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. We chose the self-driving option. And , even then, their maps are already obsolete before they even hit the plotter. 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. Here in Kentucky, we do things at our own pace and you should, too. You will also notice that on some days I have included more than just distillery tours. Afternoon: Louisville Slugger Museum and/or the Muhammed Ali Center. The samples were pretty small, but it's straight bourbon, so you're probably gonna feel pretty good afterward. Wish I had this information prior will save it for next visit. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a collection of bourbon whiskey distilleries located in Kentucky. This takes the headache out of planning a day of distillery tours, perfect for some people. In this article, learn how to plan your Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary, with suggestions on where to stay and what else to add in as you tour the trail. You take a tour, learn about the art and science behind the distilling of bourbon, and end with a tasting. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Whether you're a bourbon snob, or you just like drinking, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a must-visit. We chose the self-driving option. MAMMOTH CAVE: Mammoth Cave is a national park in Kentucky and it makes a great day trip from Louisville and Nashville. 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. 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 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. Honestly, the tours do get repetitive, as they all take you through the distillation process. There is even an art museum located inside of the hotel. In this post, we cover everything you need to know to have the best experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Plus, there is more to see and do in this part of Kentucky, with scenic drives, great towns to visit, and restaurants to try. Here, you'll enjoy rolling hills as far as the eye can see. We loved everything we tasted on this tour (as did many other people we spoke to who were also touring the trail). Since it's the largest maker of Kentucky bourbon, you'll get a different view: that of a larger-scale operation. This is a great place to start your visit to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Tours last one hour and end with a tasting. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Bardstown Bourbon. 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. If you want to do some non-Bourbon activities while road tripping around Kentucky, here are some ideas for you. 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 have hotel reserved, the staff might be able to make some recommendations for you. Are you? The Old Nelson County Jail housed prisoners from 1797 until 1987. Now, you can stay in a colonial style room in this very same building. UPSCALE: 21c Museum Hotel Lexington. In 2008, it was Historic Hotels of Americas top pick. 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY, US. MIDRANGE: Homewood Suites. Prior guests rave about cleanliness, comfort, and location. A combination of ideal weather, limestone water sources, and a long history of the craft make Central Kentucky the bourbon capital of the world. Printing a map gives you an image that can be used to guide your instructions. Also in the area is the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. We felt thatit was just enough to give us a taste but not so much that it impaired Tims driving. These five rules are: Bourbon contains at least 51% corn with different proportions of wheat, malted barley, or rye. In one day, it is possible to do three to four tours and/or tastings. Julie Last updated: December 16, 2022 United States 32 Comments. For dinner, opt for classic and refined, or hip and casual. 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. Note: Green River is located in the Central Time Zone. 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 memorial is free to visit. Is there a fee to visit the distilleries? 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! On the other hand, you may want to sit back, enjoy the ride, and join a tour. 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). Their first bottled bourbon dates back to 1870. 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. We started at Wild Turkey and were the only ones on their 9 am tour. Most distilleries offer free or discounted tours for military personnel. Nearest Green Distillery. 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. Please enjoy like a true Kentuckian Responsibly. Plus, there is a high concentration of distilleries located right in town, not to mention lots of great restaurants and hotels to choose from. 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). If you pay extra, we can also produce these maps in specialist file formats. Woodford Reserve has a historic, upscale feel to it. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a collection of eighteen bourbon distilleries located in and around Louisville. To get here, drive or use Uber. The 1 hour Discovery Tour ends with a tasting at their bar on the second floor. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. The food is delicious!! We offer a real-time comprehensive list of all the distilleries from start up farm distillery to craft distillery to large pre-Prohibition distillery. Yes, you can push CTRL+P and that will bring up the printer dialog box. 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. Bulleit Distilling Company. If you have concerns then consider alternating driving/tastings with another person in your party, have a designated driver, or take a tour. After a hearty breakfast of biscuits, its time to hit the trail! On this immersive tour, travel back in time to 1783, when bourbon distilling got its start. Starting off in Louisville, visit the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. Thank you for explaining that a bourbon trail tour will encompass a history of how the liquor was made. Located just outside of Lexington, stay in a suite or one-bedroom apartment, perfect if you like having extra space or a kitchenette. For the most part, the distilleries are located in and around Louisville, Lexington, and Bardstown. 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. A Few Facts about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. During this one-hour class, we mixed two cocktails: the Kentucky Mule and the Sazerac. 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. They offer a comprehensive tour of their facility, including a look into how their bourbon is bottled. Renting a car was cheap, driving between the distilleries was easy (and gorgeous), and we could make our own schedule. Its centrally located, so you can walk to many of the sights and distilleries on Whiskey Row. If you want a hotel with an awesome location and one that gets great reviews, the Homewood Suites is one to consider. Visiting these distilleries is similar to visiting a winery. Your email address will not be published. Buffalo Trace. The distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail are open year round. Bourbon is booming right now and so is tourism in Kentucky. A beautiful time of year, however, is mid-September to late-October. Finally, day three can be spent in Louisville, visiting Stitzel-Weller, Old Forester, Michters, Rabbit Hole, Angels Envy, and/or Evan Williams. Save to your device to access at a later date. 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!). This hotels onsite restaurant, Proof on Main, is one of Louisvilles best restaurants and bars. The mash always looks the same but the horse farms have different aspects to showcase at different times of the year. Confirm that youre over 21 years of age. 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. Theres something here for everyone. You know you are at a distillery when you see these prison-style buildings. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. The distilling of bourbon began in Kentucky in the 1700s in Bourbon County. Here's a sample itinerary to follow for your visit. Our favorite experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail was the cocktail class at Bardstown Bourbon. On day two, visit the distilleries located south of Louisville: Makers Mark, Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Bardstown Bourbon, and Lux Row. All bourbons are whiskey but not all whiskeys are bourbon. We are wine drinkers. There's a reason that bourbon is historically produced in Kentucky (even though legally it can come from anywhere in the US): the limestone filtered water and locally-grown grains just plain taste better, and the fact that the region has, for most of history, made most of America's bourbon, means that the people there have a deep passion for it, and they also have old-school, time-tested recipes, too. Her work has been featured in Washington Post Travel and Publisher's Weekly. The Major Kentucky Distilleries and the Bourbon Brands They Produce, Mapped. From beautiful fall foliage, to pumpkin patches and farm cider, this is the best time to experience the Bourbon Trail. Plus, everyone who visits gets a mini souvenir Louisville Slugger for themselves! All content and photography shall not be reproduced without written permission from the Kentucky Distillers Association. Dinner: Mayan Caf. If you have plans to tour the Kentucky Bourbon Trail between July and early November, make your reservations in advance. For lunch, dine at Star Hill Provisions at Makers Mark or Ragettis Italian Food in Lebanon. Evening: Michters Distillery. Renting a car was cheap, driving between the distilleries was easy (and gorgeous), and we could make our own schedule. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. You will drive through scenic bluegrass Kentucky, with horse farms as far as the eye can see. 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. So, its nice to break up distillery visits with other experiences. Bourbon can be brewed anywhere in the United States, although 95% of bourbon is currently distilled in Kentucky. This is a great spot for lunch or dinner while touring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL: Pick out which distilleries to visit in our article Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Summer and autumn are busy months to visit the Bourbon Trail, so I also recommend booking your tours in advance at these times, even on weekdays. This is an ultrasonic process that removes impurities and improves the quality and taste, speeding up the refining process without spending years in the barrel. Are the distilleries open now? The Old Talbott Tavern, located in Bardstown, is also a great pick. MAMMOTH CAVE: Mammoth Cave is a national park in Kentucky and it makes a great day trip from Louisville and Nashville. Its located right around the corner from 21c Museum Hotel, so you can walk to many sights in downtown Louisville. There is a lot of history here. If you are looking for a large-format map, you should buy an printer that is large-format. If you have three days in Louisville, follow our day #1 and day #2 itineraries above. If you are really short on time, you can simply visit the gift shop, get your passport stamped, and do a little shopping. Traveling directly between Louisville and Lexington (when you arent stopping at distilleries) takes less than an hour, and both cities have convenient airports. Click OK to confirm. The weather is nice and all of the distilleries should be in operation. This is Louisvilles landmark hotel. 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. 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. In 2008, it was Historic Hotels of Americas top pick. Several distilleries now offer cocktail or mixology classes. 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. At your first distillery, pick up a Kentucky Bourbon Trail Passport. However, there are few places to visit out this way, if you are interested. Lunch: Walk, drive or Uber to the Mussel & Burger Bar, another one of our favorite restaurants in Louisville. Dont miss out on the beautiful horse farms in the Lexington area! Id rather not print the article because of all of the adds. Buffalo Trace, located in Frankfort, is one of the most famous bourbon distilleries in Kentucky. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail website includes a map of all area distilleries, general exploring tips, and a calendar of upcoming distillery events. Did you know: If you use the Roadtrippers mobile app, your trips will instantly auto-sync over Ready for navigation and good times! Printable Bourbon Trail Map- We offer flattened and free TIFF file formats of our maps in CMYK color and high resolution. The blue markers are restaurant recommendations, Buffalo Trace Distillery, and other notable experiences to add into your Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary. You do not have to take a tour at each distillery. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. Both times we visited the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, it was the weekend before Thanksgiving. For more suggestions on how to plan your time, dont miss our Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary planner. Maps & Downloads - Tennessee Whiskey Trail Official Site Maps & Downloads The Google map below represents all members of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. I give links to each distillery in these daily itineraries. Where will your trip lead you? Julie Last updated: December 16, 2022 United States 13 Comments. Artsy, unique, contemporarythis is another top pick in Louisville. Being on our own, we could choose which distilleries to tour and which ones to just do a tasting. Monday through Friday, tours are offered at the Kentucky Cooperage (1 pm is the latest tour time). This hotel gets excellent reviews on Booking.com. Very interested in a 3 day trip. Whether you just have a few days or an entire week, we have some great ideas for how you can plan your time. This distillery is located in Shively, very close to downtown Louisville. George Washington's Distillery and Gristmill. 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. After touring the three distilleries, you can either return to Louisville or spend the night in Bardstown. Explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail experiences and find what youre looking for in our map below. Louisville and the rest of the bourbon trail are located in the Eastern Time Zone. All standard one-hour tours are roughly the samea tour of the facility ending with a tasting. Our website uses cookies. It's the same for maps that are large: they can take up nearly 50% of the screen. For more ideas of what to do in Louisville, read our article about the best things to do in Louisville. 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. PRO TRAVEL TIP: Most distilleries do not offer tours seven days a week. If you have any questions about how to visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, let us know in the comment section below. Foaling begins in late January and will continue through May, so visit in the spring if you want to meet the youngest future racehorses! Most tours cost $10 to $15 (including tastings), and are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Its good to know that classes about cocktails can be taken during a bourbon tour. Pick your favorites and group them together to form your itinerary, whether you have 2, 3, or more days. Over in Bardstown, there's Willett Distillery. 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 addition, for a fee we can also make the maps in specialized file formats. Renting a car gives you the most freedom to explore, but it's not necessary. Tour the distillery, see the hundreds of barrels inside of the rickhouses, and maybe meet legendary Jimmy Russell while you are here. Below is a map of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Make sure you check the hours of the distilleries you want to visit before your trip. UPSCALE: 21c Museum Hotel. To ensure you benefit from our products Contact us for more details. KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL: Pick out which distilleries to visit in our article Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. 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. Fantastic article! Spend one day visiting the four distilleries near Lexington: Four Roses, Wild Turkey, Woodford Reserve, and Town Branch. But many distilleries offer special tours. The Angels Envy tour features a tasting of their Rye whiskey straight from the barrel. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. The rickhouse is where the barrels are stored. However, with various sizes for printing come a variety of new variables. If you want the map twice as wide you can select extra large. This cocktail class is only offered once a day, so if you like this idea, plan your other distillery visits around this class. Each distillery has a gift shop selling bourbon and related souvenirs. Alternatively, and on a more direct route into Lexington, you can head to Bulleit Distilling Co.'s new state-of-the-art facility in Shelbyville. Its centrally located, so you can walk to many of the sights and distilleries on Whiskey Row. Required fields are marked *. There are eighteen distilleries on the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail. MIDRANGE: Staybridge Suites Lexington. 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. Trail builders, on the other hand prefer to be in the woods in order to use chainsaws to make their trails. If you have specific non-KBT distilleries in mind I recommend checking their websites for pricing information. First, decide on the size of your printout. Pdf Printable Kentucky Bourbon Trail Map - We offer flattened and free TIFF file formats of our maps in CMYK color and high resolution. The red markers are the seventeen distilleries on the trail. Spend the night in a historic tavern, enjoy the nightlife in Louisville, or visit the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. On this tour, you visit micro-distilleries and this takes an additional week to visit all of these distilleries. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations? There are four major regions of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. We have visited the Kentucky Bourbon Trail twice. Do you have a PDF of the great Article? Each of these bourbon distilleries must be a member of the Kentucky Distillers Association, which requires paying a fee. 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. This day includes the remaining distilleries in Louisville with the option to add on one or two museums. However, if you like the idea of getting outside of the city, Bardstown also makes a nice option. When the printout is completed then you can save it as PDF. On the tours, learn how bourbon is produced, hear about the history of the distillery, and end with a bourbon tasting. These are the rickhouses at Heaven Hill. If you plan to take distillery tours, you will need to visit the website anyway, in order to make your reservations. Holiday Inn Express and Suites Downtown Louisville. Sleep in Louisville. If you pay extra, we can also produce these maps in specialist file formats. Be sure to click the map to visit www.kybourbontrail.com to plan your trips and get detailed directions to all of the distilleries along the Bourbon Trail! Enjoy like a true Kentuckian: Responsibly. BUDGET: Holiday Inn Express and Suites Downtown Louisville. It is not the actual log cabin of Abraham Lincolns birthplace. However, people under the age of 21 are not permitted to do a tasting (of course!) We saw their vans everywhere! Next up is the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Kentucky Bourbon is perfectly aged. Also known as the Independent Stave Company, this is where the barrels are constructed for many of the bourbon distilleries in Kentucky. It does require more ink than printing text. Dine on Central American food prepared by the chef who grew up on the Yucatan Peninsula. This was our all-around best tour experience. 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. This is a beautiful distillery.
