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Kentucky's Bourbon Trail now consists of 18 whiskey distilleries. And dont miss our post about all eighteen distilleries, the Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. If you are still craving more bourbon, this restaurant is famous for their cocktails and bourbon and whiskey flights. Check the Churchill Downs website for the race schedule before you go. Kentucky Bourbon Trail Itinerary - Suggestions for 1 Day to 1 Week Here are four highly rated hotels in Louisville. 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. To read about all eighteen distilleries, check out our post about the best distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. 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. To take a tour at all eighteen distilleries you will need a minimum of five days, but six to seven days is ideal. We saw their vans everywhere! Rather than paying the fee to join the Kentucky Distillers Association, they prefer to offer free tours and tastings to their visitors. Custom-printed maps are perfect for parks departments, companies, and recreational complexes. Thank you for explaining that a bourbon trail tour will encompass a history of how the liquor was made. If you want a hotel with an awesome location and one that gets great reviews, the Homewood Suites is one to consider. It's no secret that all American states can legally produce bourbon, but Kentucky is the spirit's undisputed . 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. Your timing depends on which experiences you choose to have at each distillery. Our favorite experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail was the cocktail class at Bardstown Bourbon. Old Forester offers a tour with the president of the company (a few times per year). The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour is a collection of small and/or new (er) distilleries assembled by the Kentucky Distillers' Association. It depends on the time of year that you are visiting, and whether or not you been touring over the weekend. Sleep in Louisville. If you have concerns then consider alternating driving/tastings with another person in your party, have a designated driver, or take a tour. This map was created by a user. Their signature tour is a one-hour tour of the distillery. Pdf Printable Kentucky Bourbon Trail Map | Ruby Printable Map 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. 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. Required fields are marked *. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. This is a great spot for lunch or dinner while touring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. And for full details on Bluebird Cafe, read our article How to Visit Bluebird Cafe. Yes, all of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail distilleries charge a fee for a tour or a tasting. 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. A memorial now stands at his birthplace. Your email address will not be published. NASHVILLE: For recommendations on what to do in Nashville, check out our articles Best Things to Do in Nashville and Best Eats in Nashville. Right down the road is the Four Roses Distillery. Some of them include the distance to view and the subject. They also offer seasonal classes and tours, so make sure you check their website to see what they are offering during your visit. If you are looking for a large-format map, you should buy an printer that is large-format. This budget hotel gets good reviews and is conveniently located in Bardstown. Did you know: If you use the Roadtrippers mobile app, your trips will instantly auto-sync over Ready for navigation and good times! Her work has been featured in Washington Post Travel and Publisher's Weekly. Located in Bardstown, the Old Talbott Tavern dates back to the 1700s. If you have any questions about this Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary, let us know in the comment section below. Read on to learn how to use printable maps. On the third day, watch the horse races at Churchill Downs. You will also notice that on some days I have included more than just distillery tours. Some distilleries are closed on Mondays. Some printers from the past might require you to connect to your computer before printing. Most tours teach you the same process about bourbon distilling, with a few differences at each distillery. Scheduling a reservation is highly recommended. Afternoon: Take a tour at Old Forester Distillery. MAMMOTH CAVE: Mammoth Cave is a national park in Kentucky and it makes a great day trip from Louisville and Nashville. For information on how to plan your visit, dont miss our Guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The Old Nelson County Jail housed prisoners from 1797 until 1987. UPSCALE: 21c Museum Hotel. Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. Take a late afternoon or early evening tour of Michters Distillery. Traveling directly between Louisville and Lexington (when you arent stopping at distilleries) takes less than an hour, and both cities have convenient airports. 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 have three days in Louisville, follow our day #1 and day #2 itineraries above. Thanks! For more information, visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail website. You can elect to skip the tour and just do a tasting instead. Visit Your Favorite Distillery. The tour guides are very knowledgable and encourage questions. Cheers, Julie. 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 was our favorite tour for several reasons. If you want a hotel with an awesome location and one that gets great reviews, the Homewood Suites is one to consider. We give links to all of the distilleries in our Kentucky Bourbon Trail distillery post. Distilling Company Tennessee | DISCUS, Hand Sanitizer 802 Royal Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38107 Beechtree Distillery We took the Shaken & Stirred class at Bardstown Bourbon and it was our favorite experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Whether you're a bourbon snob, or you just like drinking, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a must-visit. Morning: Makers Mark. 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. This takes the headache out of planning a day of distillery tours, perfect for some people. Julie Last updated: December 16, 2022 United States 32 Comments. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. The Old Talbott Tavern, located in Bardstown, is also a great pick. Many places offer tastings without a tour. 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. To maximize value, do not get too big or small. 528 W Main St Louisville, Kentucky (502) 272-2623. Plus, there is a high concentration of distilleries located right in town, not to mention lots of great restaurants and hotels to choose from. Surprisingly, it is not part of the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Similar to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the Craft Tour takes bourbon touring and tasting to the next level. 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. They have 10 different varieties of bourbon, and a really unusual, Spanish-style building that houses the distillery. This was our all-around best tour experience. I give links to each distillery in these daily itineraries. 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. In Louisville, stay downtown at the Brown Hotel, a city landmark full of history and romance. Each of these bourbon distilleries must be a member of the Kentucky Distillers Association, which requires paying a fee. Also, take some time to enjoy the bucolic setting of this distillery. Use it to customize your trail experience. For more distillery rules and Kentucky Liquor laws, check out Kentucky Liquor Laws and The Bourbon Trail. Wilderness Trail is the newest member on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a collection of eighteen whiskey distilleries. Jim Beam. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a collection of eighteen bourbon distilleries located in and around Louisville. Afternoon: Louisville Slugger Museum and/or the Muhammed Ali Center. Copyright 2023 Kentucky Distillers Association. You do not have to take a tour at each distillery. They're really knowledgeable about the science of bourbon and booze, and the tour is fantastic. My husband has been thinking about taking me to one for out anniversary. To tour the Kentucky Bourbon Trail you have two options: self-drive the bourbon trail or join a tour group. All three of these cities have great hotel and restaurant options with easy access to the Bourbon Trail. More Information for Your Trip to Louisville. KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL: Pick out which distilleries to visit in our article Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Once you get to Shepherdsville, visit the Jim Beam Distillery. Save to your device to access at a later date. With so many great distilleries spread across the rolling hills of Kentucky, planning a trip on the Bourbon Trail can feel a bit overwhelming. Kentucky Bourbon Trail: Lexington, Kentucky Visitor Information Kentucky Cooperage. Also, they have a cafe if you're looking for a place to grab food while on the trail. Bourbon Trail Map - Etsy Tarpon Springs Distillery. Bourbon Country Map Use this interactive map of Kentucky to plan your visit by finding nearby attractions, hotels, shopping, and restaurants. If you want to stay in a historical, luxurious hotel in Louisville, your hotel search can end right here. Cameron is a freelance writer and editor working in travel publishing for the past 10 years. Dont miss out on the beautiful horse farms in the Lexington area! In order to ensure that you benefit from our products we invite you to contact us for more information. Your email address will not be published. While in Bardstown, head to the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskeyso you can learn all about the liquid gold you've been knocking back! 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. Cheers, Julie. Also known as the Independent Stave Company, this is where the barrels are constructed for many of the bourbon distilleries in Kentucky. This is Louisvilles landmark hotel. Carry it with you, and allow it to guide you to adventures unknown. 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. What Size Of Paper Do You Print Your Maps On? Plus, being on your own gives you the flexibility to visit other sights along the way, such as a nice lunch in Bardstown or a scenic drive through horse country. and cannot participate in the Passport program. 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY, US. It is a very fun thing to do and it was one of our highlights on our first trip to Kentucky. Note: Due to COVID-19, distillery tours may be cancelled or offered on a reduced schedule. This is one of our favorite restaurants in Louisville. Morning: Rabbit Hole. Located in Lexington, this bourbon distillery also produces beer. Cheers, Julie. Some of them are new kids on the block, and others have been around since bourbon's inception. 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. 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. Roadtrippers helps you find the most epic destinations and detoursfrom roadside attractions to natural wonders and beyond. In 2019, it was much busier and had we not scheduled everything in advance, we would have missed out on a lot of tours. Best Distilleries to Visit on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail How you do it is completely up to you. Buffalo Trace has a long and fascinating history. Then visit the Town Branch Distillery from Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company, and maybe cut all that booze with a beer or two as well! For more great things to do in Louisville, read our post 12 Best Things to do in Louisville. For more suggestions on how to plan your time, dont miss our Kentucky Bourbon Trail. It is not the actual log cabin of Abraham Lincolns birthplace. Are the distilleries open now? BUDGET: Holiday Inn Express and Suites Downtown Louisville. A Few Facts about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Plus, its easy to find. This is a great place to start your visit to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Holiday Inn Express and Suites Downtown Louisville. Nothing can be added to the whiskey other than water. If you want to tour the distilleries without the crowds, visit Kentucky from the end of November through March. 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. If time allows, consider the areas other great export: thoroughbred horses. If you want to do some non-Bourbon activities while road tripping around Kentucky, here are some ideas for you. Plus, if you save your ticket from the distillery tour, you can tour their warehouse operation, located in Cox's Creek, for free! 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. Day after day, distillery tours can get to be monotonous. Buffalo Trace. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Seeing as this is the only "bourbon tour" in Louisville proper, it's worth the stop. 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. Next, hit up Wild Turkey Distillery, which has been crafting Kentucky bourbon since 1869. There is a lot of history here. Its hot, its crowded, and during the summer months, most distilleries take a break from distilling, anywhere from a week or two or longer. Bourbon tourism is skyrocketing, with nearly 2 million visitors from all 50 states and . This cocktail class is only offered once a day, so if you like this idea, plan your other distillery visits around this class. To ensure you benefit from our products Contact us for more details. If you stay until Memorial Day weekend, expect big crowds that weekend because of the holiday. This hotel also gets great reviews and has an excellent location. 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 Spend the night in a historic tavern, enjoy the nightlife in Louisville, or visit the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. The Field Guide is your passport to exploring the people and the places behind the Bourbon. 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. 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. It smells wonderful and it kind of made me hungry! Finally, day three can be spent in Louisville, visiting Stitzel-Weller, Old Forester, Michters, Rabbit Hole, Angels Envy, and/or Evan Williams. For information on how to plan your visit, dont miss ourKentucky Bourbon Trail Itinerary. How far in advance would you recommend booking tours, or are walk-ins generally accepted at most of the distilleries? 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. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Kentucky Bourbon Trail Has A New Passport, Field Guide Available For In 2008, it was Historic Hotels of Americas top pick. We felt thatit was just enough to give us a taste but not so much that it impaired Tims driving. Tours last approximately one hour, ending with a tasting. Prior guests rave about cleanliness, comfort, and location. Make sure you do this Tuesday through Saturday before 5 pm, when the cooperage and the bottling line are in operation. Tonight, sleep in Louisville, Bardstown, or Lexington. The final distillery is back up near Louisville: The Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience. Visit the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail website here. Spend the day visiting two big names in bourbon and a tour of a cooperage. Anything you plan or save automagically syncs with the apps, ready for you to hit the road! If you have plans to tour the Kentucky Bourbon Trail between July and early November, make your reservations in advance. After touring the three distilleries, you can either return to Louisville or spend the night in Bardstown. Youll need a designated driver along the trail, as youll be sipping and tasting whiskeys. Old Forester is the only bourbon to be continually sold by the same company before, during, and after prohibition. The red markers are the seventeen distilleries on the trail. Im looking into doing at least part of the trail myself with some friends when weve all been vaccinated. And many distilleries offer longer, behind the scenes tours for a more detailed look at the distilling process. Lux Row. Rather than paying the fee to join the Kentucky Distillers Association, they prefer to offer free tours and tastings to their visitors. Just look for the giant, golden David statue out front and you know that you are in the right place. Cheers, Julie. Generally, the default size of the map can be 8.5 By 11 inches. Honestly, the tours do get repetitive, as they all take you through the distillation process. A beautiful time of year, however, is mid-September to late-October. TRAVEL INSPIRATION: Here are 30great travel booksand a list of the best travelmovies to feed your wanderlust. Lexington Brewing Company. There are tours and special events at both facilities year round. Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 6 Days: Follow our itinerary for 5 days and add on day #7 (Bulleit, Buffalo Trace, and Lexington Brewing Company). A 24" x 18" layout will fold more efficiently than the 22" x 20" layout for example. There are 37 distilleries total, but whether you tackle them all is entirely up to you! Spring is a nice time to visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Click OK to confirm. We opted to take the 30 minute Unlocking the Senses tasting, where we sampled four Bulleit whiskeys. 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. Plus, there is more to see and do in this part of Kentucky, with scenic drives, great towns to visit, and restaurants to try. One of these is the very famous Buffalo Trace (skip ahead to Buffalo Trace). Evans William Experience in Louisville. Required fields are marked *. Walk across the street to Proof on Main. Chuckanut Bay Distillery. 1280 Veterans Memorial Hwy, Lebanon, KY, US. But many distilleries offer special tours. The Angels Envy tour features a tasting of their Rye whiskey straight from the barrel. Starting off in Louisville, visit the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. Lunch: Doc Crows Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar or Troll Pub under the Bridge. They like to talk about their mash bill and their yeast strains that they use. If you move fast, you have enough time to visit both in the afternoon. This map was created by a user. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. And , even then, their maps are already obsolete before they even hit the plotter. Tim and I stayed here on our most recent visit to Louisville and we had a very nice experience here. This hotel gets excellent reviews on Booking.com. Monday through Friday, tours are offered at the Kentucky Cooperage (1 pm is the latest tour time).