If you are considering touring the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky, let me encourage you to do so, it’s worth the trip, and it might be beneficial for you to understand just a little bit about each of the distilleries along the trail, the following is my overview of each of the main distilleries.
Each distillery offers different tours at different times and cost, you need to know what your choices are and what a specific distillery offers before you make a choice so it is always a good idea to visit each distillery’s web site for current tour times and cost. Some tours you will need a reservation so check before hand. For instance, most distillery tours last about an hour cost around ten bucks and end with a bourbon tasting.
If you are looking for a tour that offers more information about the distilling process or if you are looking for the perfect bourbon gift for that someone, or you just want to taste some good bourbon, Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail won’t disappoint and don’t forget your camera your going to want to take lots of pictures.
You should plan on 3 to 4 days in order to take in everything along the trail. Here are the most popular distilleries that you will find along the Bourbon Trail between Louisville and Lexington, this is the suggested order if you start in Louisville.
Day One:
Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience, Titzel-Weller Distillery. 3860 Fitzgerald Road, Louisville. 502-810-3800
First opened on Derby Day in 1935 then reopened to the public in 2014, the Stitzel-Weller Distillery is one of the true icons of the American whiskey industry. Located just five miles from downtown Louisville, the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience is convenient and a most impressive stop along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Tours and whiskey tastings are $14 for adults over 21. Free for those under 21.
Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse. 404 South 4th Street, Louisville. 502-855-8392
Located in downtown Louisville, the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse is not their main working distillery but it is complete with a small working distillery and bottling line, it’s a good place to learn about bourbon, grab a handcrafted cocktail or a pick up a nice gift or two. They welcome all bourbon fans (aged 21+) to stop by for a taste of the Jim Beam distillery experience. If you are just beginning your whiskey journey or are a more seasoned bourbon drinker, this educational experience will enable you to explore the rich history of the Beam family through a guided tasting flight. Each tasting features four ¼ oz pours of whiskey or bourbon, three of their selects and one of your choosing. Plus, while you taste, you will hear the history behind Jim Beam, the differences between bourbon and whiskey and how to taste bourbon using their signature Kentucky Chew.
Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. 528 West Main Street, Louisville. 502-272-2611
Touring this distillery is inexpensive and you can do it from Monday to Sunday. The tours are usually one hour and they include a bourbon tasting. The distillery also allows you to bring your kids at a cost less than 10 bucks.
Day Two:
Maker’s Mark Distillery. 3350 Burkes Spring road, Loretto. 270-865-2099
This is among the best distillerys along the Kentucky trail because you can take a one-hour tour for just nine bucks. In addition, it’s a great tour. You get to watch the bottling process and see them hand dip each bottle in their signature red wax. And, if you are looking to buy merchandise, they have a very nice gift shop and the prices are reasonable.
Heaven Hill Distillery Bourbon Heritage Center. 1311 Gilkey Run Road, Bardstown. 502-337-1000
Heaven Hill is the maker of Evan Williams and Elijah Craig. They dedicated their Bourbon Heritage center in 2004 and it has since become a destination to many people. The tours are quite affordable and they include a bourbon tasting. If you are looking to get more bourbon when you visit, Whiskey Connoisseur Experience is the ideal choice.
Jim Beam Distillery. 526 Happy Hollow Road, Clermont. 502-543-9877
Get an up close look at Jim Beam Bourbon and how it’s made. On this tour, you’ll walk in the shadow of seven generations of Beam Family Master Distillers as they walk you through the entire process of their bourbon, from its pure beginning in their own natural limestone water well, then through the mashing, distilling, barreling, aging and bottling processes. This distillery offers one-hour tours from 9:30 to 3:30 Monday to Saturday and 12:30 to 3:00 on Sunday. Tours are $14.00
Four Roses Warehouse & Bottling. 624 Lotus Road, Cox’s Creek, 502-543-2264
Take a trip to this historic distillery on the scenic Salt River in Lawrenceburg, or visit their single-story rack warehouse and bottling facility located in the quiet Kentucky countryside at Cox’s Creek, and you’ll start to understand how our Bourbon has come to be so smooth and mellow. Of course, sampling a taste of their award-winning Bourbons at either location makes this trip to these relaxing places all that more rewarding. Reservations are recommended, but guests are welcome to drop by for first come, first serve availability. Tours available on the hour, every hour. The last tour of the day departs at 3:00 p.m. A tour is offered every half an hour until 3:30 p.m.
Day Three:
Four Roses Distillery. 1224 Bonds Mill Road, Lawrenceburg, 502-839-2655
According to the National Register, this distillery is a historic place. It has a Spanish Mission Style architecture that makes it unique and very beautiful. When you visit, you can tour either the distillery or the warehouse that is located in Cox’s Creek. Nevertheless, you will get a taste of bourbon regardless of the tour you choose or, do both.
Wild Turkey Distillery. 1417 Versailles Road, Lawrenceburg, 502-839-2182
A tour costs ten dollars and you get to visit a number of places in the distillery. You will start the tour from the visitor’s center to a tasting center. The distillery has a modern looking visitor’s center making it appealing and quite attractive.
WoodFord Reserve. 7855 McCracken Pike, Versailles, 859-879-1812
The prettiest distillery of them all offers a number of tours from the basic bourbon tour to ‘Corn to Cork’ tour that outlays the entire process. Therefore, when you visit WoodFord Reserve, you will have several choices of tours you can take. In addition, there is a National Landmark tour that makes WoodFord Reserve a historic landmark.
Town Branch Distillery. 401 Cross Street, Lexington, 859-255-2337
Named after the river that runs through Lexington, Town Branch has a combination of a distillery and a brewery. The hourly tours are from Monday to Saturday only so it’s easy to choose a convenient time to visit.
Day Four:
Buffalo Trace. 113 Great Buffalo Trce, Frankfort, 502-696-5926
I saved my favorite for last and you may want to spend all day here, this distillery is amazing, home of Blantons, Willit, Eagle Rare and yes, Pappy Van Winkle. There are 7 different tours available here and reservations are recommended for all but The Trace Tour. The Trace Tour begins with an engaging video of the history of Buffalo Trace Distillery. You will then walk along the path of aging bourbon barrels. You will be spellbound by the alluring smell and atmosphere of bourbon sleeping inside the aging warehouses. Then you will enter the Blanton’s Bottling Hall where you will see signature bourbons being filled, sealed, labeled, and packaged, all by hand. All tours are complimentary and include a tasting of some of their award-winning products. All visitors are welcome to walk in as there is no need for a reservation. Groups of 8 or more are encouraged to contact the Visitor Center, [email protected], to let us know you are coming so that we can better plan our Trace Tour schedule.
