These include Willett, Pogue, Boone County, Neeley Family Distillery, Kentucky Peerless, Kentucky Artisan and many others. One of these is the very famous Buffalo Trace Distillery (which we include on this itinerary). We saw their vans everywhere! LOUISVILLE: Plan your visit to Louisville with our articles about the Best Things to Do in Louisville and Best Places to Eat in Louisville. To tour the Kentucky Bourbon Trail you have two options: self-drive the bourbon trail or join a tour group. 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. Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey and Four Roses are clustered together near Lexington. 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. If you are doing this over a long weekend, plan on spending one day in each area. Printable Bourbon Trail Map- We offer flattened and free TIFF file formats of our maps in CMYK color and high resolution. 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. In addition, for a fee we can also make the maps in specialized file formats. Optional Detour: Abraham Lincoln Birthplace. Cameron is a freelance writer and editor working in travel publishing for the past 10 years. 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. In this post, we cover everything you need to know to have the best experience 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. UPSCALE: 21c Museum Hotel Lexington. Spring is a nice time to visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. This ultra-modern distillery is located in Nulu (New Louisville). In one day, it is possible to do three to four tours and/or tastings. After a hearty breakfast of biscuits, its time to hit the trail! However, there are few places to visit out this way, if you are interested. The busiest time to visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is from August through mid-November. At the end of this article, we list specific hotel and B&B recommendations for Louisville, Bardstown, and Lexington. On the third day, watch the horse races at Churchill Downs. Evans William Experience in Louisville. Why not? 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. 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. Its a short walk to the Mayan Caf. Angels Envy offers several different tours. These five rules are: Bourbon contains at least 51% corn with different proportions of wheat, malted barley, or rye. 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). ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Most people stay in Louisville, Lexington, or Bardstown. It's a pretty cool museum and factory tour, and will definitely make you appreciate old hitters and their bats. We have visited the Kentucky Bourbon Trail twice. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. There is also the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour. However, if you like the idea of getting outside of the city, Bardstown also makes a nice option. Getting to know more about liquor will probably help us know the right pairings to get when we eat at restaurants. Choose the size you would like to print and click OK. After that, select your print quality. It is also possible to save the map in a PDF format. Dinner: Proof on Main. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Spend the day visiting two big names in bourbon and a tour of a cooperage. Please enjoy like a true Kentuckian Responsibly. Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Sleep in Louisville. Looking to plan trip in mid June 2020, I recommend checking the official websites of the distilleries to see if they are open. One of the highlights of this tour, other than the tasting, was standing inside of their rickhouse. Over in Bardstown, there's Willett Distillery. Grab a bottle or some bourbon balls in the gift shop afterwards! During this one-hour class, we mixed two cocktails: the Kentucky Mule and the Sazerac. 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. Cheers, Julie. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Some distilleries are closed Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. Use it to customize your trail experience. During this time, most tours will be full and many will sell out in advance. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. For more suggestions on how to plan your time, dont miss our Kentucky Bourbon Trail. If you collect stamps from each distillery you can redeem your passport for a Kentucky Bourbon Trail tasting glass. 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 tour guides are very knowledgable and encourage questions. 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. Abraham Lincoln was born in a one room log cabin in Hodgenville, Kentucky in 1809. This cocktail class is only offered once a day, so if you like this idea, plan your other distillery visits around this class. Just spent two nights in Bardstown and took the cocktail class which was awesome. Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 4 Days: Follow days #1 and #2. Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays are the days that distilleries are most likely to close their doors to tour groups, but this varies from distillery to distillery. Bourbon is booming right now and so is tourism in Kentucky. These are the rickhouses at Heaven Hill. Coalition Whiskey. We opted to take the 30 minute Unlocking the Senses tasting, where we sampled four Bulleit whiskeys. Traveling directly between Louisville and Lexington (when you arent stopping at distilleries) takes less than an hour, and both cities have convenient airports. More Information for Your Trip to Louisville. 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. All standard one-hour tours are roughly the samea tour of the facility ending with a tasting. However, note that the map will display an uninspiring look, since it will be used only for only one printing session. Unfortunately, we do not have a PDF of this article. 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. Afternoon: Louisville Slugger Museum and/or the Muhammed Ali Center. Take a specialized tour of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. 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. Next up is the Buffalo Trace Distillery. 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. The tour is very well done and you get to see a few things that many tours do not include. 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. Tim and I stayed here on our most recent visit to Louisville and we had a very nice experience here. Printable Bourbon Trail Map - We offer flattened and free TIFF file formats of our maps in CMYK color and high resolution. 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. A combination of ideal weather, limestone water sources, and a long history of the craft make Central Kentucky the bourbon capital of the world. Each distillery has a gift shop selling bourbon and related souvenirs. The grand finale of the tour isthe bourbon tasting. 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. 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. Chuckanut Bay Distillery. Distilling Company Tennessee | DISCUS, Hand Sanitizer 802 Royal Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38107 Beechtree Distillery Note: Due to COVID-19, distillery tours may be cancelled or offered on a reduced schedule. George Washington's Distillery and Gristmill. They have 10 different varieties of bourbon, and a really unusual, Spanish-style building that houses the distillery. 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. Currently, there are eighteen bourbon labels that are a part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Built in 2017 and open to visitors in 2019, this brand-new distillery features modern, state-of-the-art technology. Unfortunately, I do not have any private drivers to recommend. And many distilleries offer longer, behind the scenes tours for a more detailed look at the distilling process. Its located right around the corner from 21c Museum Hotel, so you can walk to many sights in downtown Louisville. Finally, day three can be spent in Louisville, visiting Stitzel-Weller, Old Forester, Michters, Rabbit Hole, Angels Envy, and/or Evan Williams. 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. Each of these bourbon distilleries must be a member of the Kentucky Distillers Association, which requires paying a fee. Many of these distilleries are historic and their story is fascinating. Pdf Printable Kentucky Bourbon Trail Map - We offer flattened and free TIFF file formats of our maps in CMYK color and high resolution. Hours vary by day of the week, with more tour times on Fridays and Saturdays. But inside are stacks and stacks of bourbon filled barrels, slowly maturing and filling the air with a wonderful aroma. Most tours teach you the same process about bourbon distilling, with a few differences at each distillery. On day two, visit the distilleries located south of Louisville: Makers Mark, Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Bardstown Bourbon, and Lux Row. Tim and I stayed here on our first visit to Louisville in 2016. There are 37 distilleries total, but whether you tackle them all is entirely up to you! If you want a hotel with an awesome location and one that gets great reviews, the Homewood Suites is one to consider. Bourbon is an American whiskey distilled mostly from corn. We are looking for a private driver for 2 days. Located just outside of Lexington, stay in a suite or one-bedroom apartment, perfect if you like having extra space or a kitchenette. Cheers, Julie. Anything you plan or save automagically syncs with the apps, ready for you to hit the road! Are the distilleries open now? There are four major regions of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Whether you just have a few days or an entire week, we have some great ideas for how you can plan your time. Get suggestions on how to plan your trip, whether you just have a few days, a long weekend, or an entire week. 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. Old Forester offers a tour with the president of the company (a few times per year). Most distilleries offer free or discounted tours for military personnel. For more restaurant recommendations, check out our article Best Eats in Louisville. Surprisingly, it is not part of the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail. 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. Whether you have two days or a week, there is plenty here to keep you busy. Races do not run year-round. Many offer tours and a few are very near to the popular distilleries! Read on to learn how to use printable maps. Plus, if you save your ticket from the distillery tour, you can tour their warehouse operation, located in Cox's Creek, for free! For more distillery rules and Kentucky Liquor laws, check out Kentucky Liquor Laws and The Bourbon Trail. A beautiful time of year, however, is mid-September to late-October. Also known as the Independent Stave Company, this is where the barrels are constructed for many of the bourbon distilleries in Kentucky. 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. Cheers, Julie. They also operate a bed and breakfast. Did you know: If you use the Roadtrippers mobile app, your trips will instantly auto-sync over Ready for navigation and good times! Nothing can be added to the whiskey other than water. In order to save paper, set all the borders to 0.3. 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. Again, thanks for the great article! Children under 21 are welcome on tours, for free or at a discounted cost (and no sampling whiskey for them, of course). HISTORIC: Jailers Inn Bed & Breakfast. Learn more about the benefits of printing maps. Most of this day is walkable. It is not the actual log cabin of Abraham Lincolns birthplace. Its a step back in time where you learn about the history of Kentucky. Santa Claus is a small town filled with Christmas-themed hotels, shops, restaurants, and even an amusement park. Your email address will not be published. And , even then, their maps are already obsolete before they even hit the plotter. This map was created by a user. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to Your Places, click Maps, and you will see this map on your list. It's not a part of the Kentucky Distillers Association's official Bourbon Trail, but they are, however, open for tours and tastings. If you move fast, you have enough time to visit both in the afternoon. Plus, there is more to see and do in this part of Kentucky, with scenic drives, great towns to visit, and restaurants to try. The list is ever growing. These distilleries are located within 110 miles of Louisville, mostly clustered between Louisville and Lexington. Required fields are marked *. Trust me!!! We offer a real-time comprehensive list of all the distilleries from start up farm distillery to craft distillery to large pre-Prohibition distillery. Uber and Lyft are also all good choices, and if you've managed to stay sober, biking can also be a fun option. There are some other very cool things to do in this part of Kentucky and I didnt want to leave those out. Jack Frys and the Brown Hotel Lobby Bar are also great options. Any advice you have on this front would be greatly appreciated, since Ive heard mixed answers. 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!). If you are still craving more bourbon, this restaurant is famous for their cocktails and bourbon and whiskey flights. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. The bourbon and whiskey at Green River spend less time in the barrel than at most distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. We took the Shaken & Stirred class at Bardstown Bourbon and it was our favorite experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. But they see map making as a necessary problem, one which requires a significant amount of time and money. In Louisville, stay downtown at the Brown Hotel, a city landmark full of history and romance. Nope. Its located right around the corner from 21c Museum Hotel, so you can walk to many sights in downtown Louisville. Holiday Inn Express and Suites Downtown Louisville. I give links to each distillery in these daily itineraries. Woodford Reserve. My husband has been thinking about taking me to one for out anniversary. Rooms are modern and trendy and there is an onsite restaurant. 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. We have links to each distillery in our Best Distilleries post. If you have any questions about how to visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, let us know in the comment section below. This was our favorite tour for several reasons. It has received accolades from Conde Nast Traveler, Southern Living, and Travel & Leisure. It has received accolades from Conde Nast Traveler, Southern Living, and Travel & Leisure. Maps & Downloads - Tennessee Whiskey Trail Official Site Maps & Downloads The Google map below represents all members of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. They offer both tours and tastings individually, so if you'd rather skip seeing the still and warehouse, you can just sample their wares-- try the sweet and spicy Wild Turkey Honey Stinger! You can take a tour and get a stamp in your passport at either location. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour is organized into four regionsplease toggle through the drop down menu for official groupings. NASHVILLE: For recommendations on what to do in Nashville, check out our articles Best Things to Do in Nashville and Best Eats in Nashville. 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. Map of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Below is a map of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Thanks! Children are allowed on the tours and generally pay a reduced tour fee or can tour for free, depending on the distillery. The mash always looks the same but the horse farms have different aspects to showcase at different times of the year. 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. This is a great place to visit to counterbalance the bigger distilleries along the Bourbon Trail. Surprisingly, it is not part of the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail. To get here, drive or use Uber. After that, check out the Maker's Mark Distillery. Tall tales, trip guides, & the world's weird & wonderful. Being on our own, we could choose which distilleries to tour and which ones to just do a tasting. Lexington Brewing Company. For more information on these tours and experience, read our article, More Information for Your Trip to Kentucky. You have the choice to head southeast out of Louisville to explore the Jim Beam facilities. 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. We both acquired a taste for bourbon on our long weekend in Kentucky. How far in advance would you recommend booking tours, or are walk-ins generally accepted at most of the distilleries? You can also spend a few days in Nashville or visit nearby New River Gorge National Park. Many people state that the Buffalo Trace tour is their favorite in Kentucky. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. This distillery is located in Shively, very close to downtown Louisville. Take the evening to explore downtown Lexington. What Size Of Paper Do You Print Your Maps On? 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. Bulleit Distilling Company. From beautiful fall foliage, to pumpkin patches and farm cider, this is the best time to experience the Bourbon Trail. Plus, there is a high concentration of distilleries located right in town, not to mention lots of great restaurants and hotels to choose from. Is there a fee to visit the distilleries? 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 BUDGET: Glo Best Western Lexington. After touring Old Forester, its a short walk to Angels Envy. This budget hotel gets good reviews and is conveniently located in Bardstown. Take the first tour of the day to give yourself enough time to get to Green River. The weather is pleasant and bourbon is in full production. Next, hit up Wild Turkey Distillery, which has been crafting Kentucky bourbon since 1869. Morning: Rabbit Hole. It was delightfully quiet, with small tour groups. Tours typically run every hour, and its usually best to reserve online ahead of time. During these tastings, you still get to learn about the history of the distillery and what sets it apart from the others. One of our favorite parts of the tour was a visit to the rickhouse. We started at Wild Turkey and were the only ones on their 9 am tour. Julie Last updated: December 16, 2022 United States 13 Comments. Old Forester Discovery Tour. From Lexington head over to Danville, Kentucky and visit Wilderness Trace Distillery. For pricing for each distillery, take a look at our best distilleries post. On this tour you visit micro-distilleries, tour historic sights andtowns in Kentucky, and stay in historic bed and breakfast accommodations. During the tour, which usually lasts about one hour, your guide leads you through the property, teaching you about the distillation process and the history of the distillery. Tonight, sleep in Louisville, Bardstown, or Lexington. Im looking into doing at least part of the trail myself with some friends when weve all been vaccinated. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a collection of eighteen whiskey distilleries. and cannot participate in the Passport program. This tour does the best job explaining the history of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. This grain mixture is referred to as the mash bill. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Since it's the largest maker of Kentucky bourbon, you'll get a different view: that of a larger-scale operation. Andrew Jackson, Henry Harrison, and King Louis Phillippe have all stayed here. For more suggestions on how to plan your time, dont miss our Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary planner. They offer a comprehensive tour of their facility, including a look into how their bourbon is bottled. Some printers from the past might require you to connect to your computer before printing. The rickhouse is where the barrels are stored. A map that folds up for instance, is approximately the same size as an ordinary poster. LUXURY: The Brown Hotel. 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 6 Days: Follow our itinerary for 5 days and add on day #7 (Bulleit, Buffalo Trace, and Lexington Brewing Company). Some distilleries are closed on Mondays. UPSCALE: 21c Museum Hotel. Do you have to be a bourbon drinker to have a good time on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail? For lunch, dine at Star Hill Provisions at Makers Mark or Ragettis Italian Food in Lebanon. 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 tour information, visit the Wilderness trail website. If you want to stay in a historical, luxurious hotel in Louisville, your hotel search can end right here. It smells wonderful and it kind of made me hungry! MIDRANGE: Staybridge Suites Lexington. Local Chef Ouita Michel is at the forefront of Bourbon Trail gourmet dining, with top-notch restaurants in Midway, Versailles, and Lexington. For more ideas of what to do in Louisville, read our article about the best things to do in Louisville. Several distilleries now offer cocktail or mixology classes. This map was created by a user. Sundays, Mondays, and holidays are the most common days to have limited or no hours. It is a very fun thing to do and it was one of our highlights on our first trip to Kentucky. Theres something here for everyone. For lunch and/or dinner, we recommend Kitchen& Bar, the restaurant at Bardstown Bourbon. Lexington or Louisville arent the only places to eat well in bourbon country. Artsy, unique, contemporarythis is another top pick in Louisville. In 2019, it was much busier and had we not scheduled everything in advance, we would have missed out on a lot of tours. Louisville, Bardstown, and Lexington make a great home base for this day (and day number 7 below). And for full details on Bluebird Cafe, read our article How to Visit Bluebird Cafe. This distillery features bourbon finished in port wine barrels and rye whiskey finished in rum barrels. Scheduling a reservation is highly recommended. 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. Each of these bourbon distilleries must be a member of the Kentucky Distillers Association, which requires paying a fee. 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. The brisket is renowned, especially with their Texas hot sauce. It has a relatively central location, so its easy to get to Bardstown, Lexington, and even Owensboro. 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. 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. 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. Make sure you check the hours of the distilleries you want to visit before your trip. In 2016, we were able to show up and do a lot of tastings.