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 busiest time to visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is from August through mid-November. Everything from five-star restaurants to delicious sandwich stands can be found in the small towns along the way between distilleries. You have the choice to head southeast out of Louisville to explore the Jim Beam facilities. Similar to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the Craft Tour takes bourbon touring and tasting to the next level. LOUISVILLE: Plan your visit to Louisville with our articles about the Best Things to Do in Louisville and Best Places to Eat in Louisville. If you want to do some non-Bourbon activities while road tripping around Kentucky, here are some ideas for you. The food is delicious!! 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. Bourbon is an American whiskey distilled mostly from corn. Starting off in Louisville, visit the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. Races do not run year-round. All three of these cities have great hotel and restaurant options with easy access to the Bourbon Trail. You also get to see the bottling line in action. Morning: Rabbit Hole. Inside of the memorial is a symbolic log cabin, a historic replica of the one that Abraham Lincoln first lived in. Evening: Michters Distillery. Are you? But many distilleries offer special tours. The Angels Envy tour features a tasting of their Rye whiskey straight from the barrel. 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. Bulleit Distilling Company. Plus, its easy to find. Use it to customize your trail experience. From beautiful fall foliage, to pumpkin patches and farm cider, this is the best time to experience the Bourbon Trail. Where will your trip lead you? Some have limited to no hours on certain days and hours can change based on the season. They must be designed to work with a standard printing press. The tour guides are very knowledgable and encourage questions. 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). Located in Downtown Louisville, the Bourbon District is a walkable urban experience for anyone looking for a taste of Kentucky. If you have an interest in Abraham Lincoln or American history, this is a worthwhile visit. In one day, it is possible to do three to four tours and/or tastings. Angels Envy offers several different tours. Each distillery has a gift shop selling bourbon and related souvenirs. There are eighteen distilleries on the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The blue markers are restaurant recommendations, Buffalo Trace Distillery, and other notable experiences to add into your Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary. 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. After touring the three distilleries, you can either return to Louisville or spend the night in Bardstown. Make sure you check the hours of the distilleries you want to visit before your trip. For more suggestions on how to plan your time, dont miss our Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary planner. It's worth it to buy a bottle here, because you get to dip the top in the iconic red wax yourself! All of the distilleries are listed inside, with space for your own notes and a stamp from each distillery. Yes, all of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail distilleries charge a fee for a tour or a tasting. Seeing as this is the only "bourbon tour" in Louisville proper, it's worth the stop. Most of this day is walkable. George Washington's Distillery and Gristmill. Select the size of the map before it is time to print it. Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 4 Days: Follow days #1 and #2. We have visited the Kentucky Bourbon Trail twice. And for full details on Bluebird Cafe, read our article How to Visit Bluebird Cafe. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. We are looking for a private driver for 2 days. Green River sits out in Owensboro, almost a two-hour drive from Louisville. 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. Make sure you do this Tuesday through Saturday before 5 pm, when the cooperage and the bottling line are in operation. They like to talk about their mash bill and their yeast strains that they use. You do not have to take a tour at each distillery. Here are four highly rated hotels in Louisville. TRAVEL INSPIRATION: Here are 30great travel booksand a list of the best travelmovies to feed your wanderlust. We visited both but prefer the American Stillhouse. There is even an art museum located inside of the hotel. You can search by name, state, spirit, amenity or simply click on the map to discover distilleries you never knew existed! This ultra-modern distillery is located in Nulu (New Louisville). Jack Frys and the Brown Hotel Lobby Bar are also great options. Pick your favorites and group them together to form your itinerary, whether you have 2, 3, or more days. Day 1 and 2 for sure then a day on the road. Be sure to click the map to visit www.kybourbontrail.com to plan your trips and get detailed directions to all of the distilleries along the Bourbon Trail! At the end of this article, we list specific hotel and B&B recommendations for Louisville, Bardstown, and Lexington. Your timing depends on which experiences you choose to have at each distillery. More than one distillery tour taught us that the strain of yeast they use is one of the most important factors in how their final product tastes. List of Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Best Time to Visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Tips, Tricks, and Advice for Touring the Bourbon Trail, check out our post about the best distilleries. However, people under the age of 21 are not permitted to do a tasting (of course!) Its centrally located, so you can walk to many of the sights and distilleries on Whiskey Row. Touring the Bourbon Trail gives visitors an up-close look at how bourbon is distilled, the history behind the crafting of bourbon, and the art behind the perfect bourbon tasting. The distilling process at Green River is very innovative and a visit here is worthwhile if you want to learn about a unique way to distill bourbon. For more information, visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail website. Wish I had this information prior will save it for next visit. A Few Facts about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The tour is very well done and you get to see a few things that many tours do not include. And you definitely should try the Bourbon Cream. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour is a collection of small and/or new (er) distilleries assembled by the Kentucky Distillers' Association. Tours typically run every hour, and its usually best to reserve online ahead of time. Holiday Inn Express and Suites Downtown Louisville. 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). Four Roses distillery was built in 1910 and features Spanish Mission-Style architecture, a rarity in Kentucky. These regions are broken out by geographic location. Andrew Jackson, Henry Harrison, and King Louis Phillippe have all stayed here. If you have specific non-KBT distilleries in mind I recommend checking their websites for pricing information. In 2008, it was Historic Hotels of Americas top pick. Artsy, unique, contemporarythis is another top pick in Louisville. In order to save paper, set all the borders to 0.3. Angels Envy puts a twist on whiskey distilling. Some distilleries are closed Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. To take a tour at all eighteen distilleries you will need a minimum of five days, but six to seven days is ideal. 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. Afternoon: Take a tour at Old Forester 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. 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. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. Wilderness Trail is the newest member on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. If you pay extra, we can also produce these maps in specialist file formats. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. On this immersive tour, travel back in time to 1783, when bourbon distilling got its start. 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. Visit the final two distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, plus one notable bourbon distillery that is not part of the official trail, Buffalo Trace. 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. If you've got a sweet tooth, definitely also try the bourbon cream (it's perfect if you're still not sold on straight bourbon) and bourbon brittle. During this time, most tours will be full and many will sell out in advance. Several distilleries now offer cocktail or mixology classes. Nope. 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. Visit their website here. Lexington Brewing Company offers a wide variety of tours as well as a mixology class. One of the highlights of this tour, other than the tasting, was standing inside of their rickhouse. It has a relatively central location, so its easy to get to Bardstown, Lexington, and even Owensboro. Also known as the Independent Stave Company, this is where the barrels are constructed for many of the bourbon distilleries in Kentucky. 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. One of our favorite parts of the tour was a visit to the rickhouse. 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. Located just outside of Lexington, stay in a suite or one-bedroom apartment, perfect if you like having extra space or a kitchenette. Your email address will not be published. The best time of year for a road trip down the Bourbon Trail: Summer is high season along the trail, so you'll have more crowds to contend with, and hotels will be slightly more expensive. Tours last approximately one hour, ending with a tasting. We offer a real-time comprehensive list of all the distilleries from start up farm distillery to craft distillery to large pre-Prohibition distillery. Visit the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail website here. If you only have one day on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the combination of these three tours hits the most important steps in the distilling process. For more information on these tours and experience, read our article about the distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Just spent two nights in Bardstown and took the cocktail class which was awesome. This tour does the best job explaining the history of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. This is Louisvilles landmark hotel. This distillery is located in Shively, very close to downtown Louisville. More Information for Your Trip to Louisville. The Old Nelson County Jail housed prisoners from 1797 until 1987. Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Built in 2017 and open to visitors in 2019, this brand-new distillery features modern, state-of-the-art technology. Cameron is a freelance writer and editor working in travel publishing for the past 10 years. To get here, drive or use Uber. In Louisville, stay downtown at the Brown Hotel, a city landmark full of history and romance. Makers Mark is a must-visit on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Creating a snapshot image is easy since all dimensions are measured in pixels. 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. Tim and I stayed here on our most recent visit to Louisville and we had a very nice experience here. Distilling Company Tennessee | DISCUS, Hand Sanitizer 802 Royal Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38107 Beechtree Distillery Learn how to plan your bourbon tasting itinerary, when to go, where to stay, and even ideas for things to do off of the bourbon trail. and cannot participate in the Passport program. You can take a tour and get a stamp in your passport at either location. Spread out over two separate trips, it took us seven days to visit seventeen distilleries (one more distillery has been added since our visit in November 2019), doing a combination of tours and tastings. I recommend visiting the official website of the distilleries for hours and tour information. It smells like you are at a bakery, only they are baking slightly sour bread. This is a must-see tour. Consider Lexington and Louisville as practical bases for your trip: most distilleries are within these cities, or in the small towns orbiting them, and both cities have vibrant downtowns full of hotels, restaurants, and notable sights. If you pay extra, we can also produce these maps in specialist file formats. Local Chef Ouita Michel is at the forefront of Bourbon Trail gourmet dining, with top-notch restaurants in Midway, Versailles, and Lexington. 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. If you stay until Memorial Day weekend, expect big crowds that weekend because of the holiday. This is a great bit of Texas BBQ in the heart of Kentucky. Tall tales, trip guides, & the world's weird & wonderful. Trust me!!! It was delightfully quiet, with small tour groups. Sleep in Louisville. Confirm that youre over 21 years of age. A stay at the boutique 21C Hotel makes a great homebase in Lexington; this artsy, modern hotel is located right downtown, and the lobby also functions as a contemporary art gallery. There are many more distilleries you can visit in Kentucky that are not part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. UPSCALE: 21c Museum Hotel. On the third day, watch the horse races at Churchill Downs. Specialty tours cost more. Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 2 Days: Follow days #1 and #2. Note: Due to COVID-19, distillery tours may be cancelled or offered on a reduced schedule. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You can bookmark this post on your browser. With so many great distilleries spread across the rolling hills of Kentucky, planning a trip on the Bourbon Trail can feel a bit overwhelming. The distilleries of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail are deeply rooted in history, many beginning operations in the 18th or 19th centuries that are still operated by the same families generations later. Its hot, its crowded, and during the summer months, most distilleries take a break from distilling, anywhere from a week or two or longer. It has received accolades from Conde Nast Traveler, Southern Living, and Travel & Leisure. 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY, US. The distilling of bourbon began in Kentucky in the 1700s in Bourbon County. You can elect to skip the tour and just do a tasting instead. 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. Woodford Reserve has a historic, upscale feel to it. Is there a fee to visit the 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. This was our favorite tour for several reasons. Hours vary by day of the week, with more tour times on Fridays and Saturdays. Inside of the memorial is a symbolic log cabin, a historic replica of the one that Abraham Lincoln first lived in. In order to see all four, you should be at the first distillery at opening time. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. Partners & Sponsors 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). Maps & Downloads - Tennessee Whiskey Trail Official Site Maps & Downloads The Google map below represents all members of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. 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. 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. Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey and Four Roses are clustered together near Lexington. Tarpon Springs Distillery. But map makers don't want to let that stop them from building trails. 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. The top things to do on an Extraterrestrial Highway road trip, The top things to do on a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip, The top things to do on an I-40 road trip, The Great Northern is a 3,600 mile, cross-country odyssey, A road trip along New York state's Women's Heritage Trail, 9 stops on a Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail road trip, A cross-country road trip to U.S. presidential libraries, A road trip to filming locations featured in 'The Goonies', Pay Tribute and Reflect at These US Monuments and Memorials. Wilderness Trail sits a bit farther away, in Danville. During these tastings, you still get to learn about the history of the distillery and what sets it apart from the others. In addition, for a fee we can also make the maps in specialized file formats. My father, who is a Bourbon man, will be celebrating his birthday next month and I thought of taking him on a Bourbon tour. The rickhouse is where the barrels are stored. This will minimize your driving and let you stay in the small towns in Kentucky. A map that folds up for instance, is approximately the same size as an ordinary poster. There is a lot of history here. Andrew Jackson and King Louis Phillippe both stayed here. The process of creating a map to print is slightly more complicated than creating an image that is static. Right down the road is the Four Roses Distillery. 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 first visit to Louisville in 2016. To read about our favorite bourbon distillery, read this post. KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL: Pick out which distilleries to visit in our article Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. You take a tour, learn about the art and science behind the distilling of bourbon, and end with a tasting. Afternoon: Louisville Slugger Museum and/or the Muhammed Ali Center. But they see map making as a necessary problem, one which requires a significant amount of time and money. This hotel also gets great reviews and has an excellent location. Carry it with you, and allow it to guide you to adventures unknown. Take the evening to explore downtown Lexington. You know you are at a distillery when you see these prison-style buildings. In 2019, it was much busier and had we not scheduled everything in advance, we would have missed out on a lot of tours. Sleep in Louisville. Eating is important, of course, and luckily, there are tons of local restaurants where you can get a great meal to soak up some of the liquor. We were thinking of going the week before Memorial Day weekend and staying through the weekend. For pricing for each distillery, take a look at our best distilleries post. The repurposed stone castle and the rest of the historical property are breathtaking, and the distillerys chic branding (with plenty of merchandise to take home from the gift shop) adds to the overall charm of the location. Buffalo Trace has a long and fascinating history. First, decide on the size of your printout. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Required fields are marked *. Next, hit up Wild Turkey Distillery, which has been crafting Kentucky bourbon since 1869. Stillwagon Distillery. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. For more great things to do in Louisville, read our post 12 Best Things to do in Louisville. Rather than paying the fee to join the Kentucky Distillers Association, they prefer to offer free tours and tastings to their visitors. They have 10 different varieties of bourbon, and a really unusual, Spanish-style building that houses the distillery. While in Bardstown, head to the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskeyso you can learn all about the liquid gold you've been knocking back! How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. The bourbon and whiskey at Green River spend less time in the barrel than at most distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Yes! Partners & Sponsors 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. On Google Chrome, go to Bookmarks -> Bookmark This Tab and then this post will be saved in your bookmarks.
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