Also, they have a cafe if you're looking for a place to grab food while on the trail. Mint Julep is the most popular tour company in Kentucky that offers tours to the distilleries. Everything from five-star restaurants to delicious sandwich stands can be found in the small towns along the way between distilleries. However, there is a lot more to do in this part of Kentucky than just tour bourbon distilleries. Coalition Whiskey. Right down the road is the Four Roses Distillery. Santa Claus is a small town filled with Christmas-themed hotels, shops, restaurants, and even an amusement park. This is more than just a hotel, it is also an art museum. The final distillery is back up near Louisville: The Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience. 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. 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. Some of them include the distance to view and the subject. Andrew Jackson and King Louis Phillippe both stayed here. On day two, visit the distilleries located south of Louisville: Makers Mark, Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Bardstown Bourbon, and Lux Row. This will minimize your driving and let you stay in the small towns in Kentucky. For most people, a combination of tours and tastings is the perfect way to sample the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Youll need a designated driver along the trail, as youll be sipping and tasting whiskeys. Scheduling a reservation is highly recommended. Inside of the memorial is a symbolic log cabin, a historic replica of the one that Abraham Lincoln first lived in. You do not have to take a tour at each distillery. Heaven Hill. If you are planning a week-long trip, then I recommend in staying in two to three places. For more information, visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail website. Thank you for explaining that a bourbon trail tour will encompass a history of how the liquor was made. HISTORIC: Jailers Inn Bed & Breakfast. Since it's the largest maker of Kentucky bourbon, you'll get a different view: that of a larger-scale operation. See our privacy policy here. This is a beautiful distillery. It's one of the biggest in Bardstown, which is certainly worth seeing. This grain mixture is referred to as the mash bill. The grand finale of the tour isthe bourbon tasting. Are you? This takes the headache out of planning a day of distillery tours, perfect for some people. Distilling Company Tennessee | DISCUS, Hand Sanitizer 802 Royal Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38107 Beechtree Distillery Plus, there is more to see and do in this part of Kentucky, with scenic drives, great towns to visit, and restaurants to try. There are tours and special events at both facilities year round. Visit Your Favorite Distillery. For a lesson on the wild and crazy tales of the Prohibition Era, book a tour at Prohibition Craft Spirits. Even if you dont plan on staying here, a drink in the Lobby Bar is a must-do while in Louisville. The red markers are the seventeen distilleries on the trail. Prior to touring the Bourbon Trail, Tim and I were not whiskey drinkers. Founding Fathers Distillery. Starting off in Louisville, visit the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. 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. Currently, there are eighteen bourbon labels that are a part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Children under 21 are welcome on tours, for free or at a discounted cost (and no sampling whiskey for them, of course). 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. Old Forester Discovery Tour. 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. The 1 hour Discovery Tour ends with a tasting at their bar on the second floor. 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. As you tour more distilleries, you can pick out the differences between the bourbons. Also, consider how the map will be folded. 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. Take the history and the gorgeous natural settings, and add delicious, often entertaining whiskey tours and tastings, and you'll see why traveling along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is such a special experience. Also, the visitors center offers lots of history, facts and figures. On this immersive tour, travel back in time to 1783, when bourbon distilling got its start. Morning: Makers Mark. 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. 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 looking for a highly rated hotel and dont want to spend a lot of money, this is a great option. Even if there is a sober one among the group, it can be a good idea to arrange a local driver for navigating the winding country roads. 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. 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. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Printable Bourbon Trail Map- We offer flattened and free TIFF file formats of our maps in CMYK color and high resolution. Morning: Rabbit Hole. The typical size is Letter to North America and DIN A4 for the rest of the world. Bourbon Capital BBQ Challenge. 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. Use it to customize your trail experience. 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. It's not a part of the Kentucky Distillers Association's official Bourbon Trail, but they are, however, open for tours and tastings. Follow day #4 and #5, sleeping in either Bardstown or Louisville. However, note that the map will display an uninspiring look, since it will be used only for only one printing session. It smells so good in here!! This is a great place to start your visit to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. The Field Guide is your passport to exploring the people and the places behind the Bourbon. 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. These last one to two hours and cost more than your typical tour, but you get a hands-on lesson on how to mix a craft cocktail. All standard one-hour tours are roughly the samea tour of the facility ending with a tasting. The distilleries are grouped together in four general areas. Day after day, distillery tours can get to be monotonous. Aging must take place in a new, charred oak barrel. Visiting these distilleries is similar to visiting a winery. A combination of ideal weather, limestone water sources, and a long history of the craft make Central Kentucky the bourbon capital of the world. Evans William Experience in Louisville. 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. After reading your article, I am sold and will make the arrangements soon. However, if you like the idea of getting outside of the city, Bardstown also makes a nice option. 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. If you want to do some non-Bourbon activities while road tripping around Kentucky, here are some ideas for you. Next up is the Buffalo Trace Distillery. PRO TRAVEL TIP: When planning your Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary, check the distilleries websites for updated hours and tour availability. One of these is the very famous Buffalo Trace (skip ahead to Buffalo Trace). Jim Beam. Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. If you are doing this over a long weekend, plan on spending one day in each area. In one day, it is possible to do three to four tours and/or tastings. The distilling of bourbon began in Kentucky in the 1700s in Bourbon County. Our website uses cookies. Allow about 30 to 45 minutes for a visit here. Most distilleries offer free or discounted tours for military personnel. 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 You take a tour, learn about the art and science behind the distilling of bourbon, and end with a tasting. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. If you have three days in Louisville, follow our day #1 and day #2 itineraries above. The tour guides are very knowledgable and encourage questions. Required fields are marked *. Afternoon: Green River. Though, not nearly as polished as distilleries like Maker's Mark, it's a much more personal, intimate and informative experience than what you'll get touring a bigger operation. 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. 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. Surprisingly, it is not part of the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail. This is a great place to visit to counterbalance the bigger distilleries along the Bourbon Trail. All three of these cities have great hotel and restaurant options with easy access to the Bourbon Trail. Also, remember that the quality of maps is unbeatable! Make sure to stop for a drink at the Bluegrass Tavern, a Lexington classic that boasts the largest bourbon collection in the state. Wish I had this information prior will save it for next visit. 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. 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. And you definitely should try the Bourbon Cream. Many people state that the Buffalo Trace tour is their favorite in Kentucky. Yes, May should be a very nice month for the Bourbon Trail. Finally, day three can be spent in Louisville, visiting Stitzel-Weller, Old Forester, Michters, Rabbit Hole, Angels Envy, and/or Evan Williams. Bardstown Bourbon. 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. 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. This hotel also gets great reviews and has an excellent location. For more distillery rules and Kentucky Liquor laws, check out Kentucky Liquor Laws and The Bourbon Trail. Built in 2017 and open to visitors in 2019, this brand-new distillery features modern, state-of-the-art technology. 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. 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. If you have specific non-KBT distilleries in mind I recommend checking their websites for pricing information. If you prefer, you can inquire for a quote with our group of cartographers. Choose the size you would like to print and click OK. After that, select your print quality. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a collection of eighteen bourbon distilleries located in and around Louisville. Partners & Sponsors If you are really short on time, you can simply visit the gift shop, get your passport stamped, and do a little shopping. The whiskey cannot be distilled higher than 160 proof, enter the barrel higher than 125 proof, and it must not enter the bottle less than 80 proof. This map was created by a user. Tour the distillery, see the hundreds of barrels inside of the rickhouses, and maybe meet legendary Jimmy Russell while you are here. Printing a map gives you an image that can be used to guide your instructions. 528 W Main St Louisville, Kentucky (502) 272-2623. 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. And the smell is amazing! Monday through Friday, tours are offered at the Kentucky Cooperage (1 pm is the latest tour time). 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'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. If you are looking for a large-format map, you should buy an printer that is large-format. It is also possible to save the map in a PDF format. LUXURY: The Brown Hotel. Lexington or Louisville arent the only places to eat well in bourbon country. The memorial is free to visit. It's the same for maps that are large: they can take up nearly 50% of the screen. There are five rules that distinguish bourbon from all other whiskeys. Its good to know that classes about cocktails can be taken during a bourbon tour. BUDGET: Holiday Inn Express and Suites Downtown Louisville. This day includes the remaining distilleries in Louisville with the option to add on one or two museums. 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. For the most part, the distilleries are located in and around Louisville, Lexington, and Bardstown. You also get to see the bottling line in action. A combination of ideal weather, limestone water sources, and a long history of the craft make Central Kentucky the bourbon capital of the world. For information on how to plan your visit, dont miss ourKentucky Bourbon Trail Itinerary. The food is delicious!! 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. Its a short walk to the Mayan Caf. Walk across the street to Proof on Main. We give links to all of the distilleries in our Kentucky Bourbon Trail distillery post. Take a specialized tour of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Be prepared for an experience for all five senses. We visited both but prefer the American Stillhouse. They have a good beer selection, excellent pulled pork, tasty baked beans and a variety of BBQ sauces. This hotels onsite restaurant, Proof on Main, is one of Louisvilles best restaurants and bars. KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL: Pick out which distilleries to visit in our article Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL: Pick out which distilleries to visit in our article Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. MIDRANGE: Staybridge Suites Lexington. After that, check out the Maker's Mark Distillery. In 2016, we were able to show up and do a lot of tastings. If you have any questions about this Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary, let us know in the comment section below. The samples were pretty small, but it's straight bourbon, so you're probably gonna feel pretty good afterward. Tours last one hour and end with a tasting. If you are still craving more bourbon, this restaurant is famous for their cocktails and bourbon and whiskey flights. But how big should the maps be? Cheers, Julie. They like to talk about their mash bill and their yeast strains that they use. While in Bardstown, head to the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskeyso you can learn all about the liquid gold you've been knocking back! Each of these bourbon distilleries must be a member of the Kentucky Distillers Association, which requires paying a fee. You can also inquire for a quote with our team of cartographers. Kentucky Bourbon Trail Map Rocks Glass WellTold (22,289) $19.95 Bestseller Kentucky Bourbon Distillers Art Print - 11" x 15" +, Kentucky Bourbon Trail Map - Kentucky - Bourbon - Louisville - Bardstown - KY GeographicsArt (739) $69.00 FREE shipping Kentucky Distilleries map MediaevalMapmaker (2,260) $23.95 More colors Take the first tour of the day to give yourself enough time to get to Green River. If you have concerns then consider alternating driving/tastings with another person in your party, have a designated driver, or take a tour. But map makers don't want to let that stop them from building trails. Nothing can be added to the whiskey other than water. We have been twice, the same weekend both times (the weekend before Thanksgiving). Did you know: If you use the Roadtrippers mobile app, your trips will instantly auto-sync over Ready for navigation and good times! In this post, we cover everything you need to know to have the best experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The tour includes a walk through their cooperage, where you get to see how the barrels are made. This is a great spot for lunch or dinner while touring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. You can take a tour and get a stamp in your passport at either location. Download the TN Whiskey Trail brochure in PDF format. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour is organized into four regionsplease toggle through the drop down menu for official groupings. Take a late afternoon or early evening tour of Michters Distillery. This was our favorite tour for several reasons. NEARBY DESTINATIONS: Asheville, North Carolina makes a great weekend destination. On Google Chrome, go to Bookmarks -> Bookmark This Tab and then this post will be saved in your bookmarks. For weekends, I would recommend scheduling your tours in advance, any time of the year. Rather than paying the fee to join the Kentucky Distillers Association, they prefer to offer free tours and tastings to their visitors. And we highly recommend lunch at the Old Talbott Tavern in Bardstown. Explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail experiences and find what youre looking for in our map below. During our visit this ranged from $5 to $20 per person depending on the distillery and the type of tour you choose to take. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Most people stay in Louisville, Lexington, or Bardstown. Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Bourbon Trail and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour are trademarks of the Kentucky Distillers Association. 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. Four Roses. Similar to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the Craft Tour takes bourbon touring and tasting to the next level. Sundays, Mondays, and holidays are the most common days to have limited or no hours. From beautiful fall foliage, to pumpkin patches and farm cider, this is the best time to experience the Bourbon Trail. One of the highlights of this tour, other than the tasting, was standing inside of their rickhouse. 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. Day 1 and 2 for sure then a day on the road. 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). Now, you can stay in a colonial style room in this very same building. But there is more to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail than just distillery tours and bourbon tastings. Custom-printed maps are perfect for parks departments, companies, and recreational complexes. Where will your trip lead you? This is the busiest time on the trail and tours can sell out. We offer a real-time comprehensive list of all the distilleries from start up farm distillery to craft distillery to large pre-Prohibition distillery. Nearest Green Distillery. It is a National Historic Landmark property and they offer several different tours depending on your level of interest. PRO TRAVEL TIP: Most distilleries do not offer tours seven days a week. You can search by name, state, spirit, amenity or simply click on the map to discover distilleries you never knew existed!