You can elect to skip the tour and just do a tasting instead. Trust me!!! To get here, drive or use Uber. Morning: Rabbit Hole. Roadtrippers helps you find the most epic destinations and detoursfrom roadside attractions to natural wonders and beyond. Its centrally located, so you can walk to many of the sights and distilleries on Whiskey Row. They have a good beer selection, excellent pulled pork, tasty baked beans and a variety of BBQ sauces. There are six distilleries in Louisville (seven if you count the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse), five located in and around Lexington, one in Danville, five in and around Bardstown, and one in Owensboro. 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. Maps & Downloads - Tennessee Whiskey Trail Official Site Maps & Downloads The Google map below represents all members of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. BUDGET: Hampton Inn Bardstown. It gets to be repetitive. Did you know: If you use the Roadtrippers mobile app, your trips will instantly auto-sync over Ready for navigation and good times! When the printout is completed then you can save it as PDF. 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. Tonight, sleep in Louisville, Bardstown, or Lexington. From beautiful fall foliage, to pumpkin patches and farm cider, this is the best time to experience the Bourbon Trail. Julie Last updated: December 16, 2022 United States 32 Comments. HISTORIC: Talbott Tavern and Inn. Tarpon Springs Distillery. Pick your favorites and group them together to form your itinerary, whether you have 2, 3, or more days. And for full details on Bluebird Cafe, read our article How to Visit Bluebird Cafe. Even if you dont plan on staying here, a drink in the Lobby Bar is a must-do while in Louisville. Heaven Hill is one of the biggest bourbon distilleries, producing Evan Williams and Elijah Craig. Bourbon is booming right now and so is tourism in Kentucky. Dont miss out on the beautiful horse farms in the Lexington area! Tours last approximately one hour, ending with a tasting. It was educational, lots of fun, and a great way to tour another distillery without taking a tour. On this tour you visit micro-distilleries, tour historic sights andtowns in Kentucky, and stay in historic bed and breakfast accommodations. For information on how to plan your visit, dont miss our Guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. All bourbons are whiskey but not all whiskeys are bourbon. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. 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. The typical size is Letter to North America and DIN A4 for the rest of the world. Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Tour the distillery, see the hundreds of barrels inside of the rickhouses, and maybe meet legendary Jimmy Russell while you are here. Enjoy like a true Kentuckian: Responsibly. We give links to all of the distilleries in our Kentucky Bourbon Trail distillery post. Here, you'll enjoy rolling hills as far as the eye can see. Tours last one hour and end with a tasting. 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! 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. Woodford Reserve. LOUISVILLE: Plan your visit to Louisville with our articles about the Best Things to Do in Louisville and Best Places to Eat in Louisville. For pricing for each distillery, take a look at our best distilleries post. This is more than just a hotel, it is also an art museum. Morning: Evan Williams Experience. Tours are offered Monday through Friday; they do not offer tours on weekends. 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 If you want to do some non-Bourbon activities while road tripping around Kentucky, here are some ideas for you. Visit the distillerys website for up-to-date pricing. Angels Envy puts a twist on whiskey distilling. It is open daily except for major holidays. Confirm that youre over 21 years of age. Custom-printed maps are perfect for parks departments, companies, and recreational complexes. 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. For more information on these tours and experience, read our article about the distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The whiskey cannot be distilled higher than 160 proof, enter the barrel higher than 125 proof, and it must not enter the bottle less than 80 proof. For lunch, dine at Star Hill Provisions at Makers Mark or Ragettis Italian Food in Lebanon. 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). Cheers, Julie. The distilling of bourbon began in Kentucky in the 1700s in Bourbon County. Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. Copyright 2023 Kentucky Distillers Association. This takes the headache out of planning a day of distillery tours, perfect for some people. Bourbon tourism is skyrocketing, with nearly 2 million visitors from all 50 states and . Plus, there is more to see and do in this part of Kentucky, with scenic drives, great towns to visit, and restaurants to try. However, note that the map will display an uninspiring look, since it will be used only for only one printing session. They offer a comprehensive tour of their facility, including a look into how their bourbon is bottled. All rights reserved. For weekends, I would recommend scheduling your tours in advance, any time of the year. Walk across the street to Proof on Main. If you are short on time, or have no desire to visit all eighteen distilleries, here is a short list of the top experiences to have on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. It has received accolades from Conde Nast Traveler, Southern Living, and Travel & Leisure. This day includes three must-visit distilleries on Whiskey Row with suggestions for Louisvilles best eats. 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. MAMMOTH CAVE: Mammoth Cave is a national park in Kentucky and it makes a great day trip from Louisville and Nashville. For more distillery rules and Kentucky Liquor laws, check out Kentucky Liquor Laws and The Bourbon Trail. My husband has been thinking about taking me to one for out anniversary. Everything from five-star restaurants to delicious sandwich stands can be found in the small towns along the way between distilleries. Cameron is a freelance writer and editor working in travel publishing for the past 10 years. Cheers, Julie. Sleep in Louisville. Kentucky Bourbon Trail Map Rocks Glass WellTold (22,289) $19.95 Bestseller Kentucky Bourbon Distillers Art Print - 11" x 15" +, Kentucky Bourbon Trail Map - Kentucky - Bourbon - Louisville - Bardstown - KY GeographicsArt (739) $69.00 FREE shipping Kentucky Distilleries map MediaevalMapmaker (2,260) $23.95 More colors Some of them are new kids on the block, and others have been around since bourbon's inception. This grain mixture is referred to as the mash bill. If you are doing this over a long weekend, plan on spending one day in each area. And the smell is amazing! NEARBY DESTINATIONS: Asheville, North Carolina makes a great weekend destination. But inside are stacks and stacks of bourbon filled barrels, slowly maturing and filling the air with a wonderful aroma. And , even then, their maps are already obsolete before they even hit the plotter. All other times of year, making reservations is advised but might not be absolutely necessary. It takes five days to complete this tour. MIDRANGE: Homewood Suites. Is there a fee to visit the distilleries? Note: Green River is located in the Central Time Zone. Note: This post contains affiliate links. LUXURY: The Brown Hotel. Unfortunately, I do not have any private drivers to recommend. Local Chef Ouita Michel is at the forefront of Bourbon Trail gourmet dining, with top-notch restaurants in Midway, Versailles, and Lexington. Andrew Jackson, Henry Harrison, and King Louis Phillippe have all stayed here. Inside of the memorial is a symbolic log cabin, a historic replica of the one that Abraham Lincoln first lived in. Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 4 Days: Follow days #1 and #2. Its hot, its crowded, and during the summer months, most distilleries take a break from distilling, anywhere from a week or two or longer. There are eighteen distilleries on the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Whether you have two days or a week, there is plenty here to keep you busy. On the third day, watch the horse races at Churchill Downs. The blue markers are restaurant recommendations, Buffalo Trace Distillery, and other notable experiences to add into your Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary. This will minimize your driving and let you stay in the small towns in Kentucky. To take a tour at all eighteen distilleries you will need a minimum of five days, but six to seven days is ideal. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a collection of bourbon whiskey distilleries located in Kentucky. 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. Founding Fathers Distillery. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a collection of eighteen whiskey distilleries. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. Next, hit up Wild Turkey Distillery, which has been crafting Kentucky bourbon since 1869. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. The weather is pleasant and bourbon is in full production. How you do it is completely up to you. Being on our own, we could choose which distilleries to tour and which ones to just do a tasting. Dinner: Mayan Caf. To get to Evan Williams and/or to get back to your hotel, consider driving or using Uber (we used Uber while in Louisville and kept our car parked at our hotel). Nothing can be added to the whiskey other than water. Starting off in Louisville, visit the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. So, its nice to break up distillery visits with other experiences. 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). Angels Envy. If you are looking for a large-format map, you should buy an printer that is large-format. If you pay extra, we can also produce these maps in specialist file formats. This map was created by a user. We opted to take the 30 minute Unlocking the Senses tasting, where we sampled four Bulleit whiskeys. There are 37 distilleries total, but whether you tackle them all is entirely up to you! MIDRANGE: Staybridge Suites Lexington. Make sure you do this Tuesday through Saturday before 5 pm, when the cooperage and the bottling line are in operation. Over in Bardstown, there's Willett Distillery. 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. First, decide on the size of your printout. 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. The Field Guide is your passport to exploring the people and the places behind the Bourbon. Plus, its easy to find. There is even an art museum located inside of the hotel. We felt thatit was just enough to give us a taste but not so much that it impaired Tims driving. While in Bardstown, head to the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskeyso you can learn all about the liquid gold you've been knocking back! More Information for Your Trip to Louisville. This is the busiest time on the trail and tours can sell out. Some of them include the distance to view and the subject. Many people state that the Buffalo Trace tour is their favorite in Kentucky. As for tours, it looks like distilleries are still offering tours and tastings, but I would get the full details for each distillery on their website (we have a link for each distillery in this post). Bourbon can be brewed anywhere in the United States, although 95% of bourbon is currently distilled in Kentucky. Do you have a PDF of the great Article? You do not have to take a tour at each distillery. Buffalo Trace is the oldest continuously operating distillery in America. In addition, for a fee we can also make the maps in specialized file formats. Angels Envy offers several different tours. In 2008, it was Historic Hotels of Americas top pick. This is one of our favorite restaurants in Louisville. For lunch and/or dinner, we recommend Kitchen& Bar, the restaurant at Bardstown Bourbon. MIDRANGE: Homewood Suites. If you have any questions about this Kentucky Bourbon Trail itinerary, let us know in the comment section below. This day includes the remaining distilleries in Louisville with the option to add on one or two museums. Save to your device to access at a later date. Andrew Jackson and King Louis Phillippe both stayed here. 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. We started at Wild Turkey and were the only ones on their 9 am tour. 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. Tim and I stayed here on our first visit to Louisville in 2016. Green River sits out in Owensboro, almost a two-hour drive from Louisville. 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. In this post, we cover everything you need to know to have the best experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. One of the highlights of this tour, other than the tasting, was standing inside of their rickhouse. Afternoon: Take a tour at Old Forester Distillery. 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. And you definitely should try the Bourbon Cream. Dinner: Proof on Main. It can be chilly, but most of the time we were indoors, so weather wasnt much of a factor. Morning: Stitzel-Weller Distillery. To ensure you benefit from our products Contact us for more details. You can still tour the distillery, but you might not get to see the fermentation and distilling process. Make sure to stop for a drink at the Bluegrass Tavern, a Lexington classic that boasts the largest bourbon collection in the state. #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. However, people under the age of 21 are not permitted to do a tasting (of course!) As you tour more distilleries, you can pick out the differences between the bourbons. Some of these yeast strains have been used for decades at each distillery. 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. Theres something here for everyone. The Old Nelson County Jail housed prisoners from 1797 until 1987. If you pay extra, we can also produce these maps in specialist file formats. The rickhouse is where the barrels are stored. Buffalo Trace, located in Frankfort, is one of the most famous bourbon distilleries in Kentucky. 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. LUXURY:The Brown Hotel. Built in 2017 and open to visitors in 2019, this brand-new distillery features modern, state-of-the-art technology. This hotels onsite restaurant, Proof on Main, is one of Louisvilles best restaurants and bars. 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. If you want to tour the distilleries without the crowds, visit Kentucky from the end of November through March. Read on to learn how to use printable maps. Lexington Brewing Company offers a wide variety of tours as well as a mixology class. Take a Mixology Class. Plus, everyone who visits gets a mini souvenir Louisville Slugger for themselves! 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. This distillery is located in Shively, very close to downtown Louisville. Bourbon Country Map Use this interactive map of Kentucky to plan your visit by finding nearby attractions, hotels, shopping, and restaurants. The process of creating a map to print is slightly more complicated than creating an image that is static. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. It depends on the time of year that you are visiting, and whether or not you been touring over the weekend. In order to ensure that you benefit from our products we invite you to contact us for more information. 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. They give a really thorough background on the drink and Louisville's history with it . If you want the map twice as wide you can select extra large.