I recommend visiting the official website of the distilleries for hours and tour information. 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. These regions are broken out by geographic location. Your email address will not be published. The 1 hour Discovery Tour ends with a tasting at their bar on the second floor. Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 3 Days: Follow days #1 and #2. In Louisville, stay downtown at the Brown Hotel, a city landmark full of history and romance. Heaven Hill. If you have concerns then consider alternating driving/tastings with another person in your party, have a designated driver, or take a tour. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail, a collection of eighteen bourbon distilleries, is drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. It does require more ink than printing text. It gets to be repetitive. Heaven Hill is one of the biggest bourbon distilleries, producing Evan Williams and Elijah Craig. This is a great place to start your visit to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Some of them are new kids on the block, and others have been around since bourbon's inception. Since it's the largest maker of Kentucky bourbon, you'll get a different view: that of a larger-scale operation. Also known as the Independent Stave Company, this is where the barrels are constructed for many of the bourbon distilleries in Kentucky. Also, take some time to enjoy the bucolic setting of this distillery. Take the evening to explore downtown Lexington. In no particular order, the three distilleries to visit in Bardstown are Lux Row, Bardstown Bourbon, and Heaven Hill. Old Forester Discovery Tour. Now, you can stay in a colonial style room in this very same building. We chose the self-driving option. See our privacy policy here. 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. Cheers, Julie. It has a relatively central location, so its easy to get to Bardstown, Lexington, and even Owensboro. These are the rickhouses at Heaven Hill. A combination of ideal weather, limestone water sources, and a long history of the craft make Central Kentucky the bourbon capital of the world. We started at Wild Turkey and were the only ones on their 9 am tour. On Google Chrome, go to Bookmarks -> Bookmark This Tab and then this post will be saved in your bookmarks. Your email address will not be published. They also operate a bed and breakfast. A memorial now stands at his birthplace. Rather than paying the fee to join the Kentucky Distillers Association, they prefer to offer free tours and tastings to their visitors. Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. Plan to spend at least 2-3 days traveling along the Bourbon Trail, and stop off at some of the many charming Kentucky towns along the route. The process of creating a map to print is slightly more complicated than creating an image that is static. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. Whether you're a bourbon snob, or you just like drinking, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a must-visit. Most of this day is walkable. The worst time to visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, according to the guides that we spoke to, is during the summer months. All rights reserved. You know you are at a distillery when you see these prison-style buildings. If you want a hotel with an awesome location and one that gets great reviews, the Homewood Suites is one to consider. What Is The Best Way To Print An Un-Cost Map? 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. Plus, its easy to find. 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. Northern Route New Riff Second Sight Old Pogue Boone County Neeley Family Western Route Boundary Oak Casey Jones MB Roland Dueling Grounds Central Route Kentucky Artisan Kentucky Peerless Jeptha Creed Willett Preservation Bluegrass Route Prior guests rave about cleanliness, comfort, and location. One of our favorite parts of the tour was a visit to the rickhouse. 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. They like to talk about their mash bill and their yeast strains that they use. Angels Envy offers several different tours. 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. It is said to be the oldest western stagecoach stop in America and to be visited by Jesse James ghost. 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. 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. If you want to tour all eighteen distilleries, you need a minimum of seven days. It is not the actual log cabin of Abraham Lincolns birthplace. We recommend staying in Louisville. This hotel also gets great reviews and has an excellent location. Being on our own, we could choose which distilleries to tour and which ones to just do a tasting. Holiday Inn Express and Suites Downtown Louisville. 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. 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. Youll need a designated driver along the trail, as youll be sipping and tasting whiskeys. For more great things to do in Louisville, read our post 12 Best Things to do in Louisville. 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). They must be designed to work with a standard printing press. Surprisingly, it is not part of the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail. If you move fast, you have enough time to visit both in the afternoon. 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. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. Most people stay in Louisville, Lexington, or Bardstown. The KY Bourbon Trail Here are some more resources to aide you in making your way to the places that make Kentucky's world-renowned bourbon. Afternoon: Take a tour at Old Forester Distillery. How far in advance would you recommend booking tours, or are walk-ins generally accepted at most of the distilleries? During this one-hour class, we mixed two cocktails: the Kentucky Mule and the Sazerac. This is the busiest time on the trail and tours can sell out. Bourbon is distilled year-round, with the exception of a few weeks during the summer, when some distilleries shut down for routine cleaning and maintenance. Andrew Jackson and King Louis Phillippe both stayed here. All standard one-hour tours are roughly the samea tour of the facility ending with a tasting. Renting a car gives you the most freedom to explore, but it's not necessary. Next, work off that bourbon tasting with a quick visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum, to see where professional baseball bats are made. 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. In 2019, it was much busier and had we not scheduled everything in advance, we would have missed out on a lot of tours. Next, hit up Wild Turkey Distillery, which has been crafting Kentucky bourbon since 1869. 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. If you have plans to tour the Kentucky Bourbon Trail between July and early November, make your reservations in advance. Buffalo Trace is the oldest continuously operating distillery in America. Dive deeper into the history behind bourbon distilling. This was our all-around best tour experience. Required fields are marked *. If you want to print a different dimension, choose an alternative size from the drop-down list , then alter the size of the page. 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. Angels Envy puts a twist on whiskey distilling. 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. It can be chilly, but most of the time we were indoors, so weather wasnt much of a factor. Are the distilleries open now? Yes! And , even then, their maps are already obsolete before they even hit the plotter. HISTORIC: Talbott Tavern and Inn. BUDGET: Hampton Inn Bardstown. This cocktail class is only offered once a day, so if you like this idea, plan your other distillery visits around this class. Say goodbye to Louisville and head south to Bardstown. Afternoon: Louisville Slugger Museum and/or the Muhammed Ali Center. Where will your trip lead you? MAMMOTH CAVE: Mammoth Cave is a national park in Kentucky and it makes a great day trip from Louisville and Nashville. The blue markers are restaurant recommendations, Buffalo Trace Distillery, and other notable experiences to add into your Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary. Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. How can I safe it to find once again? How you do it is completely up to you. Here's a sample itinerary to follow for your visit. Races at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington take place in October and April, and at Churchill Downs in Louisville in November, May, and June . They have a good beer selection, excellent pulled pork, tasty baked beans and a variety of BBQ sauces. On this immersive tour, travel back in time to 1783, when bourbon distilling got its start. Tours last one hour and end with a tasting. A memorial now stands at his birthplace. On the third day, watch the horse races at Churchill Downs. Many of these distilleries are historic and their story is fascinating. TRAVEL INSPIRATION: Here are 30great travel booksand a list of the best travelmovies to feed your wanderlust. Id rather not print the article because of all of the adds. The usual 150-page guide will include maps of the trail, itineraries and cocktail recipes, advice, tasting notes and information on the 19 participating distilleries. UPSCALE: 21c Museum Hotel Lexington. Trail builders, on the other hand prefer to be in the woods in order to use chainsaws to make their trails. If you are looking for a large-format map, you should buy an printer that is large-format. It has received accolades from Conde Nast Traveler, Southern Living, and Travel & Leisure. Lunch: Walk, drive or Uber to the Mussel & Burger Bar, another one of our favorite restaurants in Louisville. When you're ready for a hearty meal, there's super delicious BBQ right off I-75 at Red State BBQ. PRO TRAVEL TIP: When planning your Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary, check the distilleries websites for updated hours and tour availability. Learn how to create your own. Why not? To read about our favorite bourbon distillery, read this post. Inside of the memorial is a symbolic log cabin, a historic replica of the one that Abraham Lincoln first lived in. 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. Some of these yeast strains have been used for decades at each distillery. Even if you dont plan on staying here, a drink in the Lobby Bar is a must-do while in Louisville. For the most part, the distilleries are located in and around Louisville, Lexington, and Bardstown. This is a must-see tour. Any advice you have on this front would be greatly appreciated, since Ive heard mixed answers. KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL: Pick out which distilleries to visit in our article Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. It smells wonderful and it kind of made me hungry! For more information on these tours and experience, read our article, More Information for Your Trip to Kentucky. 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. Bulleit Distilling Company. This tour does the best job explaining the history of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Its located right around the corner from 21c Museum Hotel, so you can walk to many sights in downtown Louisville. 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. Created by Roadtrippers - March 22nd 2016. We have not visited this distillery yet but have been drinking their bourbon for quite some time. 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. Morning: Rabbit Hole. Tours last approximately one hour, ending with a tasting. 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. 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. If you are planning a week-long trip, then I recommend in staying in two to three places. 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!). There are 37 distilleries total, but whether you tackle them all is entirely up to you! Dine on Central American food prepared by the chef who grew up on the Yucatan Peninsula. If you plan to take distillery tours, you will need to visit the website anyway, in order to make your reservations. Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 2 Days: Follow days #1 and #2. But many distilleries offer special tours. The Angels Envy tour features a tasting of their Rye whiskey straight from the barrel. 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. Roadtrippers helps you find the most epic destinations and detoursfrom roadside attractions to natural wonders and beyond. This is the best historical lesson about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and a great place to get an overview of how bourbon came to be. 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. Allow about 30 to 45 minutes for a visit here. They give a really thorough background on the drink and Louisville's history with it (and yes, it ends with a tasting). Generally, the default size of the map can be 8.5 By 11 inches. To take a tour at all eighteen distilleries you will need a minimum of five days, but six to seven days is ideal. If you are looking for a highly rated hotel and dont want to spend a lot of money, this is a great option. PRO TRAVEL TIP: Most distilleries do not offer tours seven days a week. Then head to The Woodford Reserve Distillery. Julie Last updated: December 16, 2022 United States 32 Comments. For lunch and/or dinner, we recommend Kitchen& Bar, the restaurant at Bardstown Bourbon. So, its nice to break up distillery visits with other experiences. But they see map making as a necessary problem, one which requires a significant amount of time and money. 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. Its good to know that classes about cocktails can be taken during a bourbon tour. 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. Explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail experiences and find what youre looking for in our map below. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Also, they have a cafe if you're looking for a place to grab food while on the trail. One of these is the very famous Buffalo Trace Distillery (which we include on this itinerary). Inside of the memorial is a symbolic log cabin, a historic replica of the one that Abraham Lincoln first lived in. 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! Thank you for explaining that a bourbon trail tour will encompass a history of how the liquor was made. A beautiful time of year, however, is mid-September to late-October. And the smell is amazing! Most tours teach you the same process about bourbon distilling, with a few differences at each distillery. 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. Our website uses cookies. With more time, you can make the drive out to Owensboro and visit Green River Distilling Company or drive to Danville and visit Wilderness Trail. Here in Kentucky, we do things at our own pace and you should, too. Bardstown Bourbon. Starting off in Louisville, visit the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. Explore our guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail for suggested routes, cant-miss spots, and other tips for having the best experience in bourbon country. 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). For more restaurant recommendations, check out our article Best Eats in Louisville. 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. You can elect to skip the tour and just do a tasting instead. You can also select Print from your web browsers menu (the web browser menu typically looks like 3 dots in either the horizontal or vertical position). With so many great distilleries spread across the rolling hills of Kentucky, planning a trip on the Bourbon Trail can feel a bit overwhelming. This Bulleit facility offers a handful of different tours, tastings and cocktail classes. Check the hours of operation for each distillery before your visit. In the Bourbon District, you're never more than 5 minutes away from the next attraction, so planning that group tour or birthday celebration just got a lot easier. It takes five days to complete this tour. Plus, if you save your ticket from the distillery tour, you can tour their warehouse operation, located in Cox's Creek, for free! It depends on the time of year that you are visiting, and whether or not you been touring over the weekend. Tim and I stayed here on our most recent visit to Louisville and we had a very nice experience here. The distilleries are grouped together in four general areas. If you have any questions about this Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary, let us know in the comment section below. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour is organized into four regionsplease toggle through the drop down menu for official groupings. First, decide on the size of your printout. And we highly recommend lunch at the Old Talbott Tavern in Bardstown. Similar to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the Craft Tour takes bourbon touring and tasting to the next level. Note: This post contains affiliate links. BUDGET: Holiday Inn Express and Suites Downtown Louisville. There is also the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour. Buffalo Trace. If you have specific non-KBT distilleries in mind I recommend checking their websites for pricing information. 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. 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. Rather than paying the fee to join the Kentucky Distillers Association, they prefer to offer free tours and tastings to their visitors. Creating a snapshot image is easy since all dimensions are measured in pixels. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. It is also possible to save the map in a PDF format.