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. This takes the headache out of planning a day of distillery tours, perfect for some people. Today, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a collection of 18 major bourbon whiskey distilleries (Heritage Distilleries) and 23 smaller and newer microdistilleries (Craft Distilleries) that will give you the ultimate experience of learning all about Kentucky bourbon: its history, technology, craftsmanship, and artistry. Located in Lexington, this bourbon distillery also produces beer. It has a relatively central location, so its easy to get to Bardstown, Lexington, and even Owensboro. 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. Dinner: Proof on Main. 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. Are the distilleries open now? Bourbon has a wonderful aroma and the rickhouse is the best place tosmell it. Looking to plan trip in mid June 2020, I recommend checking the official websites of the distilleries to see if they are open. You can search by name, state, spirit, amenity or simply click on the map to discover distilleries you never knew existed! There are eighteen distilleries on the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Even if you dont plan on staying here, a drink in the Lobby Bar is a must-do while in Louisville. Nothing can be added to the whiskey other than water. This hotel also gets great reviews and has an excellent location. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a collection of eighteen bourbon distilleries located in and around Louisville. Ride sharing services are abundant in the area, and there are many guided tour options as well. PRO TRAVEL TIP: Most distilleries do not offer tours seven days a week. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. Over in Bardstown, there's Willett Distillery. You won't be able to fully appreciate every sip if you don't take a break to clear your mind and your palate! However, with various sizes for printing come a variety of new variables. Make sure you check the hours of the distilleries you want to visit before your trip. On Google Chrome, go to Bookmarks -> Bookmark This Tab and then this post will be saved in your bookmarks. Cameron is a freelance writer and editor working in travel publishing for the past 10 years. 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. 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. You'll avoid most crowds, enjoy off-season hotel prices, and the scenery along Kentucky's rural roads is unsurpassed in autumn. Santa Claus is a small town filled with Christmas-themed hotels, shops, restaurants, and even an amusement park. 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. And for full details on Bluebird Cafe, read our article How to Visit Bluebird Cafe. UPSCALE: 21c Museum Hotel. These five rules are: Bourbon contains at least 51% corn with different proportions of wheat, malted barley, or rye. Hours vary by day of the week, with more tour times on Fridays and Saturdays. There is even an art museum located inside of the hotel. With so many great distilleries spread across the rolling hills of Kentucky, planning a trip on the Bourbon Trail can feel a bit overwhelming. This is the busiest time on the trail and tours can sell out. Partners & Sponsors This is a beautiful distillery. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. Green River sits out in Owensboro, almost a two-hour drive from Louisville. If you move fast, you have enough time to visit both in the afternoon. Starting off in Louisville, visit the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. These are the rickhouses at Heaven Hill. Built in 2017 and open to visitors in 2019, this brand-new distillery features modern, state-of-the-art technology. 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. We loved everything we tasted on this tour (as did many other people we spoke to who were also touring the trail). There are many advantages to printing a map. Read on to learn how to use printable maps. They must be designed to work with a standard printing press. This hotels onsite restaurant, Proof on Main, is one of Louisvilles best restaurants and bars. 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. Distillery Trail is the place to start your distillery tour experience. It is possible to print maps by choosing the print option in your printer menu. I recommend visiting the official website of the distilleries for hours and tour information. Copyright 2023 Kentucky Distillers Association. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Aging must take place in a new, charred oak barrel. Currently, there are eighteen bourbon labels that are a part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. They offer a comprehensive tour of their facility, including a look into how their bourbon is bottled. You can bookmark this post on your browser. Its a step back in time where you learn about the history of Kentucky. Morning: Makers Mark. Woodford Reserve (a seven-minute drive from Castle & Key) has its own restaurant and is a great mid-day stop for lunch and a tour of its beautiful grounds. We took the Shaken & Stirred class at Bardstown Bourbon and it was our favorite experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey and Four Roses are clustered together near Lexington. It is not the actual log cabin of Abraham Lincolns birthplace. 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). But they see map making as a necessary problem, one which requires a significant amount of time and money. If you have plans to visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail during this time, make sure you make your reservations in advance. Afternoon: Take a tour at Old Forester Distillery. Your email address will not be published. After touring Old Forester, its a short walk to Angels Envy. What Size Of Paper Do You Print Your Maps On? 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 Old Forester Discovery Tour. Located in Bardstown, the Old Talbott Tavern dates back to the 1700s. Abraham Lincoln was born in a one room log cabin in Hodgenville, Kentucky in 1809. 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. It's one of the biggest in Bardstown, which is certainly worth seeing. For lunch and/or dinner, we recommend Kitchen& Bar, the restaurant at Bardstown Bourbon. Some of them are new kids on the block, and others have been around since bourbon's inception. 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 a hearty breakfast of biscuits, its time to hit the trail! If you are really short on time, you can simply visit the gift shop, get your passport stamped, and do a little shopping. The tour guides are very knowledgable and encourage questions. Anything you plan or save automagically syncs with the apps, ready for you to hit the road! Traveling directly between Louisville and Lexington (when you arent stopping at distilleries) takes less than an hour, and both cities have convenient airports. We opted to take the 30 minute Unlocking the Senses tasting, where we sampled four Bulleit whiskeys. Dinner: Mayan Caf. Plus, its easy to find. And many distilleries offer longer, behind the scenes tours for a more detailed look at the distilling process. This will minimize your driving and let you stay in the small towns in Kentucky. Specialty tours cost more. We have links to each distillery in our Best Distilleries post. For tour information, visit the Wilderness trail website. Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 4 Days: Follow days #1 and #2. Do you have to be a bourbon drinker to have a good time on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail? And we highly recommend lunch at the Old Talbott Tavern in Bardstown. Cheers, Julie. 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. Map of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Below is a map of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Seeing as this is the only "bourbon tour" in Louisville proper, it's worth the stop. Local Chef Ouita Michel is at the forefront of Bourbon Trail gourmet dining, with top-notch restaurants in Midway, Versailles, and Lexington. Honestly, the tours do get repetitive, as they all take you through the distillation process. 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. There are 37 distilleries total, but whether you tackle them all is entirely up to you! If time allows, consider the areas other great export: thoroughbred horses. Take the evening to explore downtown Lexington. In this article, we focus on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, not the Craft Tour, although you can add these distilleries into your trip if you like the idea of visiting smaller distilleries. One of our favorite parts of the tour was a visit to the rickhouse. MAMMOTH CAVE: Mammoth Cave is a national park in Kentucky and it makes a great day trip from Louisville and Nashville. MAMMOTH CAVE: Mammoth Cave is a national park in Kentucky and it makes a great day trip from Louisville and Nashville. Louisville and the rest of the bourbon trail are located in the Eastern Time Zone. Woodford Reserve. Artsy, unique, contemporarythis is another top pick in Louisville. With driving times averaging about twenty minutes between distilleries, most people can fit in three tours per day (in some distilleries, tours are only offered on the hour). 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. For most people, a combination of tours and tastings is the perfect way to sample the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. It's a pretty cool museum and factory tour, and will definitely make you appreciate old hitters and their bats. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a collection of eighteen whiskey distilleries. Morning: Evan Williams Experience. On this tour you visit micro-distilleries, tour historic sights andtowns in Kentucky, and stay in historic bed and breakfast accommodations. Their signature tour is a one-hour tour of the distillery. Whether you're a bourbon snob, or you just like drinking, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a must-visit. In fact, if you visit every. Woodford Reserve has a historic, upscale feel to it. Bulleit Distilling Company. Tours last approximately one hour, ending with a tasting. During these tastings, you still get to learn about the history of the distillery and what sets it apart from the others. If you have plans to tour the Kentucky Bourbon Trail between July and early November, make your reservations in advance. Buffalo Trace has a long and fascinating history. #1 Louisville: Intro to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, #3 Green River and Stitzel-Weller Distillery, #5 Makers Mark, Jim Beam, & the Kentucky Cooperage, #6 Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey, Four Roses & Wilderness Trail, #7 Bulleit, Buffalo Trace, and Town Branch. It's not a part of the Kentucky Distillers Association's official Bourbon Trail, but they are, however, open for tours and tastings. The blue markers are restaurant recommendations, Buffalo Trace Distillery, and other notable experiences to add into your Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary. We recommend staying in Louisville. Buffalo Trace is the oldest continuously operating distillery in America. For more ideas of what to do in Louisville, read our article about the best things to do in Louisville. For more suggestions on how to plan your time, dont miss our Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary planner. Explore our guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail for suggested routes, cant-miss spots, and other tips for having the best experience in bourbon country. The red markers are the seventeen distilleries on the trail. LOUISVILLE: Plan your visit to Louisville with our articles about the Best Things to Do in Louisville and Best Places to Eat in Louisville. These regions are broken out by geographic location. The brisket is renowned, especially with their Texas hot sauce. Similar to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the Craft Tour takes bourbon touring and tasting to the next level. It smells like you are at a bakery, only they are baking slightly sour bread. 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. 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY, US. Sleep in Louisville. Roadtrippers helps you find the most epic destinations and detoursfrom roadside attractions to natural wonders and beyond. We are looking for a private driver for 2 days. Most distilleries offer free or discounted tours for military personnel. To read about our favorite bourbon distillery, read this post. 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. Morning: Rabbit Hole. Hotel Tango Distillery. Just look for the giant, golden David statue out front and you know that you are in the right place. 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. There is even an art museum located inside of the hotel. As you tour more distilleries, you can pick out the differences between the bourbons. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. 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. Heaven Hill is one of the biggest bourbon distilleries, producing Evan Williams and Elijah Craig. Free Printable US Map With States Labeled, Washington State Map With Cities and Counties. We have visited the Kentucky Bourbon Trail twice. Take a Mixology Class. It is even rumored to be haunted by the ghost of Jesse James. Fantastic article! The final distillery is back up near Louisville: The Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience. Spring is a nice time to visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. For information on how to plan your visit, dont miss ourKentucky Bourbon Trail Itinerary. Both times we visited the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, it was the weekend before Thanksgiving. This cocktail class is only offered once a day, so if you like this idea, plan your other distillery visits around this class. However, note that the map will display an uninspiring look, since it will be used only for only one printing session. Are children allowed on the tours? Its located right around the corner from 21c Museum Hotel, so you can walk to many sights in downtown Louisville. It's a great destination on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, which focuses on smaller and more inventive distillers. You take a tour, learn about the art and science behind the distilling of bourbon, and end with a tasting. 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. This Bulleit facility offers a handful of different tours, tastings and cocktail classes. If you stay until Memorial Day weekend, expect big crowds that weekend because of the holiday. Note: Green River is located in the Central Time Zone. They're really knowledgeable about the science of bourbon and booze, and the tour is fantastic. Cheers, Julie. 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. The Old Nelson County Jail housed prisoners from 1797 until 1987. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. Sleep in Louisville. 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. It's a National Historic Landmark, but it's also gorgeously maintained, and set in a dreamlike corner of the Bourbon Trail. Yes, May should be a very nice month for the Bourbon Trail. Also, take some time to enjoy the bucolic setting of this distillery. To ensure you benefit from our products Contact us for more details. 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. The Field Guide is your passport to exploring the people and the places behind the Bourbon. The rickhouse is where the barrels are stored. 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. Get suggestions on how to plan your trip, whether you just have a few days, a long weekend, or an entire week. More Information for Your Trip to Louisville. Before heading out of Lexington, check out the citys historic Distillery District, home to the recently revived James E. Pepper Distiller (and several other restaurants, bars, and breweries), one of Kentuckys first bourbon brands originally created during the American Revolution. If you are looking for a large-format map, you should buy an printer that is large-format. This is the best historical lesson about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and a great place to get an overview of how bourbon came to be. It has received accolades from Conde Nast Traveler, Southern Living, and Travel & Leisure. 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. 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. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. 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. We were thinking of going the week before Memorial Day weekend and staying through the weekend. There is a lot of history here. The mash always looks the same but the horse farms have different aspects to showcase at different times of the year. Races do not run year-round. 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. For a lesson on the wild and crazy tales of the Prohibition Era, book a tour at Prohibition Craft Spirits. Why not? Browse by category to find what you're looking for, or select icons displayed on the map for detailed information. If you have concerns then consider alternating driving/tastings with another person in your party, have a designated driver, or take a tour. Did you know: If you use the Roadtrippers mobile app, your trips will instantly auto-sync over Ready for navigation and good times! Nearest Green Distillery. It depends on the time of year that you are visiting, and whether or not you been touring over the weekend. Is there a fee to visit the distilleries? Check the Churchill Downs website for the race schedule before you go. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. On the third day, watch the horse races at Churchill Downs. The distilling process at Green River is very innovative and a visit here is worthwhile if you want to learn about a unique way to distill bourbon. See our privacy policy here. 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. For weekends, I would recommend scheduling your tours in advance, any time of the year. For more information on these tours and experience, read our article, More Information for Your Trip to Kentucky. But inside are stacks and stacks of bourbon filled barrels, slowly maturing and filling the air with a wonderful aroma. Click OK to confirm. In order to save paper, set all the borders to 0.3. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour is organized into four regionsplease toggle through the drop down menu for official groupings. 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.