Restaurants At Iberostar Paraiso Lindo, Redefined Coffee Secret Menu, Articles P

Very interested in a 3 day trip. Why not? Afternoon: Take a tour at Old Forester Distillery. Cheers, Julie. Green River is the outlier, located almost two hours west of Louisville, in a small town named Owensboro. This is the busiest time on the trail and tours can sell out. The list is ever growing. The distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail are open year round. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. It is said to be the oldest western stagecoach stop in America and legend has it that Jesse James left behind bullet holes in the tavern. It smells so good in here!! For more information about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, we have two more articles that will help you plan your trip: The Ultimate Guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. And many distilleries offer longer, behind the scenes tours for a more detailed look at the distilling process. Tours last one hour and end with a tasting. The repurposed stone castle and the rest of the historical property are breathtaking, and the distillerys chic branding (with plenty of merchandise to take home from the gift shop) adds to the overall charm of the location. Buffalo Trace has a long and fascinating history. Bardstown Bourbon. Nope. In 2016, we were able to show up and do a lot of tastings. Spend the day visiting two big names in bourbon and a tour of a cooperage. 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. BUDGET: Holiday Inn Express and Suites Downtown Louisville. 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! We saw their vans everywhere! Angels Envy puts a twist on whiskey distilling. Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 7 Days: This is our day by day itinerary listed above, in the same order, with suggestions on where to stay. Though, not nearly as polished as distilleries like Maker's Mark, it's a much more personal, intimate and informative experience than what you'll get touring a bigger operation. Fortunately, the distilleries are getting more creative with their activities, and some are now offering cocktail classes, food pairings, and in-depth behind-the-scenes tours. Most distilleries give you a few, tiny sips of several of their bourbons, just enough to get a good taste, and not so much that you will walk around schnockered for the rest of the day. Plus, its easy to find. Enjoy like a true Kentuckian: Responsibly. Wild Turkey produces one of the most popular bourbons in the US and one of the best-selling bourbons in the world. Check the Churchill Downs website for the race schedule before you go. Visit their website here. There are five rules that distinguish bourbon from all other whiskeys. Starting off in Louisville, visit the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. If time allows, consider the areas other great export: thoroughbred horses. Click OK to confirm. Some distilleries are closed on Mondays. If you are looking for a highly rated hotel and dont want to spend a lot of money, this is a great option. Its centrally located, so you can walk to many of the sights and distilleries on Whiskey Row. Any advice you have on this front would be greatly appreciated, since Ive heard mixed answers. It was educational, lots of fun, and a great way to tour another distillery without taking a tour. The grand finale of the tour isthe bourbon tasting. KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL: Pick out which distilleries to visit in our article Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. 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. Now, you can stay in a colonial style room in this very same building. For more restaurant recommendations, check out our article Best Eats in Louisville. However, note that the map will display an uninspiring look, since it will be used only for only one printing session. Makers Mark is a must-visit on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. 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. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Children are allowed on the tours and generally pay a reduced tour fee or can tour for free, depending on the distillery. From beautiful fall foliage, to pumpkin patches and farm cider, this is the best time to experience the Bourbon Trail. With the many distilleries within its city limits, Louisville is a good jumping-off point on the trail. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. Its centrally located, so you can walk to many of the sights and distilleries on Whiskey Row. Several distilleries now offer cocktail or mixology classes. 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). 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. We have links to each distillery in our Best Distilleries post. Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 2 Days: Follow days #1 and #2. 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. Evans William Experience in Louisville. It must be distilled from at least 51% corn. 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. On our most recent tour in November 2019, we booked all of our tours in advance but only one of them was sold out (the Inside the Barrel Tour at Angels Envy). This is one of our favorite restaurants in Louisville. Lunch: Doc Crows Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar or Troll Pub under the Bridge. This will minimize your driving and let you stay in the small towns in Kentucky. Our website uses cookies. From Lexington head over to Danville, Kentucky and visit Wilderness Trace Distillery. Located in Lexington, this bourbon distillery also produces beer. Most tours teach you the same process about bourbon distilling, with a few differences at each distillery. All other times of year, making reservations is advised but might not be absolutely necessary. The bourbon and whiskey at Green River spend less time in the barrel than at most distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. It does require more ink than printing text. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail website includes a map of all area distilleries, general exploring tips, and a calendar of upcoming distillery events. Next up is the Buffalo Trace Distillery. There are many more distilleries you can visit in Kentucky that are not part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Best Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Youll need a designated driver along the trail, as youll be sipping and tasting whiskeys. If you want a hotel with an awesome location and one that gets great reviews, the Homewood Suites is one to consider. The distilleries are grouped together in four general areas. All content and photography shall not be reproduced without written permission from the Kentucky Distillers Association. Monday through Friday, tours are offered at the Kentucky Cooperage (1 pm is the latest tour time). If you pay extra, we can also produce these maps in specialist file formats. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Also, consider how the map will be folded. Be prepared for an experience for all five senses. Julie Last updated: December 16, 2022 United States 32 Comments. How far in advance would you recommend booking tours, or are walk-ins generally accepted at most of the distilleries? Nothing can be added to the whiskey other than water. If you are a bourbon drinker and have a favorite distillery thats on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, make sure you include it on your tour of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. 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. Also, the visitors center offers lots of history, facts and figures. Many offer tours and a few are very near to the popular distilleries! Their first bottled bourbon dates back to 1870. About this Kentucky Bourbon Trail Itinerary, For more restaurant recommendations, check out our article, For more ideas of what to do in Louisville, read our article about. If you are looking for a large-format map, you should buy an printer that is large-format. Thanks! Tall tales, trip guides, & the world's weird & wonderful. While in Bardstown, head to the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskeyso you can learn all about the liquid gold you've been knocking back! It's not a part of the Kentucky Distillers Association's official Bourbon Trail, but they are, however, open for tours and tastings. Here's a sample itinerary to follow for your visit. Everything from five-star restaurants to delicious sandwich stands can be found in the small towns along the way between distilleries. Plus, everyone who visits gets a mini souvenir Louisville Slugger for themselves! Learn more about the benefits of printing maps. When you're ready for a hearty meal, there's super delicious BBQ right off I-75 at Red State BBQ. In order to ensure that you benefit from our products we invite you to contact us for more information. We have been twice, the same weekend both times (the weekend before Thanksgiving). Learn how to create your own. Unfortunately, we do not have a PDF of this article. Plus, its easy to find. 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. BUDGET: Glo Best Western Lexington. Say goodbye to Louisville and head south to Bardstown. A combination of ideal weather, limestone water sources, and a long history of the craft make Central Kentucky the bourbon capital of the world. The memorial is free to visit. Foaling begins in late January and will continue through May, so visit in the spring if you want to meet the youngest future racehorses! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Tim and I stayed here on our most recent visit to Louisville and we had a very nice experience here. Also known as the Independent Stave Company, this is where the barrels are constructed for many of the bourbon distilleries in Kentucky. You take a tour, learn about the art and science behind the distilling of bourbon, and end with a tasting. 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. It's a great destination on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, which focuses on smaller and more inventive distillers.