Tim and I stayed here on our most recent visit to Louisville and we had a very nice experience here. Also, take some time to enjoy the bucolic setting of this distillery. Partners & Sponsors 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. Jim Beam has two locations on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail: the American Stillhouse, which is located in Clermont, and the Urban Stillhouse, which is located in downtown Louisville. 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. Since it's the largest maker of Kentucky bourbon, you'll get a different view: that of a larger-scale operation. Located just outside of Lexington, stay in a suite or one-bedroom apartment, perfect if you like having extra space or a kitchenette. If you want to tour all eighteen distilleries, you need a minimum of seven days. Getting to know more about liquor will probably help us know the right pairings to get when we eat at restaurants. And the smell is amazing! Specialty tours cost more. 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. Thanks! Tim and I stayed here on our first visit to Louisville in 2016. and cannot participate in the Passport program. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. The 1 hour Discovery Tour ends with a tasting at their bar on the second floor. Heaven Hill is one of the biggest bourbon distilleries, producing Evan Williams and Elijah Craig. However, there is a lot more to do in this part of Kentucky than just tour bourbon distilleries. You also get to see the bottling line in action. 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. BUDGET: Holiday Inn Express and Suites Downtown Louisville. 528 W Main St Louisville, Kentucky (502) 272-2623. For most people, a mix of tours and tastings is the best way to experience the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. 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. To maximize value, do not get too big or small. In no particular order, the three distilleries to visit in Bardstown are Lux Row, Bardstown Bourbon, and Heaven Hill. Say goodbye to Louisville and head south to Bardstown. For more suggestions on how to plan your time, dont miss our Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary planner. This was our favorite tour for several reasons. Both times we visited the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, it was the weekend before Thanksgiving. Be prepared for an experience for all five senses. You'll avoid most crowds, enjoy off-season hotel prices, and the scenery along Kentucky's rural roads is unsurpassed in autumn. 18 Best Distilleries Along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail 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 want a hotel with an awesome location and one that gets great reviews, the Homewood Suites is one to consider. Bourbon Country Map Use this interactive map of Kentucky to plan your visit by finding nearby attractions, hotels, shopping, and restaurants. 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. They offer a comprehensive tour of their facility, including a look into how their bourbon is bottled. This was our all-around best tour experience. Most distilleries offer free or discounted tours for military personnel. 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. 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). 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. 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 This is a great place to start your visit to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Optional Detour: Abraham Lincoln Birthplace. Plus, there is more to see and do in this part of Kentucky, with scenic drives, great towns to visit, and restaurants to try. 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. 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. Best Distilleries to Visit on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail It is not the actual log cabin of Abraham Lincolns birthplace. Your email address will not be published. Free Printable US Map With States Labeled, Washington State Map With Cities and Counties. However, note that the map will display an uninspiring look, since it will be used only for only one printing session. Angels Envy offers several different tours. If you have any questions about how to visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, let us know in the comment section below. This is the busiest time on the trail and tours can sell out. Mint Julep is the most popular tour company in Kentucky that offers tours to the distilleries. There are eighteen distilleries on the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Printing a map gives you an image that can be used to guide your instructions. In order to see all four, you should be at the first distillery at opening time. Bourbon Map - Louisville Downtown Partnership Santa Claus is a small town filled with Christmas-themed hotels, shops, restaurants, and even an amusement park. Tours last approximately one hour, ending with a tasting. There are many advantages to printing a map. Now, you can stay in a colonial style room in this very same building. How can I safe it to find once again? 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 tour information, visit the Wilderness trail website. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. This hotel also gets great reviews and has an excellent location. Our website uses cookies. Distilling Company Tennessee | DISCUS, Hand Sanitizer 802 Royal Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38107 Beechtree Distillery Kentucky Bourbon Trail: The Ultimate Guide, Best Distilleries to Visit on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, 12 Best Things to do in Louisville, Kentucky, Louisville Restaurants: Best Eats in Town. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. Kentucky Cooperage. Are the distilleries open now? BUDGET: Hampton Inn Bardstown. The red markers are the seventeen distilleries on the trail. You know you are at a distillery when you see these prison-style buildings. Old Forester offers a tour with the president of the company (a few times per year). Lexington Brewing Company offers a wide variety of tours as well as a mixology class. Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey and Four Roses are clustered together near Lexington. We are wine drinkers. At your first distillery, pick up a Kentucky Bourbon Trail Passport. Kentucky's Bourbon Trail now consists of 18 whiskey distilleries. To get here, drive or use Uber. Your email address will not be published. Here's how. Distillery Trail is the place to start your distillery tour experience. The blue markers are restaurant recommendations, Buffalo Trace Distillery, and other notable experiences to add into your Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary. Rather than paying the fee to join the Kentucky Distillers Association, they prefer to offer free tours and tastings to their visitors. Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 1 Day: Follow day #1, where you get a great overview of the distilling process and get to visit three distilleries in Louisville. Yes, all of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail distilleries charge a fee for a tour or a tasting. UPSCALE: 21c Museum Hotel. For more information, visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail website. Bourbon can be brewed anywhere in the United States, although 95% of bourbon is currently distilled in Kentucky. 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. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a collection of eighteen bourbon distilleries located in and around Louisville. There are tours and special events at both facilities year round. If you collect stamps from each distillery you can redeem your passport for a Kentucky Bourbon Trail tasting glass. Artsy, unique, contemporarythis is another top pick in Louisville. Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 3 Days: Follow days #1 and #2. And , even then, their maps are already obsolete before they even hit the plotter. In 2019, it was much busier and had we not scheduled everything in advance, we would have missed out on a lot of tours. State Map of All Kentucky Distilleries - Distillery Trail However, the spirits are further refined with their patented TerrePURE process. Learn more about the benefits of printing maps. Anything you plan or save automagically syncs with the apps, ready for you to hit the road! It's one of the biggest in Bardstown, which is certainly worth seeing. 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. All content and photography shall not be reproduced without written permission from the Kentucky Distillers Association. They also operate a bed and breakfast. Prior guests rave about cleanliness, comfort, and location. 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. Pdf Printable Kentucky Bourbon Trail Map | Ruby Printable Map