I’m planning a trip to Kentucky this year. I visited many of these sites in the past, but this will be my first dedicated multi-day Bourbon Trail visit. Below is our itinerary, along with optional sites we may add if time permits. I’ll post a new blog entry with observations once we return.
But for now, here’s a lengthy list with details and links…
Bourbon Trail Resources
- Kentucky Bourbon Trail
- Good overview site that points to distilleries
- https://kybourbontrail.com/distilleries/
- Includes options on broader tours, transportation, etc.
- Urban Bourbon Trail (Louisville)
- Louisville specific; includes bars & restaurant recommendations.
- https://www.bourboncountry.com/things-to-do/urban-bourbon-trail/
- Includes information for tours across the state, etc.
- Go to the site to learn how to get discounts as you stop at the sites.
- Distillery Map (Link)
Suggested Itinerary
- Hampton Inn, Cave City
- National Corvette Museum
- Tickets: Link, Main Site: Link
- 350 Corvette Dr, Bowling Green, KY 42101 (map)
- Hours: 9am – 4:30pm 7 days a week
- No time / date specified at ticket purchase
- Indoor museum telling Corvette’s history, with over 70 different car models plus memorabilia & more.
- Impressions: In addition to Corvettes, the museum includes displays and a history of the sink-hole that consumed a number of cars from the museum floor.
- National Corvette Museum
- Hampton Inn, Bardstown
- Mammoth Cave
- Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
- Home2 Suites, Frankfort
- Maker’s Mark Distillery
- Tickets: Link, Main Site: Link
- 3350 Burks Spring Rd, Loretto, KY 40037 (map)
- Recommended Tour: Behind the Bourbon (2 hours): 10:00-12:00
- Famed bourbon producer offering tours, events & a restaurant for local, seasonal dishes & cocktails.
- Impressions: Bourbon is okay, but the campus and tour are beautiful. It’s fun dipping your own labeled bottle in the hot, red wax.
- Time from Hampton Bardstown: 30min
- Kentucky Cooperage
- Heaven Hill
- Tickets: Link, Main Site: Link
- 1311 Gilkey Run Rd, Bardstown, KY 40004 (map)
- Tour Options (in order of preference)
- Bottled-in-Bond Tour and Tasting: 1:45
- Whiskey Connoisseur Experience (45 minutes): 3:15-4:00, 4:15-5:00
- You Do Bourbon (1.25 hours): 2:30-3:55
- Family-run distillery’s tasting center & museum telling the story of bourbon in the area.
- Time from Kentucky Cooperage: 30 minutes
- My Old Kentucky Home (Grounds / Gardens)
- Maker’s Mark Distillery
- Home2 Suites, Frankfort
- Buffalo Trace Distillery
- Tickets: Link, Main Site: Link
- 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY 40601 (map)
- Tour Options (in order of preference)
- Hard Hat Tour (75min): 10:30-11:45
- Trace Tour (75min): 10:00-11:15
- Old Taylor Tour (75min): 10:00-11:15
- Gift shop, walk the grounds, drive through Frankfort
- Gift Shop Opens: 9:00- 5:00
- Time-tested distillery offering its own brand of bourbons & warehouse tours with tastings.
- Impressions: ALL Tours book quickly (within minutes) from when they become available (shown on website)! A hard-to-find bottle is available in the gift shop each day, but you must arrive early (ideally before opening) and stand in line for a chance to purchase one. Many different kinds of Bourbon, Rye, etc. at this larger, more industrial complex. Many buildings to view from the outside. Great place to visit.
- Time from Home2 Suites Frankfort: 15 min
- Time to Woodford Reserve: 20 min
- Woodford Reserve
- Tickets: Link, Main Site: Link
- 7785 McCracken Pike, Versailles, KY 40383 (map)
- Tour (70 min): 14:30-13:40 AND 15:30-16:40 (arrive 20 minutes early!)
- Whiskey producer in operation since 1812, offering tours & tastings at a quaint building complex.
- Impressions: Highly-recommended tour due to grounds, buildings, and tour which covers the steps in Bourbon making. Includes open vats, rickhouse walk-thru.
- Time from Buffalo Trace: 20 min
- Buffalo Trace Distillery
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Louisville Downtown
- Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
- Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery (Gift Shop)
- Lunch: Bristol Bar & Grill
- Evan Williams Bourbon Experience (Gift Shop)
- Old Forester Distilling Company
- The Big Four Bridge (Walk across Ohio river)
- Main Site: Link
- Parking: Big Four Lawn, Red Parking Lot, 1001 River Road (map)
- Big Four Bridge: 1101 River Rd, Louisville, KY 40202 (map)
- Converted railroad bridge with seasonal lighting offering walkers scenic treks over the Ohio River.
- Impressions: A fun walk on a nice day. Something unique to do.
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Louisville Downtown
- Angel’s Envy Distillery
- Tickets: Link, Main: Link
- 500 E Main St, Louisville, KY 40202 (map)
- Tour (1 hour): Frequent from 10:15am – 6:00pm
- “Nulu” Neighborhood; not far from Rabbit Hole
- Industrial-chic venue with a hip vibe offering tours by reservation, cocktail classes & tastings.
- Impressions: Well-liked selections aged in Port Wine barrels, etc
- Kentucky Derby Museum / Churchill Downs
- Tickets: Link, Main Site: Link, All Tours: Link
- 704 Central Ave, Louisville, KY 40208 (map)
- Tour: Guided Track Visit (includes Museum entry)
- Racing: FIRST RACE at 12:45 (5PM on Thursdays)
- Films, interactive exhibits & more tell the famed horse race’s story at this Churchill Downs venue. Iconic thoroughbred horse-racing track (it hosts the Kentucky Derby), with a museum & tours.
- Angel’s Envy Distillery
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Louisville Downtown
- Rabbit Hole Distillery
- Tickets: Link, Main: Link
- 711 E Jefferson St, Louisville, KY 40202 (map)
- Tour (1 hour): Hourly, 10:00am – 2pm
- “Nulu” Neighborhood; not far from Angel’s Envy
- Craft bourbon maker offering guided tours & tastings in a contemporary, industrial-chic facility.
- Impressions: More modern than most; contemporary facility. Good Bourbon and Rye!
- Rabbit Hole Distillery
Additional Places for Consideration
- Bardstown Area
- Lunch / Dinner: Old Talbott Tavern
- Main Site: Link
- 101 W Stephen Foster Ave, Bardstown, KY 40004 (map)
- Hours Sunday – Thursday: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
- This storied inn, dating from the 1700s and reported to be haunted. The low-key rooms are furnished with antiques. Some rooms feature claw-foot or whirlpool tubs, and suites add separate sitting rooms. There’s a restaurant with a bar, and live entertainment on weekends. Cooked breakfast is available.
- Willett Distillery
- http://willettdistillery.com/
- 1869 Loretto Rd, Bardstown, KY 40004 (map)
- Rustic outpost for Willet bourbon & more featuring distillery tours, a tasting room & bar gifts.
- Impressions: Bourbon is okay, but the history, tour, and bottles are fun
- Bardstown (Bardstown): CLOSED MONDAY, TUESDAY
- www.bardstownbourbon.com
- 1500 Parkway Dr, Bardstown, KY 40004 (map)
- Airy, modern-industrial stop for elevated comfort fare, cocktails & an extensive whiskey library.
- Jim Beam (Clermont): CLOSED MONDAY, TUESDAY
- www.beamdistilling.com
- 568 Happy Hollow Rd, Clermont, KY 40110 (map)
- Lunch / Dinner: Old Talbott Tavern
- Frankfort Area
- B’s Bakery
- 241 W Main St, Frankfort, KY 40601 (map)
- Impressions: Amazing donuts! Friendly staff. Good location in downtown Frankfort.
- The Stave (Lunch): CLOSED MONDAY, TUESDAY
- Four Roses: CLOSED MONDAY, TUESDAY
- www.fourrosesbourbon.com
- 1224 Bonds Mill Rd, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342 (map)
- Tours of a bourbon-making facility, plus tastings & merchandise at a visitor center with bar & shop.
- Wild Turkey: CLOSED MONDAY, TUESDAY
- www.wildturkeybourbon.com
- 1525 Tyrone Rd, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342 (map)
- Bourbon distillery with a modern visitor center offering tours & tastings with Kentucky River views.
- Bulleit Distilling Co.: CLOSED MONDAY-WEDNESDAY
- Kentucky State Capitol
- Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- 700 Capital Ave, Frankfort, KY 40601 (map)
- Historic beaux arts–style government building opened in 1910, with guided tours available.
- B’s Bakery
- Louisville Area
- Frazier Kentucky History Museum
- 829 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202 (map)
- Sharing stories that matter through exhibitions, education, performances & events.
- Includes the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center & Spirit of Kentucky® Bourbon Exhibition
- Muhammad Ali Center (Museum, etc.)
- http://www.alicenter.org/
- 144 N 6th St, Louisville, KY 40202 (map)
- Memorabilia, exhibits & videos recount the life of the famous boxing icon & activist Muhammad Ali.
- Belle of Louisville
- Distilleries
- Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co
- http://kentuckypeerless.com/
- 120 N 10th St, Louisville, KY 40202 (map)
- Whiskey maker since the 1880s offering tours of its urban warehouse distillery for bourbon & rye.
- Impressions: Bourbon is okay, but the history, tour, and bottles are fun
- Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co
- Frazier Kentucky History Museum
WidgetWood 
Planning on it in July or august . I love Kentucky Burbon , never followed a logical path , so of off the cuff . So will plan better this time
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