Printing a map gives you an image that can be used to guide your instructions. You know you are at a distillery when you see these prison-style buildings. 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). 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). Rather than paying the fee to join the Kentucky Distillers Association, they prefer to offer free tours and tastings to their visitors. If you have any questions about this Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary, let us know in the comment section below. If you are looking for a highly rated hotel and dont want to spend a lot of money, this is a great option. If you want to do some non-Bourbon activities while road tripping around Kentucky, here are some ideas for you. Printable Bourbon Trail Map- We offer flattened and free TIFF file formats of our maps in CMYK color and high resolution. Dive deeper into the history behind bourbon distilling. From beautiful fall foliage, to pumpkin patches and farm cider, this is the best time to experience the Bourbon Trail. Cheers, Julie. 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. Its a short walk to the Mayan Caf. Children under 21 are welcome on tours, for free or at a discounted cost (and no sampling whiskey for them, of course). Its a step back in time where you learn about the history of Kentucky. On day two, visit the distilleries located south of Louisville: Makers Mark, Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Bardstown Bourbon, and Lux Row. If you pay extra, we can also produce these maps in specialist file formats. For most people, a combination of tours and tastings is the perfect way to sample the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Wilderness Trail is the newest member on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. 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. Louisville and the rest of the bourbon trail are located in the Eastern Time Zone. Spend the night in a historic tavern, enjoy the nightlife in Louisville, or visit the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. Hotel Tango Distillery. The distilling of bourbon began in Kentucky in the 1700s in Bourbon County. Kentucky Bourbon is perfectly aged. Visit the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail website here. 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. Click OK to confirm. Even the most enthusiastic bourbon-lover can't just barrel through and sample bourbon at 9 places all in a rush. Also known as the Independent Stave Company, this is where the barrels are constructed for many of the bourbon distilleries in Kentucky. 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. Make sure you do this Tuesday through Saturday before 5 pm, when the cooperage and the bottling line are in operation. If you want to tour all eighteen distilleries, you need a minimum of seven days. 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. Its good to know that classes about cocktails can be taken during a bourbon tour. It must be distilled from at least 51% corn. The tour guides are very knowledgable and encourage questions. There are some other very cool things to do in this part of Kentucky and I didnt want to leave those out. Heaven Hill is one of the biggest bourbon distilleries, producing Evan Williams and Elijah Craig. In 2019, it was much busier and had we not scheduled everything in advance, we would have missed out on a lot of tours. Read on to learn how to use printable maps. Scheduling a reservation is highly recommended. For more information, visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail website. Are the distilleries open now? After a hearty breakfast of biscuits, its time to hit the trail! 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. Their first bottled bourbon dates back to 1870. Thank you for explaining that a bourbon trail tour will encompass a history of how the liquor was made. Once you get to Shepherdsville, visit the Jim Beam Distillery. Stillwagon Distillery. It does require more ink than printing text. 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. Four Roses. and cannot participate in the Passport program. TRAVEL INSPIRATION: Here are 30great travel booksand a list of the best travelmovies to feed your wanderlust. Take a quick break from bourbon tasting and take your pick from these two amazing museums. Evans William Experience in Louisville. However, people under the age of 21 are not permitted to do a tasting (of course!) Take a specialized tour of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. As for tours, it looks like distilleries are still offering tours and tastings, but I would get the full details for each distillery on their website (we have a link for each distillery in this post). On Google Chrome, go to Bookmarks -> Bookmark This Tab and then this post will be saved in your bookmarks. Everything from five-star restaurants to delicious sandwich stands can be found in the small towns along the way between distilleries. To get here, drive or use Uber. 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. All standard one-hour tours are roughly the samea tour of the facility ending with a tasting. Dinner: Proof on Main. As one of the largest sellers of bourbon in the world, their tour seems to reflect that in having one of the more interactive tours. 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. It can be chilly, but most of the time we were indoors, so weather wasnt much of a factor. USA TRAVEL INSPIRATION: For more great ideas on where to go in the United States, check out our article Best USA Road Trips, which has 18 sample itineraries for your next big adventure. This cocktail class is only offered once a day, so if you like this idea, plan your other distillery visits around this class. We chose the self-driving option. Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. It is a National Historic Landmark property and they offer several different tours depending on your level of interest. In 2008, it was Historic Hotels of Americas top pick. It was educational, lots of fun, and a great way to tour another distillery without taking a tour. 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. The busiest time to visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is from August through mid-November. Our website uses cookies. Why not? Twenty minutes northwest of Woodford Reserve, youll find Buffalo Trace Distillery; 25 minutes southwest is Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, home to the Four Roses and Wild Turkey distilleries. 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. Unfortunately, we do not have a PDF of this article. Sleep in Louisville. Yes, all of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail distilleries charge a fee for a tour or a 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. Located in Bardstown, the Old Talbott Tavern dates back to the 1700s. Angels Envy puts a twist on whiskey distilling. For pricing for each distillery, take a look at our best distilleries post. Again, thanks for the great article! This hotel also gets great reviews and has an excellent location. 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. 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. The weather is pleasant and bourbon is in full production. 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. You can also spend a few days in Nashville or visit nearby New River Gorge National Park. On this tour you visit micro-distilleries, tour historic sights andtowns in Kentucky, and stay in historic bed and breakfast accommodations. You can take a tour and get a stamp in your passport at either location. This map was created by a user. We were thinking of going the week before Memorial Day weekend and staying through the weekend. My husband has been thinking about taking me to one for out anniversary. Yes! 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. This is Louisvilles landmark hotel. This is one of our favorite restaurants in Louisville. 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. 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. If you have any questions about how to visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, let us know in the comment section below. Starting off in Louisville, visit the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. Tonight, sleep in Louisville, Bardstown, or Lexington. 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. 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. 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. For tour information, visit the Wilderness trail website. 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. In order to ensure that you benefit from our products we invite you to contact us for more information. I am not sure. If you stay until Memorial Day weekend, expect big crowds that weekend because of the holiday. And you definitely should try the Bourbon Cream. A Few Facts about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Required fields are marked *. Also, the visitors center offers lots of history, facts and figures. They give a really thorough background on the drink and Louisville's history with it . If you prefer, you can inquire for a quote with our group of cartographers. Next, work off that bourbon tasting with a quick visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum, to see where professional baseball bats are made. If you want a hotel with an awesome location and one that gets great reviews, the Homewood Suites is one to consider. 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 You'll avoid most crowds, enjoy off-season hotel prices, and the scenery along Kentucky's rural roads is unsurpassed in autumn. Learn how to create your own. In this post, we cover everything you need to know to have the best experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Make sure you check the hours of the distilleries you want to visit before your trip. 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. Also, remember that the quality of maps is unbeatable! 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. Next, hit up Wild Turkey Distillery, which has been crafting Kentucky bourbon since 1869. Just look for the giant, golden David statue out front and you know that you are in the right place. LOUISVILLE: Plan your visit to Louisville with our articles about the Best Things to Do in Louisville and Best Places to Eat in Louisville. Here's how. It's no secret that all American states can legally produce bourbon, but Kentucky is the spirit's undisputed . Each distillery has a gift shop selling bourbon and related souvenirs. And many distilleries offer longer, behind the scenes tours for a more detailed look at the distilling process. 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. 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. You can also inquire for a quote with our team of cartographers. Wild Turkey. If you have plans to tour the Kentucky Bourbon Trail between July and early November, make your reservations in advance. 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. For more suggestions on how to plan your time, dont miss our Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Uber and Lyft are also all good choices, and if you've managed to stay sober, biking can also be a fun option. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. This Bulleit facility offers a handful of different tours, tastings and cocktail classes. Its located right around the corner from 21c Museum Hotel, so you can walk to many sights in downtown Louisville. If you want to stay in a historical, luxurious hotel in Louisville, your hotel search can end right here. Sleep in Louisville. Bourbon can be brewed anywhere in the United States, although 95% of bourbon is currently distilled in Kentucky. Copyright 2023 Kentucky Distillers Association. Many of these distilleries are historic and their story is fascinating. Very interested in a 3 day trip. A long weekend is a good amount of time to spend on the Bourbon Trail, but if you plan to combine your trip with other area activities, a week is definitely doable. 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 many more distilleries you can visit in Kentucky that are not part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. And the smell is amazing! Plus, if you save your ticket from the distillery tour, you can tour their warehouse operation, located in Cox's Creek, for free! What Size Of Paper Do You Print Your Maps On? 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. We have visited the Kentucky Bourbon Trail twice. The bourbon and whiskey at Green River spend less time in the barrel than at most distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. 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. 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). 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. Morning: Rabbit Hole. One of these is the very famous Buffalo Trace Distillery (which we include on this itinerary). 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. In one day, it is possible to do three to four tours and/or tastings. Visiting these distilleries is similar to visiting a winery. PRO TRAVEL TIP: When planning your Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary, check the distilleries websites for updated hours and tour availability. The blue markers are restaurant recommendations, Buffalo Trace Distillery, and other notable experiences to add into your Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary. Fantastic article! Tours last one hour and end with a tasting. It has received accolades from Conde Nast Traveler, Southern Living, and Travel & Leisure. Prior to touring the Bourbon Trail, Tim and I were not whiskey drinkers. Starting off in Louisville, visit the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. A combination of ideal weather, limestone water sources, and a long history of the craft make Central Kentucky the bourbon capital of the world. As soon as you step out of your car, you can smell the grains cooking, the first part of the distillation process. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Sundays, Mondays, and holidays are the most common days to have limited or no hours. 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. If you plan to take distillery tours, you will need to visit the website anyway, in order to make your reservations. It is open daily except for major holidays. The typical size is Letter to North America and DIN A4 for the rest of the world. Spend the next day slowly heading out of Louisville to visit a few distilleries on the citys outskirts, and then use Lexington as a homebase for the next couple of days. All of these distilleries offer tours and tastings. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail began in 1999 as a way to bring tourism to Kentucky. We are wine drinkers. HISTORIC: Jailers Inn Bed & Breakfast. Louisville is the most logical choice, with its relatively central location, abundance of hotels and restaurants, and easy access to the airport. Here, you'll enjoy rolling hills as far as the eye can see. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Choose the size you would like to print and click OK. After that, select your print quality. Nothing can be added to the whiskey other than water. Just spent two nights in Bardstown and took the cocktail class which was awesome. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Julie Last updated: December 16, 2022 United States 13 Comments. Even if you dont plan on staying here, a drink in the Lobby Bar is a must-do while in Louisville. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail, a collection of eighteen bourbon distilleries, is drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. 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). Old Forester is the only bourbon to be continually sold by the same company before, during, and after prohibition. For more ideas of what to do in Louisville, read our article about the best things to do in Louisville. Most tours cost $10 to $15 (including tastings), and are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Here in Kentucky, we do things at our own pace and you should, too. It's worth it to buy a bottle here, because you get to dip the top in the iconic red wax yourself! Artsy, unique, contemporarythis is another top pick in Louisville. Plus, there is a high concentration of distilleries located right in town, not to mention lots of great restaurants and hotels to choose from. They give a really thorough background on the drink and Louisville's history with it (and yes, it ends with a tasting). 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!). Confirm that youre over 21 years of age. Foaling begins in late January and will continue through May, so visit in the spring if you want to meet the youngest future racehorses! 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. Download the TN Whiskey Trail brochure in PDF format. Take a Tour of Makers Mark. Some distilleries are closed Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. In no particular order, the three distilleries to visit in Bardstown are Lux Row, Bardstown Bourbon, and Heaven Hill. For the most part, the distilleries are located in and around Louisville, Lexington, and Bardstown. Cheers, Julie. 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. Renting a car gives you the most freedom to explore, but it's not necessary. These distilleries are located within 110 miles of Louisville, mostly clustered between Louisville and Lexington. This will minimize your driving and let you stay in the small towns in Kentucky. Anything you plan or save automagically syncs with the apps, ready for you to hit the road! The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour is organized into four regionsplease toggle through the drop down menu for official groupings. For information on how to plan your visit, dont miss ourKentucky Bourbon Trail Itinerary. It depends on the time of year that you are visiting, and whether or not you been touring over the weekend. 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. 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. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. After reading your article, I am sold and will make the arrangements soon. MAMMOTH CAVE: Mammoth Cave is a national park in Kentucky and it makes a great day trip from Louisville and Nashville.
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