop, get your passport stamped, and do a little shopping. However, the spirits are further refined with their patented TerrePURE process. Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Louisville and the rest of the bourbon trail are located in the Eastern Time Zone. Plus, if you save your ticket from the distillery tour, you can tour their warehouse operation, located in Cox's Creek, for free! In 1999, the Kentucky Distillers' Association formed the Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour to give visitors a firsthand look at the art and science of crafting Bourbon, and to educate them about the rich history and proud tradition of Kentucky's signature spirit. Spend the night in a historic tavern, enjoy the nightlife in Louisville, or visit the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. Plus, its easy to find. Lunch: Doc Crows Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar or Troll Pub under the Bridge. Many people state that the Buffalo Trace tour is their favorite in Kentucky. This map was created by a user. If you have an interest in Abraham Lincoln or American history, this is a worthwhile visit. 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). You will drive through scenic bluegrass Kentucky, with horse farms as far as the eye can see. NEARBY DESTINATIONS: Asheville, North Carolina makes a great weekend destination. Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 1 Day: Follow day #1, where you get a great overview of the distilling process and get to visit three distilleries in Louisville. Wilderness Trail is the newest member on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Travel back in timeto 1783, to the very early days ofLouisville, where you will learn about the early history of bourbon and this area of Kentucky. But they see map making as a necessary problem, one which requires a significant amount of time and money. Required fields are marked *. The distilleries are grouped together in four general areas. Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey and Four Roses are clustered together near Lexington. Say goodbye to Louisville and head south to Bardstown. However, if you like the idea of getting outside of the city, Bardstown also makes a nice option. Coalition Whiskey. The distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail are open year round. The distilling of bourbon began in Kentucky in the 1700s in Bourbon County. In one day, it is possible to do three to four tours and/or tastings. Take a quick break from bourbon tasting and take your pick from these two amazing museums. We chose the self-driving option. Plus, everyone who visits gets a mini souvenir Louisville Slugger for themselves! Note: This post contains affiliate links. Enjoy the nightlife in Louisville, drive through scenic bluegrass Kentucky, watch a horse race at Churchill Downs, visit the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, or spend the night in a historic tavern. Cheers, Julie. This was our favorite tour for several reasons. In no particular order, the three distilleries to visit in Bardstown are Lux Row, Bardstown Bourbon, and Heaven Hill. Here's how. Located in Lexington, this bourbon distillery also produces beer. This was our all-around best tour experience. Its located right around the corner from 21c Museum Hotel, so you can walk to many sights in downtown Louisville. And the smell is amazing! Some of them include the distance to view and the subject. Thanks! During the mid-20th century, Four Roses was the top selling bourbon in Japan but it could not be purchased in the US, even though it was being produced in Kentucky. The tastings do get spread out over the day, but they are also right before you hop in the car to get to the next distillery, so know your limits. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a collection of eighteen bourbon distilleries located in and around Louisville. Carry it with you, and allow it to guide you to adventures unknown. LOUISVILLE: Plan your visit to Louisville with our articles about the Best Things to Do in Louisville and Best Places to Eat in Louisville. It was educational, lots of fun, and a great way to tour another distillery without taking a tour. 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. Map of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Below is a map of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Lexington Brewing Company offers a wide variety of tours as well as a mixology class. This hotels onsite restaurant, Proof on Main, is one of Louisvilles best restaurants and bars. They give a really thorough background on the drink and Louisville's history with it (and yes, it ends with a tasting). Trail builders, on the other hand prefer to be in the woods in order to use chainsaws to make their trails. Alternatively, and on a more direct route into Lexington, you can head to Bulleit Distilling Co.'s new state-of-the-art facility in Shelbyville. Best Distilleries to Visit on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Kentucky Bourbon Trail Itinerary Suggestions for 1 Day to 1 Week, 12 Best Things to do in Louisville, Kentucky, Louisville Restaurants: Best Eats in Town. Make sure to stop for a drink at the Bluegrass Tavern, a Lexington classic that boasts the largest bourbon collection in the state. This hotel also gets great reviews and has an excellent location. Any advice you have on this front would be greatly appreciated, since Ive heard mixed answers. Have a classic, refined dinner at the hotel restaurant, or opt for a more funky choice in town (Latin farm-to-table, asian fusion, or BBQ and oysters). 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. 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). Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. Wild Turkey produces one of the most popular bourbons in the US and one of the best-selling bourbons in the world. It smells like you are at a bakery, only they are baking slightly sour bread. Most people stay in Louisville, Lexington, or Bardstown. Definitely book tours at your must-see distilleries in advance, regardless of the time of year, and if you plan to do a special tour, such as a cocktail class or behind the scenes tour. We recommend staying in Louisville. It has received accolades from Conde Nast Traveler, Southern Living, and Travel & Leisure. If you want to stay in a historical, luxurious hotel in Louisville, your hotel search can end right here. Old Forester offers a tour with the president of the company (a few times per year). However, people under the age of 21 are not permitted to do a tasting (of course!) LOUISVILLE: Plan your visit to Louisville with our articles about the Best Things to Do in Louisville and Best Places to Eat in Louisville. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. Also in Lexington is the Barrel House Distillery, which makes small-batch bourbon, as well as moonshine, vodka and rum, which makes it worth a stop. Prior guests rave about cleanliness, comfort, and location. Green River is the outlier, located almost two hours west of Louisville, in a small town named Owensboro. We were thinking of going the week before Memorial Day weekend and staying through the weekend. Fortunately, the distilleries are getting more creative with their activities, and some are now offering cocktail classes, food pairings, and in-depth behind-the-scenes tours. Thank you for explaining that a bourbon trail tour will encompass a history of how the liquor was made. 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. UPSCALE: 21c Museum Hotel Lexington. Everything from five-star restaurants to delicious sandwich stands can be found in the small towns along the way between distilleries. 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. And you definitely should try the Bourbon Cream. Lexington or Louisville arent the only places to eat well in bourbon country. One of the highlights of this tour, other than the tasting, was standing inside of their rickhouse. Mint Julep is the most popular tour company in Kentucky that offers tours to the distilleries. Some distilleries are closed Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. After that, check out the Maker's Mark Distillery. Tim and I stayed here on our first visit to Louisville in 2016. A beautiful time of year, however, is mid-September to late-October. 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. How to Experience the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Day 2: Louisville to Lexington: Clermont, Shelbyville, and Loretto, Day 3: Lexington, Frankfort, Versailles, and Lawrenceburg. If you like the idea of getting out of Louisville for the day, I recommend day #1 plus day #4 (the Best of Bardstown) or day #5 (Makers Mark and the Kentucky Cooperage). Custom-printed maps are perfect for parks departments, companies, and recreational complexes. 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. Are children allowed on the tours? The tour is very well done and you get to see a few things that many tours do not include. The Major Kentucky Distilleries and the Bourbon Brands They Produce, Mapped. You know you are at a distillery when you see these prison-style buildings. If you have any questions about this Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary, let us know in the comment section below. Here's a sample itinerary to follow for your visit. We offer a real-time comprehensive list of all the distilleries from start up farm distillery to craft distillery to large pre-Prohibition distillery. This map was created by a user. Enjoy like a true Kentuckian: Responsibly. Some printers from the past might require you to connect to your computer before printing. If you want to do some non-Bourbon activities while road tripping around Kentucky, here are some ideas for you. Grab a bottle or some bourbon balls in the gift shop afterwards! Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. Near the end of this article, I will give you suggestions on how to group these days together in order to have the best experience.