Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Come with us as we explore 16 distilleries over 4 days! Wow, that's a lot of bourbon!
Alison Root
9/29/202515 min read
Did someone say bourbon?
During the end of September, my husband and I decided to take a road trip to Kentucky - specifically for the bourbon trail! My husband works at a distillery in Osceola, IA called Revelton, and if you haven't checked that place out I would highly recommend it. Since working there, he has found a passion for bourbon and history of how it's made.
We hit three towns, 16 distilleries, and had 7 tours. Let's get into it!
The road trip itself took about 9 hours from Des Moines to get to Frankfort, KY - we stopped halfway since we couldn't leave until 12:00 for our departure date and we had to drop off our dog to some friends who kindly agreed to dog sitting. We had a plan for which distilleries we were going to do tours at and had them booked in advance - which I highly recommend doing as many of them tend to sell out. The bourbon trail is very popular and you'd be surprised how many people enjoy the process and enjoy drinking it!
Castle and Key (Day 1)
Our first stop was Frankfort, KY home to several distilleries. We decided to stop at one that we didn't have a tour at to start our journey, and that was Castle and Key. While we didn't have a tour on this distillery, it was definitely worth a stop to check out! It had a unique setting that included a small venue for tastings/cocktails, various outdoor seating, a botanical trail, and a gift shop. They also had tours where you could see more of the facility, but it wasn't something that Nick and I had signed up for. We ended up trying four different bourbons which included - a Small Batch, Wheated Small Batch, Rye, and an Experimental. Out of the four, my personal favorite was the Rye - which is surprising for me because I never considered myself a Rye person. They didn't have only bourbon - they had vodka & gin as well, which I walked away with a botanical gin that I'm really looking forward to trying.
All in all, this distillery is definitely worth a stop and be sure to check out all their selections!
Wild Turkey (Day 1)
If I'm being honest, I was skeptical going into this tour because I was never necessarily the biggest fan of Wild Turkey products; however, I was overly impressed! We did the Russell Reserve Immersion tour for our Wild Turkey Experience. Our tour guide, Dwight, was a fountain of knowledge and really added a great touch of his own personal experience with him working at the distillery as well as his close connection with the Russell family.
We were in a group of 12 people and were able to visit one of the warehouses as well as the Station Master's house. Dwight covered the history of how Wild Turkey came to be and some of the process of the distilling, bourbon history, as well as history of Wild Turkey products and how they progressed. All in all, the walking tour was educational, fun, and enjoyable! We finished the tour with a tasting where we were able to try 4 different Russell Reserve products - Russell 10, Russel Single Barrel, Russell Single Barrell Rye, and Russell 13. I really enjoyed all of them - and again, the Rye took me by surprise because it was one of my favorites. Russell 13 is extremely hard to find as they only make about 30,000 bottles annually and we had a surprise at the end of our tour. We were given the opportunity to buy a bottle (per person) so of course Nick had me purchase one too - so he's very excited to be coming home with 2 bottles of Russell 13.
Another surprise is that Jimmy Russell was at the distillery hanging out with his wife. He was meeting people and signing bottles for anyone who wanted them signed - which was really cool and we take advantage of. Dwight had mentioned both of them tend to come most afternoons.
Pro Tip: if you do an afternoon visit to Wild Turkey - you may run into the master distiller himself.
Buffalo Trace (Day 2)
We hit Buffalo Trace right away in the morning at 8:00am after grabbing some coffee. The distillery doesn't open until 9:00am, but they do an allocation drop everyday they are open and people line up early. They have lines on the ground for lines once it gets long to help with crowd management. Thankfully, the line wasn't super long when we got there but I'm sure on the weekends it gets long. Highly recommended that you line up early if you can.
Pro Tip: Each person can buy an allocated bottle of what is available. So if your spouse or a friend is with you, you can both get a bottle of whatever is released that day. Example: my husband and I both grabbed an Eagle Rare & EH Taylor.
Buffalo Trace offers many different types of tours and most of them are complimentary. Be warned - they fill up extremely fast and you may have to reserve a month ahead of time once they release tour availability! Some of the different tours are: Trace Tour, Hard Hat Tour, Old Taylor Tour, and the Arboretum and Botanical Garden Tour.
You can find a list of their tours and register for those on their website at https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/
Pro Tip: Tour dates are released every Wednesday at 10:00am eastern daylight time.
We did the Hard Hat Tour which involved an in-depth tour of Buffalo Trace's distilling process. Be warned - the tour does contain stairs, elevated grated flooring, some tight corridors, continuous walking (for the most part), noisy equipment (they provide ear plugs), and dust. We were led by our tour guide, Ron, who led us through the fermentation & distillation processes. We also were walked through the process on how they made some of their more experimental collection whiskies and toured a large portion of the grounds themselves. The distillery is massive - so closed toed and comfortable shoes are a must!
At the end of the tour, we headed back to the visitor's center where we were led to a tasting room and had our tasting of the following products: Buffalo Trace (standard product), Sazerac Rye, Eagle Rare, & Blanton's Gold. My personal favorite was the Blanton's Gold - but that bottle is definitely hard to get!
Woodford Reserve (Day 2)
In between our allocation grab morning at Buffalo Trace and tour - we had some time to burn! Woodford Reserve was roughly 20 minutes away from Buffalo Trace so we decided to go check out this distillery. The grounds were stunning and drive over was what you'd expect in rural Kentucky - lots of winding roads! We didn't have a tour at this distillery and mainly wanted to see it and potentially try something! We did try a single malt that tasted like banana bread - yum! Definitely a longer stop for next time!
Bardstown Bourbon Company (Day 2)
We drove from Frankfort, KY to Bardstown, KY - home of the Bardstown Bourbon Company! The distillery had a very sleek, modern feel to it & included their own restaurant! Most of the distilleries have their own bars/gift shops, but not all of them have their own restaurant. Before our tour, we each grabbed a cocktail and shared some poutine since we had time to burn. The staff were super knowledgeable and friendly and their Old Fashion cocktail was one of the best I've had.
Pro Tip: Their kitchen tends to close around 3pm before their final tour, so just a heads up to either make reservations or show up before 3 if you want food!
We then took a tour - and our tour guide was awesome! The tasting was at the beginning which was very different and he led us through how to properly do a tasting! We then had the chance to see how the product was made and checked out one of their rickhouse, which was very modern compared to what we've seen so far! We finished the tour with a tasting from the barrel, which was a lovely surprise!
Lux Row (Day 3)
We mainly stopped at this distillery to check it out before our tour at Heaven Hill. It was a really neat place, but the bar wasn't opening until closer til we needed to leave so we weren't able to try anything. If you are going to visit here, I'd recommend coming here later in the day.
Heaven Hill (Day 3)
This was by far one of my favorite tours of our trip! Heaven Hill was so immersive because before the tour, they had an amazing walkthrough of the history of the distillery. It was very cool to already read about some of the history and how the distillery came to be. The gift shop was also very nice! They also had a restaurant upstairs which we though about trying but we had more stops along they way we wanted to get to for the afternoon.
Pro Tip: Get to Heaven Hill when they open, as sometimes they will release some limited numbers of allocated bottles that can be hard to score! If they have any they tend to run out! My suggestion is to ask one of the staff members and they will be able to help you!
The tour itself was really cool! We were able to see one of their older rickhouses as well as a newer one. As we walked through the tour, we actually did our tasting as we travelled between different areas! I thought that was really cool and honestly one of my favorite tasting experiences. Heaven Hill also has a lot of different tour options - the one we did was the Bottled-in-Bond Warehouse Tour and Tasting. They have some really cool options -and one in Louisville at the Evan Williams Experience when you can do a Speakeasy Tasting which I think would be fun! Definitely make Heaven Hill a stop on the trail - we'll for sure be back!
Pro Tip 2: Heaven Hill has a new distillery location that is close by that you need to make reservations for to visit! We may check that out next time!
Willet (Day 3)
This particular stop we did not have a tour but it was recommended to check out by Rob, who owns Revelton distillery in Osceola, IA whom Nick works part-time for as a bartender. I was familiar with Willet, but not as familiar as Nick was. The distillery itself was beautiful and they also had a restaurant that seems really cool but you need reservations for. We did a tasting and sat out on the patio for a bit, so it was a quick stop but it's definitely worth a visit!
Jim Beam (Day 3)
This stop was unplanned! As we were driving from Bardstown area to Louisville, we just happened to drive right by Jim Beam and decided to stop by! I'm so glad we decided to stop because the distillery was really cool! They had a gift shop on first floor and still had tours available if you wanted to sign up for one. Unfortunately, they aren't free so be prepared to pay for a tour if you're interested!
We headed upstairs where there was more retail but their bar/tasting rooms were here. We decided to each order a flight to try - you could get something a little more basic or they had premium options! They had a lot to choose from and the staff were very knowledgeable and made great recommendations based on what you liked. We'll definitely be back for a tour potentially!
Old Forester (Day 3)
We made it to our hotel and dropped off not only our luggage, but the haul we've made so far! We walked over to Whiskey Row, which is where Old Forester was located.
Pro Tip: I highly recommend staying somewhere within walking distance of Whiskey Row - everything is super close together and depending on the time of year you go, it's really nice out!
We went a little early before our tour so we could check out the shop and a bar in the back. We did not grab a cocktail or taster here since we'd have a tasting during our tour, but something to definitely check out in the future! The tour itself was pretty cool and they were one of the few that talked about their barrel process and making their barrels. We even got to see how they charred a barrel which was really neat! All in all, I enjoyed the tour but it wasn't my favorite but I'm glad we did it to learn more about the history old Forester and to see some of their process. We did get a yummy chocolate to go with our bourbon - which was a sweet surprise!
Peerless (Day 4)
Last day of our Bourbon Trail adventure! We began our day at Peerless Distillery with a tour and it was so cool to hear all about their history., They aren't like the big monster distilleries in the area and they chose to be that way, which I think is really cool. The tour guide we had was great and the tasting was really laid back. They let us try more than what we thought we'd be able to try, which I thought was cool - but it was a lot of bourbon for the morning. We both ended up purchasing a bottle we liked - both you can't get outside the distillery. We even got to meet a master distiller and get our bottles signed!
Michters (Day 4)
After our Peerless tour, we made our way over to Michters - we wanted to check this out since we didn't have a tour here. We did however, get our names on the waitlist for the bar upstairs since it was a 10 minutes wait and tried a flight. It was a super cool building - my only complaint is that it was really tight. They do offer tours and I think one day it would be cool to do one. If you're wanting something specific at opening, I'd get there early because when we left for Peerless there was already a line forming!
Green River (Day 4)
Another stop on Whiskey Row we didn't have a tour at but wanted to check out! We would have stopped at more of these places on Day 3, but with our Old Forester tour being later in the afternoon - most of the distilleries were shut down at 5. Green River was also a cool place to check out and they had great offerings as well! We split a flight here as well and I had to try their Rye Tai - which I bought a bottle since you could only get it there.
Evan Williams Experience(Day 4)
Another super cool place to check out on Whiskey Row! They had some history walk through areas, a gift shop, and a cool bar upstairs. We decided to just grab a cocktail here - but next time, I'd love to do the Speakeasy Tasting!
Rabbit Hole (Day 4)
You starting to feel it yet? Just kidding! I promise we were staying hydrated and eating on the way of this trip! Rabbit Hole was on our list of places we wanted to check out but again, no tour at. This place was really unique and I think it would be fun to do a tour here in the future. We shared a flight at the bar and Nick picked up a bottle he really enjoyed. This place is worth a stop - it is a little bit out of the way, but well worth it!
Angel's Envy (Day 4)
Our last tour of our trip! This location was really cool and the tour was informational! The tour guide let us also try some of the "white dog" - which Nick did, I did not. From his reaction, I'm kind of glad I didn't because I think I would have regretted it! I loved that most distilleries mentioned the "Kentucky hug" you get when you drink bourbon - that warm feeling in your chest after you have some - I was definitely feeling the Kentucky love on this trip! The tasting was really good and included more chocolates - which was a first for me since I would have never though bourbon and chocolate go so well together.
Whiskey Thief (Day 4)
Our finally stop - which again, wasn't planned - but we're glad we made this our final stop. This place was beyond cool! The way the tasting worked is they had barrels where they pulled the whiskey out to serve using the "whiskey thief" tool. Nick and I got a flight and then he actually got a chance to pour his own bottle, which was really cool! This distillery is also open later, so definitely make this one of your places to check out!
Eats & Stays
Frankfort:
Our first official night of our bourbon trail adventure, we stayed at a boutique style hotel called The Delegate. This place was tucked away in the historic downtown district in Frankfort, KY. It was very classy & modern and housed an on site bar & restaurant called "Cypress & Oak." We did not go since we had original plans to check out another place in town, but it looked really nice!
Parking is on street or there is a lot that will be used in the future where you will have to pay a nightly fee, but if you can find on-street parking that is free. Just note, that you will have to move your vehicle by 10am otherwise it'll be towed.
The rooms themselves were super nice, modern, and clean! This was probably my favorite stay and will definitely be returning to this hotel!
The next morning before heading to Buffalo Trace for the allocation drop, we found the cutest coffee shop in historic downtown called Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe. It was so unique and had a lot of vintage feel to it. If you're looking for local coffee, I'd highly recommend stopping here for your cup of joe!
After our allocation at Buffalo Trace and visit to Woodford Reserve, we had a little time before our tour at Buffalo Trace to grab a small bite. We headed back towards historic downtown Frankfort and found a hidden gem called Main Street Diner. If you are looking for that classic, retro American style diner - this is the place! The servers were so friendly and the food was your delicious, comfort food! They serve breakfast and lunch - and they are fast! It is a small, local restaurant, so just be prepared to wait a little if all the tables are full. It's a spot you'll definitely want to check out!
For dinner, we ate at a local place called Bourbon on Main. It's a cute little spot and had a huge patio in the back where we sat. I wasn't expecting to sit outside, so it was a pleasant surprise. They seemed to be a little understaffed that night, but everyone was so friendly and they made you feel so welcome. The sandwhiches we ordered were pretty good - although the side Cesar salad wasn't great, so I wouldn't recommend getting that. Overall, our experience there was really nice and we'd probably go again in the future.
Bardstown
In Bardstown, we stayed at a place called Distill Inn. Definitely more of your normal hotel style, but had a classier, bourbon-themed feel to it. Overall this space was really nice and spacious. The bed was also super comfortable, but for my short friends - it was definitely a bit high. I had to do a tiny jump to get onto it. It included breakfast which was a plus, and they didn't have a pool but a cool sports area that had corn hole and a court for bocce ball, which was really unique and different. It's a nice little spot if you're looking for something a little more unique. In general, if you can check out downtown if you have extra time in Bardstown, I definitely would! There are a ton of cute shops in the area we didn't get a chance to explore.
For dinner, we ended up at Talbott Tavern which was so cool! I chose this place due to its history - and I'm really glad we went here. It was build in 1779 and is known for the oldest western stagecoach stop in America. They had an upstairs museum you could walk through upstairs before or after dinner that was really neat to walk through. I would highly recommend taking the time to do that and check this place out. The food was really good and the ambience was really unique. They also have a gift shop and an inn close by, so you could even stay here if you wanted. They also have an extensive bourbon list - so if there is any must try bourbons on your list, check this place out!
Louisville
On our last leg of the trip, we stayed our last two nights in the Marriot Fairfield Inn & Suites. This particular hotel was within walking distance to Whiskey Row, which is why we picked it. It was your basic set up and the rooms are very small, unless maybe you're staying in the Springfield Suites side - those rooms might be a bit bigger. They did have a decent sized pool (no hot tub) and a continental breakfast that was included. The big draw for us was being within walking distance of Whiskey Row. Also - know that they do charge $19 dollars a night for parking, so just be prepared for that.
Dinner on our first night was at a place called Sidebar. Right on Whiskey Row, this place has some of the best burgers I've had! I think it was one of our favorite meals and it really hit the spot. If you like burgers, this is definitely a place to check out!
We walked around a bit and came across a really cool bar called Down One Bourbon Bar. They had a large outdoor space/indoor space that could be opened up when the weather was super nice. We each grabbed a cocktail and the servers were really nice. If you're looking for a quiet & quaint spot for a cocktail, this is definitely the place!
Our second night in Louisville, we went to a place called Troll Pub Under the Bridge for dinner. It was a pretty cool space and their food was really good. I had the Angry Alfredo and that was really good. It was a unique place to check out with a lot of different options for bar food and drinks. We personally did not get drinks this night since we had hit up the most distilleries in a day.
Overall Haul
We probably overdid it, but we got quite the haul from this trip for anyone who is a bourbon fan. I personally only got 2 bottles of rye whiskey myself and a gin. Surprisingly, I found myself to be a rye fan during this trip. Nick was very happy with all of his finds. We'll probably be back at some point, but overall it was a great trip and really cool to see all the different distilleries and learn about them.
Oh, and the bourbon was pretty good too! :)
Haul included: Castle & Key Rye, Castle & Key Seasonal Gin, Russell's 13 (2 - one signed by Jimmy Russell), Wild Turkey 8 Year (signed by Jimmy Russell), EH Taylor Small Batch (2), Eagle Rare (2, one given to a friend), Weller Special Reserve, Bardstown Single Barrel Rye (signed by Steve Nally), Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated, Green River Rye Tai, Green River Single Barrel, Rabbit Hole Single Barrel Dareringer, Knob Creek 12, Angel's Envy Peated Cask Rye, Peerless Single Barrel Rye (signed by Corkey Taylor), Peerless Double Oak (signed by Corkey Taylor), & Whiskey Thief Rye.
