bourbon trail road trip

13 Best Bourbon Trail Tours: A Regional Travel Guide to Kentucky’s Distilleries

Ready, Set, Bourbon! Check out this guide to the best bourbon trail tours in Kentucky including Maker's Mark, Evan Williams, Woodford Reserve, & more...

Ready to sip your way through the best bourbon trail tours in Kentucky? This in-depth bourbon distillery tour guide will take you through 13 of the best Kentucky bourbon distillery tours like Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Evan Williams, Buffalo Trace, Jim Beam, & many more.

Each distillery offers a unique experience, from the tour of the distillery to the tasting room. With this in-depth bourbon distillery tour guide, you can easily plan your trip and choose the best bourbon trail tours in Kentucky to suit your taste and preferences. Get ready to discover the rich history and distinct flavors of Kentucky’s signature drink!

3 Tips for Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail

1. When you are planning, ask yourself: What is my favorite bourbon brand (or the one I’d like to know more about)?

Once you settle on those favorites, see what other distilleries are located nearby that you might enjoy touring and tasting then reserve those to fill in the rest of the day.

2. RESERVE IN ADVANCE.

As soon as you know that you’re taking this trip, start reserving bourbon distillery tours immediately . The best tours book up fast, particularly on the weekends. On my most recent trip in July of 2023, I had to adjust my trip to a day earlier because so many of the tours I wanted to take were already booked.

That being said, if there’s a distillery tour you would like to take that’s located on “Whiskey Row” in downtown Louisville but you can’t book it online, my advice is to go in person and talk to one of the guides at the reservation desk. They might not be able to get you in on a specialty tour, but they can typically get you a space on the regular tour.

*Also note that most distilleries in July (and for some in December as well) close their fermentation facilities for maintenance, meaning you won’t be able to tour those areas.

3. Base yourself in Louisville in a hotel on or near Whiskey Row.

From here, you can easily walk or Uber / Lyft to 4+ amazing distilleries, which is a great option if the time on your trip is limited. I most recently stayed at Hotel Distil on Whiskey Row, and I would gladly stay there again. It’s an ideal location for walking to all major downtown attractions and distilleries. Plus the Hotel Distil also houses one of Louisville’s best restaurants, Repeal .

Regional Guide to Kentucky’s Distilleries

The Kentucky Bourbon distilleries listed below are grouped within each region and then ranked for their tour and bourbon quality.  The majority of Kentucky’s distilleries are spread throughout the regions of:

• Loretto, Clermont, & Bardstown
• Versailles, Lawrenceburg, & Franklin

Due to the distance between these regions and potentially conflicting tour times, it might be difficult to tour 2 to 3 of your favorite bourbon distilleries in one day. So here are my top three tips for planning your bourbon trail trip.

Now, time to talk about Kentucky’s distilleries…

13 Best Bourbon Trail Tours

Table of Contents

Region: louisville bourbon distilleries, “whiskey row”, evan williams experience.

“Civilization begins with distillation.” William Faulkner

The  Evan Williams Experience  is located in downtown Louisville on historic “Whiskey Row.”

The seamless tour features state-of-the-art films and interactive elements to relay the history of Evan Williams and the art of distilling bourbon. All tours conclude with a bourbon tasting in one of the upstairs rooms on the recreated street of “Whiskey Row.”

One tasting room is a “speakeasy” that once stood on that site with Prohibition-era replica tables where the bourbon could be hidden inside. An easy lift on the tabletop in front of you reveals the inner compartment that contains pre-filled bourbon glasses.

Although it’s one of the lower-priced bourbons, Evan Williams  is remarkably good in its flavor profile, smoothness, and complexity, and Evan Williams Single Barrel is excellent. Whenever I’ve done a blind bourbon-tasting flight, their Single Barrel always ranks in my top 3.

General Tour Information

•  Traditional Tour & Tasting: $18

Evan Williams offers several more extensive tours as well as seasonal tasting experiences, so check their website for the most recent offerings.

Old Forester Distillery

“Always carry a flagon of whisky in case of snakebite, and furthermore, always carry a small snake.” – W.C. Fields

The Old Forester Distillery Tour & Visitor Center opened on “Whiskey Row” in the summer of 2018. Although it’s a relative newcomer to Louisville’s historic downtown district, Old Forester is the only bourbon continuously sold by the same company before, during, and after Prohibition.

But that’s not the bourbon’s only claim to historic fame. In 1870, George Garvin Brown ensured his bourbon’s consistent quality by becoming the first distiller to sell the bourbon in a sealed glass bottle.

The general tour is a top-quality experience with one of the most memorable aspects being that you can see the meticulous barrel-making process first-hand.

It’s one thing to look at a charred American white oak barrel stave, but it’s something else to see (and feel the heat) of that charring in person.

The Old Forester Distillery tour ends as most tours do in a private room with four bourbons to taste.

Paired with the tasting is Old Forester’s chocolate-dipped bourbon modjeskas, which are marshmallows wrapped in caramel and then dipped in bourbon dark chocolate, topped off with smoked sea salt. If you love them, you can buy a bag in the gift shop which is filled with loads of other great gifts.

If you’re in a hurry and can’t find the time to tour Old Forester, you can pay a visit to George’s Bar which is a cozy cocktail lounge offering cocktails and flights in the visitor center.

• Old Forester Tour: $32
• Nothing Better In The Market Tour: $70

Angel’s Envy Distillery Tour

“I wish to live to 150 years old, but the day I die, I wish it to be with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other.” – Ava Gardner

While I prefer both the Evan Williams Experience and Old Forester Distillery tours over this one, Angel’s Envy is still well worth the visit. The gift shop is large and well-stocked, and the facility is interesting to tour.

The standard tour is exactly that, “standard,” with not a lot of extras to experience, but you will learn the intricate process of making bourbon and why all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.

What makes Angel’s Envy a standout from other bourbons and ryes on the Bourbon Trail is their emphasis on “finishing” the bourbon.

In addition to meeting the bourbon standard aging process (a minimum of two years in a new charred American oak barrel), Angel’s Envy then places its bourbon in port barrels and its rye in rum barrels to finish, lending each one a more distinctive flavor profile which you’ll explore during the tasting at the end of the tour.

500 E Main St, Louisville, KY 40202

• The Signature Tour: $25
• Private Select Tour: $45

Angel’s Envy offers several experiences and classes, so check their website for the most up-to-date offerings.

Michter’s Distillery

“Happiness is having a rare steak, a bottle of whisky, and a dog to eat the rare steak.” – Johnny Carson

Also located on Louisville’s historic “Whiskey Row,” Michter’s Distillery is a great option for those who prefer a tour that doesn’t involve a lot of walking, given that the entire tour takes place in one large room.

Situated across the street from the iconic Louisville Slugger Museum , Michter’s is a smaller facility with limited space, but the tasting is where the tour shines. The guide places an emphasis on tasting notes and the role that smell plays in how we perceive flavors.

801 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202

• The Discovery Tour: $25
• The Founder’s Tour: $50
• The Legacy Tour: $100

The 2nd floor features The Bar at Fort Nelson which is a relaxed space filled with leather club chairs where you can enjoy classic and creative cocktails. Click here for more information on the Bar at Fort Nelson.

Stitzel-Weller Distillery Tour

“It is true that whisky improves with age. The older I get, the more I like it.” Robert Black

The Stitzel-Weller Distillery is only a 20-minute drive from downtown Louisville, making it one of the most convenient and historic outlying distillery stops along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Originally opened on Derby Day in 1935 and reopened to the public in 2014, the Stitzel-Weller Distillery is one of the true cathedrals of the American whiskey industry. 

Bulleit Bourbon (and their Rye) has long been one of my favorite Kentucky bourbons. It’s hard to miss that orange label, tilted just slightly as it curves around the lower half of the bottle. 

In the past few years, I’ve enjoyed the Stitzel-Weller standard tour which guides you around the historic property and buildings, ending with a tasting of these four bourbons in a private tasting room:

• Bulleit Bourbon
• Bulleit 10 Year
• I.W. Harper
• Blade and Bow

Most recently, I booked their new progressive walking tour which combines the tasting with the tour. I really enjoyed this different take on the standard tour where periodically you pause, pull out the provided glass cairn (which is yours to keep as part of the tour), and sip the various bourbons and whiskeys offered along the way. The setting is also picturesque as you stroll from building to building.

3860 Fitzgerald Road, Louisville, KY 40216

• The Stitzel-Weller Experience: $25
• Progressive Walking Tour & Taste: $65

Stitzel-Weller offers a variety of additional classes and experiences, so check their website for the most up-to-date offerings.

Stitzel-Weller is also home to the Garden & Gun Club, located on the 2nd floor of their visitor’s center. Here you can rest your feet while enjoying a light bite and one of their curated cocktails. Click here for the Garden & Gun Club.

Region: Loretto, Clermont, & Bardstown

Maker’s mark distillery.

“Nothing is so musical as the sound of pouring bourbon for the first drink on a Sunday morning. Not Bach or Schubert or any of those masters.” Carson McCullers

The road to  Maker’s Mark bourbon distillery in Loretto, KY, can be a little confusing. On my first visit here, the route guidance told me that I had arrived, and there was nothing but fields, barns, and a small house or two scattered about. 

To avoid potential confusion and arrive in time for your tour, Maker’s Mark provides these instructions for getting to their distillery from Louisville:

Star Hill Farm is located at 3350 Burks Spring Rd., Loretto, KY, 40037. From Louisville: Driving time: Approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes. 

• Take I-65 South from Louisville to exit #112, Clermont/Bernheim Forest exit. At ramp turn left onto Hwy. 245 South to Bardstown. 

• Take Hwy. 245 to intersection of Hwy. 62, turning right, and continue on Hwy. 62 east for approx. 2 miles. Hwy. 62 runs into Hwy. 150 where you will turn left and continue approx. 2 miles and drive past My Old Kentucky Home State Park. 

• At intersection of Hwy. 150 and 49, turn right onto Hwy. 49 South and follow the brown historical landmark signs to Holy Cross, which will direct you to go left onto Hwy. 49. 

• Follow Hwy. 49 where you will turn left onto Hwy. 52 East into Loretto. Continue on through Loretto. 

• Turn left onto Bill Samuels Jr. Rd. and historic Maker’s Mark® Distillery is straight ahead. 

Regardless of which tour you reserve (they offer a wide variety and actively update them), you’re in for a great experience. Plus, Maker’s Mark is just a beautiful place. The grounds, house, and distillery buildings are picture-perfect. 

At the end of each tour, you’ll have an opportunity to taste a selection of their bourbon.  

I’ve had the opportunity to experience 2 of Maker’s Mark Distillery Tours, and if you only have time to tour one of Kentucky’s distilleries, make it this one. It was the hands-down favorite (on currently my 3rd trip) along the Bourbon Trail. 

General Distillery Tour Bourbon Tasting

• Maker’s White (which is basically moonshine or “white dog”)
• Regular Maker’s Mark (the kind you can buy anywhere)
• Maker’s 46 (which is made by inserting seasoned French Oak staves into the bourbon barrels to add additional rich flavor)
• Maker’s Cask Strength (bourbon derived from a single barrel and my favorite of the 4).

After the tasting, you’re given a decadent bourbon chocolate to savor before you walk under the Chihuly glass ceiling of the hallway to the Maker’s Mark gift shop. 

If you like, you can dip your own bottle of Maker’s Mark in their iconic red wax or buy an exclusive bottle of the Maker’s Private Select.

The distillery address is technically: 3350 Burks Spring Road, Loretto, KY 40037.

GPS will try to take you to the Business Office, but the Historic Distillery is more directly accessed using Bill Samuels Jr Road.    

• General Distillery Tour: $ 24
• Behind the Bourbon: $65

Be sure to check the Maker’s Mark website for the most up-to-date tours and experiences.

James B. Beam Distilling Co. (Jim Beam)

“I have never in my life seen a Kentuckian who didn’t have a gun, a pack of cards, and a jug of whiskey.” – Andrew Jackson

It doesn’t get much more iconic than Jim Beam bourbon . With its instantly recognizable name and its best-selling brands including Booker’s, Knob Creek, Basil Hayden, Old Grandad, and, of course, Jim Beam, the distillery is an impressive one to visit.

Located 30 minutes from Louisville by car, it’s an accessible bourbon trail distillery to visit if you don’t want to drive too far afield. Due to the fermentation tanks, rickhouses, and bottling facility being situated fairly far apart, this tour involves riding a large comfortable bus to a couple of the locations, but it’s a quick trip each time.

Quite a lot of thought has been put into the design and aesthetics of the tour experience, with the first building of the tour featuring an indoor waterfall illustrating Kentucky’s natural limestone filtration which makes the whiskey taste better.

Towards the end of the distillery tour, you’ll walk the Knob Creek bottling line where you can hand pick and purchase a Single Barrel bottle and customize the warm wax seal with your thumbprint.

Finally, you return to the Visitor’s Center where you’ll be able to taste four of their most popular bourbons before being set loose in their two-story gift shop.

I really enjoyed this tour, and I would happily do it again. Due to the popularity of this bourbon brand, I feel it’s a great place to start, but the tours fill up fast.

568 Happy Hollow Rd. Clermont, KY 40110

• Bourbon The Beam Way – Distillery Tour & Tasting: $28

Jim Beam Distillery offers several more tasting options and experiences that you can book, so check the website for the most up-to-date listings.

Another great feature of Jim Beam Distillery is their onsite restaurant, The Kitchen Table. Here you can order appetizers, salads, burgers, pizzas, brisket, fried chicken, and even dessert. The large cocktail bar in the center shakes and stirs up some great bourbon cocktails, or just order your favorite bourbon to sip neat.

If you’d like to make a reservation for The Kitchen Table, it’s available on Resy.

Willett Distillery

“There is no bad whiskey. There are only some whiskeys that aren’t as good as others.” Raymond Chandler

Located about 30 minutes from Maker’s Mark is the  Willett Distillery , perched on top of a hill overlooking the green valleys of Bardstown, KY.

One of the most recognizable aspects of Willett bourbon is their striking pot still bottle design.

This rustic family-owned distillery is beautiful and well-maintained from its photo-filled visitor waiting area to the final tasting room.

Because Willett Distillery functions on a smaller scale, only 1 tour experience is offered at this time, so if touring Willett Distillery is at the top of your wishlist, reserve early. They accept bookings 90 days in advance.

1869 Loretto Road, Bardstown, KY 40004.

• Distillery Production Tour with Tasting: $25

Willett Distillery also features “The Bar at Willett” where you can order up-scale small plates alongside classic and inventive cocktails. Reservations are required, so click this link if you’re interested in reserving The Bar at Willett.

Heaven Hill Distillery

“Whiskey is liquid sunshine” George Bernard Shaw

An official member of Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail, Heaven Hill Distillery is also located in Bardstown near the Willett Distillery. 

While their gift shop and visitor center are top-notch with self-guided exhibits and an informative film in their 1935 Distillery Theatre, the actual general tour is not that exciting or enticing, especially when compared to the quality of tours offered by Maker’s Mark & Jim Beam. 

Heaven Hill might not be a familiar name to you, but most likely, you’ve heard of some of their bourbon brands:

• Rittenhouse Rye
• Elijah Craig
• Evan Williams

While the website calls it a bourbon trail “tour,” it’s actually an informed tasting inside a room with a guide. You won’t be walking through rickhouses or seeing yellow bubbling mash unless you pay more for their “Bottled & Bond Tour & Tasting” for $35.

If you’re looking to sample more varieties of bourbon while giving your feet a rest from touring distilleries, or if you’re looking for a more “indoor” experience, Heaven Hill is a great option. 

1311 Gilkey Run, Rd, Bardstown, KY 40004

• Magic of the Mashbill: $18
• Whiskey Connoisseur Experience: $25
• Bottled-in-Bond Tour and Tasting: $35

Heaven Hill also offers a bar experience on the 2nd floor of the visitor’s center called Five Brothers Bar which features bourbon flights and cocktails.

Dining Tip: Eat Lunch in Historic Bardstown

In between touring the many Kentucky distilleries along the bourbon trail, you’re going to want some lunch or dinner, and Bardstown has a lot to offer. 

Perfect for lunch or dinner,  Talbott Tavern , built in 1779, is a site steeped in history.

“The Talbott Tavern is a uniquely well-crafted early American stone building and as a young boy Abraham Lincoln and his family stayed here. .. There are noticeable bullet holes in the now faded paintings where legend Jesse James shot them.” | Dry Stone Masonry Institute of America

In keeping with the theme of the bourbon trail, Talbott Tavern offers a customized flight where you choose your tasting made up of the wide variety of bourbon and rye they serve sourced from the surrounding distilleries. 

Another great option is the Scout & Scholar Brewing Company offering classic pub food and plenty of beer on tap if you’re looking for a break from all that bourbon. But if you’re not, they also offer Private Select Bourbon flights to expand your tasting profile.

Region: Versailles, Lawrenceburg, Franklin

Woodford reserve distillery.

“A good gulp of hot whiskey at bedtime—it’s not very scientific, but it helps.” Alexander Fleming (Inventor of Penicillin)

The Woodford Reserve tour is charming in every aspect—from the old barrel railway used to move the freshly filled barrels to the rickhouse to the on-site bottling facility and visitor/tasting center. This tour was one of the most memorable I have ever been on over the years I’ve been touring Kentucky’s distilleries along the bourbon trail.

The Woodford tour ends, as all do, with the bourbon tasting. The tasting room is located on the other side of the fireplace wall of the visitor center, with a rectangular bar facing the fire. The guide stands in the middle, offering tasting note tips.

We were able to taste the  regular Woodford Reserve  and the Cask Strength  (or dessert bourbon as they call it) combined with a chocolate bourbon truffle. 

7785 McCracken Pike, Versailles, KY 40383

• Woodford Reserve’s Path To Flavor Tour: $32

Woodford Reserve offers several additional tours and specialty experiences, so click the link below to see their current offerings.

Four Roses Distillery

“Whiskey, like a beautiful woman, demands appreciation.” Haruki Murakami

Situated on top of a breezy hill is the most romantic of the Kentucky distilleries along the Bourbon Trail:  Four Roses .

Established in 1888 originally on “Whiskey Row” by Paul Jones, a Louisville businessman, the Four Roses label is rooted in the story of his proposal to a Southern belle named Mary. After courting her for a number of years, Jones asked Mary to respond to his “final” marriage proposal by wearing a corsage of four red roses to a cotillion dance.  This time she accepted and entered the ballroom wearing the corsage.

While Four Roses bourbon is smooth and the distillery, with its Spanish Mission style architecture, has a unique and interesting story from 1888 to the present, the tour itself can still use some work. It’s more of a “Cliff’s Notes” brief summary version of how they make their bourbon.

Their bottling facility is located at a different location as well, so that element of the process can’t be witnessed on-site. If you have the time, you can take your distillery tour ticket stub and visit the bottling facility for free if you’re interested.

You will be given four bourbons to taste:  The Standard Yellow Lable Four Roses, The Small Batch, Single Barrel, and The Cask Strength.

Before or after your tour, browse the large gift shop fittingly accented throughout with roses or you can enjoy a cocktail or bourbon tasting in Bar 1888.

1224 Bonds Mill Road, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342

• Distillery Legacy Tour: $22

Four Roses Distillery offers several additional tasting experiences as well as seasonal offerings, so check their website for the most up-to-date tours.

Buffalo Trace Distillery

“Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” Mark Twain

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a juggernaut in the world of bourbon.

Consider the brands they make; in addition to the standard Buffalo Trace Bourbon, they are also responsible for crafting Eagle Rare, Blanton’s (John Wick’s bourbon of choice), Pappy Van Winkle, E.H. Taylor, Stagg, Sazerac Rye, and Weller to name a few.   

What sets Buffalo Trace Distillery even further apart from the competition is that they never charge for their tours. They are always complementary. That being said, you still have to reserve in advance, particularly if you want to go on a specialty experience like: The Buffalo Trace Hard Hat Tour .

Even if you’re not overly into bourbon, the grounds are beautiful, not to mention they have one of the largest and most interesting gift shops of the distilleries along the bourbon trail. The tours are also highly detailed and informative.

That being said, the bourbon tasting experience at the end of the tour leaves a little to be desired. Due to limited quantities, Buffalo Trace only offers a few brands for tasting and purchasing in the Visitor Center. 

113 Great Buffalo Trace, Franklin County, Frankfort, KY 40601

• All Buffalo Trace tours are complimentary including tours for large groups or tours that require reservations.
• The Trace Tour
• The Hard Hat Tour
• The Expansion Tour
• Old Taylor Tour

Additional Tours are available focusing on the gardens and historic landmarks, so check their website for current offerings.

Wild Turkey Distillery

“There’s no app for a bourbon buzz on a warm day in a cool, dark bar. The world will always want a drink.” Gillian Flynn

The  Wild Turkey Tour  is as industrial as it gets. Not that it makes the tour less interesting, but I prefer the smaller distilleries along the Bourbon Trail as opposed to the mass conglomerate operations. 

The tour lasts about one hour, and you get to see where they make the bourbon as well as where they bottle the various vodka brands that they own. An impressive operation, to say the least. 

The Visitor Center is a fun place to look around and learn a bit more about the history of the distillery location and the origin of the name. Currently, Wild Turkey is closed to visitors and tours as they refresh the visitor’s center, so I’m looking forward to see what updates they have in store.

1417 Versailles Rd, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342

Final Thoughts

“My own experience has been that the tools I need for my trade are paper, tobacco, food, and a little whisky.” William Faulkner

Every year, I look forward to visiting more distilleries along Kentucky’s bourbon trail so check back for updates.

The next two bourbon trail distilleries on my hit list include:

• Bulleit Distilling Company Visitor Experience
• Castle & Key Distillery

While I did a tour and tasting of Bulleit when it was located at the Stitzel-Weller facility, I have yet to visit their new Visitor Center experience that opened in 2019 in Shelbyville, KY. Click here for more information.

And finally, the distillery that is currently intriguing me the most is Castle & Key, which I saw from a distance when I was driving to Lexington. It actually looks like a castle, and in addition to their distillery and grounds tours, they offer a rotating calendar of events. Click here for more information.

Everyone’s taste is unique and preferences differ, but hopefully, this guide helps you discover your go-to bourbon as you forge your own path along Kentucky’s bourbon trail.

If you’re planning on staying in Louisville, then be sure to check out the Go-To Louisville KY Guide for Best Hotels, Attractions, & Dining .

Leave a Comment

7 thoughts on “13 best bourbon trail tours: a regional travel guide to kentucky’s distilleries”.

You’re welcome, and I’m glad you found the information helpful. Enjoy your trip this summer!

Thank you for posting all of the information with tour prices and your opinion. I am looking forward to visiting Kentucky this summer 2023.

Hi Terri, I would recommend checking out the Pegasus Kentucky Bourbon Trail Tour Packages. They are rated really well and offer several packages to choose from with a driver to take you to the distillery region of your choice for the tours. My personal favorite region is the South / Bardstown Distilleries which includes Maker’s Mark (my favorite tour).

https://www.takepegasusdistilled.com/distillery-packages

Hope this helps!

I want to find a package tour that goes to several distilleries/breweries, one inclusive price, and transportation. Is there such a thing?

I would recommend checking out the Pegasus Kentucky Bourbon Trail Tour Packages. They are rated really well and offer several packages to choose from with a driver to take you to the distillery region of your choice for the tours. My personal favorite region is the South / Bardstown Distilleries which includes Maker’s Mark (my favorite tour).

Here is the link: https://www.takepegasusdistilled.com/distillery-packages

If you’re staying in Louisville, The Brown Hotel is my favorite, but there are lots of great hotels along 3rd street between W Broadway and the Riverwalk which put you right in the middle of Louisville’s downtown scene where you can walk to restaurants and other attractions.

Hope these suggestions help, and I hope you have a great trip!

Want to schedule a tour for three and set up a driver to visit 2 top rated distillery’s Also will need accommodations for 2 nites. .any suggestions.

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the post. I’ll be sure to check out your site as well!

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I've Lived in Kentucky for Decades and Finally Took a Road Trip on the Bourbon Trail — Here's Why It Was Worth It

A historian uncovers the complex story of her home state’s famous spirit, one strong sip at a time.

Ashley Camper

Growing up in Louisville,  I knew about bourbon. I played my first game of spin the bottle with a grade-school classmate who was named after his family’s brand, Very Old Barton. Yet, by the time I started drinking hard alcohol (too young), my idea of a delectable cocktail was a very strong vodka tonic with two wedges of lime.

It turned out I wasn’t alone. In the early 1970s, sales of vodka surpassed those of America’s native spirit for the first time. Facing a shrinking market, bourbon makers of the 1970s and 80s wandered into other industries. My friend’s family, along with many other distillers, cashed out to conglomerates. By the early 90s, the unimaginable had occurred. “Even Kentuckians had stopped drinking it,” Susan Reigler, who has authored six books on the spirit and has been called the “headmistress of bourbon,” told me.

Bourbon’s course through the body, from lips to throat to chest to belly, can feel like lava, an effect known as a “Kentucky hug.” Even Rob Samuels, managing director of Maker’s Mark, has conceded, “You almost had to work hard to like it.” And for many, the spirit’s classic cocktail — the aromatic and potent Old-Fashioned — came with too strong a whiff of the Old South. As a graduate student in history during the late 1980s, I watched white men use bourbon as a way of brandishing their power. At an academic conference, an eminent scholar informed his junior colleague — Catherine Clinton, now a prestigious historian in her own right — that to fit in she needed to drink bourbon. Not a fan? Not a problem, he said. She would get used to it if she brushed her teeth with the stuff for a week.

But tastes change. Today the bourbon business is booming. There are more than 11 million barrels aging across the state. Between 2009 and 2021, the number of whiskey-distilling operations in Kentucky soared from 19 to 95, and a new premium craft brand seems to crop up every few months. On weekends, a stream of bachelor and bachelorette parties pours into Lexington and Louisville; couples are even tying the knot at stylish distilleries.

Bourbon’s course through the body, from lips to throat to chest to belly, can feel like lava, an effect known as a “Kentucky hug.”

I’ve spent most of my life in the Bluegrass State, so tradition dictated that I drink mint juleps annually at Derby parties, when everybody else did. But even last year, I couldn’t have told you the difference between a mash bill and a duck bill. I’m a historian who has studied Southern writers and Southern families. I have even written a book about the troubling origins of the song “My Old Kentucky Home.” But I had virtually ignored the bourbon comeback. How did this spirit reverse its course? My historian’s bag in hand, I set off on a chilly winter ride along the bourbon trail.

At the start of my first full day as a bourbon tourist, I ducked out of Hotel Distil i n Louisville, where I’d spent the night, for a jog across the Big Four Bridge, a pedestrian walkway that spans the Ohio River and connects Kentucky to Indiana. I was almost back at the Distil when I fell in with a line of people stretching down a block of West Main Street known as Whiskey Row. Apparently, they were bourbon hunters waiting for a special release from the Old Forester Distillery. It was on this street that, in the years after the Civil War, bourbon was hauled from the countryside — where it was made as a means of using up surplus corn and grain — and then sold or stored.

I had my first official tasting later at Hermitage Farm , an easy 30-minute drive northeast of Louisville. This Thoroughbred horse farm combines bourbon tastings from distilleries around the state with hyperlocal food (cast-iron corn bread with sorghum brown butter; whole trout with butter beans), all in a single agritourism package. Seated at the Barn8 bar, bathed in whiskey-gold light, I sipped an Old-Fashioned made with foraged-hickory-nut syrup. I tasted more forest than fire, and my hesitation about the spirit began to fade.

Bourbon making is “gloriously inefficient,” Reid Mitenbuler noted in his seminal text,  Bourbon Empire: The Past and Future of America’s Whiskey . The mixture must be at least 51 percent corn and should contain wheat, rye, and malted barley. It also takes time: for bourbon to be designated “straight bourbon whiskey,” it must have aged in new charred white-oak barrels for a period of at least two years. (Another thing to know: don’t believe anyone who tells you with certainty who invented the spirit or how it got its name. That much is lost to time.)

Variables like where in the warehouse a barrel is stored (hotter up high, cooler below) can also produce vastly different results. As the barrels expand and contract with the temperature, the charred-wood flavors press into the liquid, turning the clear “white dog” into a golden-brown mix. One of my guides called that microscopic motion “the heartbeat of Kentucky.”

That afternoon, heading south out of Louisville, I drove along Jefferson Memorial Forest and into the part of the state known as the “Knobs”: miles of undulating, isolated hills, which at that time of year bristled with winter trees like a stubbly beard. I passed by knob after knob until eventually I noticed a billboard informing me I’d entered Jim Beam Country — a reminder that I had four distilleries to visit in the next 36 hours.

I picked up the basics from my time at Heaven Hill Distillery , Bardstown Bourbon Co. , Castle & Key, and Log Still Distillery . I learned about “mash bills”: the proportion of corn, barley, and rye used in the bourbon. Brands used to hold these measurements closer than Colonel Sanders kept the fried-chicken recipe; now transparency is generally the rule, with percentages available on company websites.

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At each distillery, I could smell before I saw the vats, or “cookers,” each one typically containing 12,000 gallons, burping with warm, yeasty fermenting grains. (This beery odor is affectionately known as “Kentucky cologne.”) The mash is pushed through stills, a process that extracts vaporized alcohol from the residue, which can then be fed to livestock. Aside from witnessing the processing and taking part in a tasting, visitors might get to peer into a fire-toasted barrel ready for filling, walk through barrel storage sheds called rickhouses, or peek at the bottling area. Some distilleries have hands-on experiences: a mixology class or the chance to “thieve” a taste, a term for sampling bourbon straight from a barrel.

The touring-tasting-dining trend may be most fully realized at Bardstown Bourbon Co. , founded in 2014. It appears almost like a campus, with a glass-walled visitors’ center, grain labs, a tasting lounge, a library with more than 400 bourbons and ryes dating back as far as 1892, and a thieving room. The airy and cheerful Bardstown Bourbon Kitchen & Bar attracts an industry crowd at lunchtime, though first-timers are welcome, too: the distillery offers 10 different tours and experiences, including a VIP fill-your-own-bottle tour and, on some summer Friday evenings, live music on the patio. BBC produces its own bourbon, as well as spirits on contract for more than 30 other brands. Though now almost a decade old, its sleek, multistory rickhouses don’t yet smell of “barrel candy,” the sticky drippings that accumulate from generations of stacked casks.

Age and masculinity have long characterized bourbon branding. It was right there in the names: Old Sport, Old Fitzgerald, Old Grand-Dad, Old Rip Van Winkle, Old Crow. A patina of longevity communicated stature. It all spoke of a troubling past that, in recent years, the industry has begun to reckon with. Rebel Yell, a brand that launched in the 1960s in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, took its name from the Confederate battle cry and was marketed only in Southern states. (The brand has since dropped the “Yell.”)

Many drinkers may not know that an enslaved Tennessean, Nathan “Nearest” Green, taught the biggest name in American whiskey, Jasper “Jack” Daniel, how to make the stuff. In 2016, Jack Daniel's began to embrace this story by offering tours highlighting Green’s contributions. Three years later, Fawn Weaver, the author who discovered Green’s story and decided to resurrect his legacy, opened the Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Victoria Eady Butler, a descendant of Green’s, now holds the title of master blender there. That’s Tennessee whiskey , but who knows how many Uncle Nearests have been excluded from the Kentucky bourbon story?

Many drinkers may not know that an enslaved Tennessean, Nathan “Nearest” Green, taught the biggest name in American whiskey, Jasper “Jack” Daniels, how to make the stuff. In 2016, Jack Daniels began to embrace this story by offering tours highlighting Green’s contributions. Three years later, Fawn Weaver, the author who discovered Green’s story and decided to resurrect his legacy, opened the Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Victoria Eady Butler, a descendant of Green’s, now holds the title of master blender there. That’s Tennessee whiskey, but who knows how many Uncle Nearests have been excluded from the Kentucky bourbon story?

The Frazier History Museum , in Louisville, offers a tour called “The Unfiltered Truth: Black Americans in Bourbon.” Visitors learn about Elmer Lucille Allen, the first African-American chemist at Brown-Forman distillery, and the contributions of other Black Kentuckians to the bourbon industry. Currently, however, Kentucky has only two Black-owned bourbon distilleries: Brough Brothers, founded in 2021, and Fresh Bourbon Distilling Co., founded in 2020.

Bourbon also has a reputation as being a man’s drink, but it was women who created the modern bourbon trail. One of them, Peggy Noe Stevens, was running Woodford Reserve’s visitors’ center in 1999 when she and two female peers from other distilleries proposed cross-marketing their tours. They produced a brochure that listed the seven places where visitors could see the spirit in the making (today there are 46). Now an author and consultant, Stevens also founded the Bourbon Women Association in 2011.

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One intriguing female-led brand is Pinhook , which produces ryes and bourbons in annual vintages, much like wine. “This gives it a natural crossover appeal for women who drink wine,” said Alice Peterson, Pinhook’s CEO. “I love that we no longer have to market solely to the leather-sofa-and-cigars crowd.”

I found a similar ethos at Trouble Bar , a tavern in Louisville’s Shelby Park neighborhood. I ordered the Galactic Diamond — bourbon, plum, green-tea syrup, and lime — and sat down with co-owner Kaitlyn Soligan Owens, who moved to Louisville from New York City in 2013. She founded a bourbon tour agency, Matson & Gilman, with her best friend, Nicole Stipp. By 2019 they wanted a brick-and-mortar place where they could hold tastings; eventually, a bar followed. Owens and Stipp aim to disrupt bourbon’s perceived “bro culture” by intentionally welcoming LGBTQ patrons and young, progressive customers. The bar’s music tends toward Sam Cooke and Lizzo, and photos of social-justice “troublemakers” — including Alberta Odell Jones, one of Kentucky’s first Black female lawyers, who was murdered in a still-unsolved case — cover one of the walls.

Trouble Bar offers special flights chosen by notable women in bourbon — Stevens and Weaver both contributed, as have female distillers around the state. Owens pointed out that one of the spirit’s greatest innovators was Margie Samuels, who cofounded Maker’s Mark with her husband, Bill, in 1953. Margie was responsible for both the name and the literal mark — she used her home fryer to melt red wax, into which she hand-dipped the bottles to seal them.

Some of the trees at Castle & Key distillery have a witchy look. That’s because they’re blackened with a fungus called  Baudoinia compniacensis,  which thrives on the “angel’s share” of ethanol that evaporates from the bourbon barrels (because the vapor floats away in the air, it’s described as being consumed by angels). Some distillers have been sued because the fungus discolored nearby homes, patios, and automobiles, though there is not sufficient evidence to say that the growth harms people or animals.

Reached by a narrow, steep road outside Frankfort, the state capital, Castle & Key shows how today’s bourbon tourism sometimes builds atop existing foundations. The “castle” is a crenellated 1887 showpiece built by whiskey maker Colonel E. H. Taylor Jr., who is often seen as the father of the modern bourbon industry. The train tracks that Taylor laid to move his product also carried Victorian-era visitors to what was perhaps the first bourbon-tourism experience: people could stroll and picnic in the gardens and admire the grounds and structures, like the “key,” a lock-shaped pool beneath an elaborate pergola. Prohibition forced the closing of the distillery in 1920, and the property fell into ruin as it passed through multiple owners, before finally reopening in 2018. While the bourbon products age — the inaugural small-batch Kentucky Straight wasn’t released until March 2022 — head blender Brett Connors uses juniper berries and other plants to flavor the four gins that are also on offer.

Bourbon also has a reputation as being a man’s drink, but it was women who created the modern bourbon trail.

Castle & Key has reenvisioned Taylor’s fairy-tale buildings and grounds as a place for locals and tourists to listen to live music, drink cocktails like a Bourbon Highball, with spiced honey, yuzu, and lemon, and eat pulled-pork sandwiches from food trucks like BubbyQ. “It’s about how you create a sense of place,” Connors said. “That’s what people remember more than tasting or even tours.”

Lately, bourbon seekers are also after something that has long eluded them: a place to stay after a day of tastings. One of the few places that make that possible is Dant Crossing , a 300-acre destination in Gethsemane, about an hour south of Louisville. There you’ll find 23 rooms spread across a handsome farmhouse building, a Georgian-style home, two cottages, and an exclusive-use lodge. (A farm-to-table restaurant is projected to open next year.) Next door is Log Still Distillery, which has a bar and tasting room, plus a 2,300-seat amphitheater for (mostly) country music performances.

Three cousins — Wally, Lynne, and Charles Dant — inspired by their forebear’s pre-Prohibition bourbon operation — reunited to create the new distillery. (The well-known J. W. Dant bourbon brand, owned by Heaven Hill, is separate.) For the Dants, the journey home has been long like a country mile, which was, fittingly, the name of the cocktail, made with wheated bourbon and dusted with fennel, that I sipped before dinner. Each course — my favorite was the fried game hen with compressed gin watermelon squares and hot honey — had its own cocktail pairing. When it was over I gladly accepted a golf-cart ride back to my room.

The story of bourbon, I found, does not end with the drink itself. The liquor has also become part of the arc of Kentucky’s cuisine. Chef Ouita Michel, who has racked up eight James Beard Award nominations and built a 10-restaurant mini empire throughout the state, uses the spirit as an ingredient, but even more as a narrative device. “Bourbon is a fantastic pillar for Kentucky,” she said, “but how do we enrich that story and make it about our people, our places?” She named one of her Lexington restaurants, Honeywood , after Honeywood Parrish Rouse, a legendary Southern hostess who paused at 4 p.m. every day to pour herself a glass of Old Fitzgerald. (I also think of the late Black feminist bell hooks, a Kentuckian who paired “brutal honesty with bourbon.”)

When Michel did her culinary training in the late 1980s and early 90s, she told me, bourbon was not on most people’s radar. Then, 20 years ago, she entered a cooking contest organized by Woodford Reserve and took home the prize for a sea-scallop dish with bourbon in the sauce. That led to 11 years as chef-in-residence at Woodford’s distillery in Versailles. Michel’s first restaurant, Holly Hill Inn, which opened in the town of Midway in 2001, is still one of the best places to get regional specialties like spoon-bread soufflé.

Thanks to the bourbon touring boom, Holly Hill is no longer under the radar. Michel has now counted license plates from all 50 states in the parking lot of Wallace Station , her sandwich shop on Old Frankfort Pike, a National Scenic Byway just outside Lexington. “It’s a sea change,” she said.

I could never distill the essence of Kentucky, a name with a rough beauty that conjures images of green grass and mountain hollers, of icons like Muhammad Ali and Loretta Lynn. Our spirit makers would like you to think that essence is bourbon. I was reminded time and again of its hold.

Journeying along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail showed me just how big a business my state’s signature spirit has become. To experience it fully, go slowly and trace the path of history, knowing that myth is always close behind. Along the way, be sure to stop often for the surprises. Bourbon itself was mine. The heat that comes with each sip is a reminder of Kentucky’s complexity and depth. Give it to me straight, with a single cube of clarifying ice.

Where to Stay

Bardstown Motor Lodge: A restored 1950s property with retro rooms and a poolside bar serving bourbon slushies.

Dant Crossing: Lodgings at this pastoral escape near Log Still Distillery in Gethsemane range from single rooms to a four-bedroom home. Breakfast is delivered to your door.

Hotel Distil, Autograph Collection : An urban Louisville retreat that leans in to bourbon history: its lobby features stoneware jugs once used for whiskey storage, and every night at 7:33 p.m. there’s a toast to the 1933 repeal of Prohibition.  

Origin Lexington: A sophisticated stay in the heart of the city. The hotel also partners with Knob Creek Distillery on a private-label bourbon, available at its restaurant, 33 Staves.

Where to Eat and Drink

Holly Hill Inn: Chef Ouita Michel’s original Midway restaurant remains the region’s most elegant night out.

Honeywood: For a more casual meal, Michel also operates this Lexington hot spot with inventive dishes like sweet-potato beignets and smoked-catfish dip.

Nami: Tired of fried chicken? Celebrity chef Ed Lee’s new Louisville restaurant serves bibimbap, hand-cut noodles, and Korean barbecue with all the fixings.

Trouble Bar: Try bourbon you’ve never heard of at this cheeky Louisville watering hole, where the 17-page menu is an education in itself.

Bardstown Bourbon Co. : A modern, Napa Valley–style approach to bourbon tourism, with sleek tasting facilities and a fantastic restaurant and bar.

Castle & Key: This distillery’s serene gardens are perfect for a midday stroll between tastings.

Frazier History Museum: A Louisville institution with comprehensive exhibits on Kentucky history, the Civil War, and the bourbon industry.

Heaven Hill: Founded in 1935, this remains America’s largest independent family-owned bourbon distillery.

Hermitage Farm: The best of Kentucky in one 700-acre package: bourbon from around the state, horses, and country cooking.

A version of this story first appeared in the October 2023 issue of  Travel + Leisure  under the headline "Still Life ."

Kentucky Bourbon Trail: The Complete Guide

TripSavvy / Taylor McIntyre

A combination of ideal weather, limestone water sources, and a long history of the craft make Central Kentucky the bourbon capital of the world. 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. 

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. Today, bourbon’s popularity is at an all-time high, and in the past 20 years or so, many new distilleries have popped up among old favorites. These newer operations often restore the beautiful, historical properties of Kentucky’s original stills—centuries-old distilleries that either never reopened after prohibition or closed for other reasons. Take the history and the gorgeous natural settings, and add delicious, often entertaining whiskey tours and tastings, and you'll see why traveling along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is such a special experience. 

With so many great distilleries spread across the rolling hills of Kentucky, planning a trip on the Bourbon Trail can feel a bit overwhelming. Make the most of your time by including a diverse mix of ones to visit, from big names in the industry, to up-and-coming, smaller-batch operations. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail website includes a map of all area distilleries , general exploring tips, and a calendar of upcoming distillery events .

Consider Lexington and Louisville as practical bases for your trip: most distilleries are within these cities, or in the small towns orbiting them, and both cities have vibrant downtowns full of hotels, restaurants, and notable sights. 

Explore our guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail for suggested routes, can’t-miss spots, and other tips for having the best experience in bourbon country. 

How to Experience the Kentucky Bourbon Trail

A long weekend is a good amount of time to spend on the Bourbon Trail, but if you plan to combine your trip with other area activities, a week is definitely doable. Traveling directly between Louisville and Lexington (when you aren’t stopping at distilleries) takes less than an hour, and both cities have convenient airports. 

With the many distilleries within its city limits, Louisville is a good jumping-off point on the trail. Spend the next day slowly heading out of Louisville to visit a few distilleries on the city’s outskirts, and then use Lexington as a homebase for the next couple of days. 

Renting a car gives you the most freedom to explore, but it's not necessary. Ride sharing services are abundant in the area, and there are many guided tour options as well. Here's a sample itinerary to follow for your visit.

Day 1: Downtown Louisville 

In Louisville, stay downtown at the Brown Hotel , a city landmark full of history and romance. From the Brown, you can walk (or call a rideshare) to distilleries along the city’s historic Whiskey Row by the Ohio River, such as Angel’s Envy , Old Forester Distilling Co. , and the modern Rabbit Hole Distillery in Louisville’s artsy NULU district. For a lesson on the wild and crazy tales of the Prohibition Era, book a tour at Prohibition Craft Spirits . 

Have a classic, refined dinner at the hotel restaurant , or opt for a more funky choice in town ( Latin farm-to-table , asian fusion , or BBQ and oysters ). 

Day 2: Louisville to Lexington: Clermont, Shelbyville, and Loretto

After a hearty breakfast of biscuits , it’s time to hit the trail! You have the choice to head southeast out of Louisville to explore the Jim Beam facilities. Then it’s on to Maker’s 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. 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. 

A stay at the boutique 21C Hotel makes a great homebase in Lexington; this artsy, modern hotel is located right downtown, and the lobby also functions as a contemporary art gallery. 

Take the evening to explore downtown Lexington. Make sure to stop for a drink at the Bluegrass Tavern , a Lexington classic that boasts the largest bourbon collection in the state. If you need a break from bourbon, a fine margarita at Corto Lima will do the trick. For dinner, opt for classic and refined , or hip and casual . 

Day 3: Lexington, Frankfort, Versailles, and Lawrenceburg

After breakfast at the hotel, it’s a 30-minute drive to the Frankfort area, where touring the new distillery at Castle & Key is a true gem. The repurposed stone castle and the rest of the historical property are breathtaking, and the distillery’s chic branding (with plenty of merchandise to take home from the gift shop) adds to the overall charm of the location. 

Woodford Reserve (a seven-minute drive from Castle & Key) has its own restaurant and is a great mid-day stop for lunch and a tour of its beautiful grounds. 

Twenty minutes northwest of Woodford Reserve, you’ll find Buffalo Trace Distillery ; 25 minutes southwest is Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, home to the Four Roses and Wild Turkey distilleries. 

Before heading out of Lexington, check out the city’s historic Distillery District, home to the recently revived James E. Pepper Distiller (and several other restaurants, bars, and breweries), one of Kentucky’s first bourbon brands originally created during the American Revolution. 

Distillery Information and Rules 

• Most tours cost $10 to $15 (including tastings), and are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Some distilleries are closed on Mondays. Tours typically run every hour, and it’s usually best to reserve online ahead of time. 
• Children under 21 are welcome on tours, for free or at a discounted cost (and no sampling whiskey for them, of course).
• For more distillery rules and Kentucky Liquor laws, check out Kentucky Liquor Laws and The Bourbon Trail. 

Transportation Options

You’ll need a designated driver along the trail, as you’ll be sipping and tasting whiskeys. Even if there is a sober one among the group, it can be a good idea to arrange a local driver for navigating the winding country roads. Uber and Lyft are also all good choices, and if you've managed to stay sober, biking can also be a fun option. 

Where to Eat

Lexington or Louisville aren’t the only places to eat well in bourbon country. Everything from five-star restaurants to delicious sandwich stands can be found in the small towns along the way between distilleries.

Beyond the Trail

If time allows, consider the area’s other great export: thoroughbred horses. Races at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington take place in October and April, and at Churchill Downs in Louisville in November, May, and June . There are tours and special events at both facilities year round.

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Road Trip: Bourbon Trail, Kentucky

White-water rapids and grazing thoroughbreds line your journey through Kentucky's distilleries.

Central Kentucky is bourbon country. Its rolling meadows, limestone-filtered streams, and cool hardwood forests have long provided ideal conditions for producing the honey-colored drink as crucial to Kentucky legend as Daniel Boone himself.

The bluegrass byways winding through bourbon country make for a great road trip. These lanes, including 31E, 52, 127, 60, among others, connect Louisville, Bardstown, and Frankfort in a large triangle, taking in numerous distilleries offering free tours and tastings and revealing pockets of rich southern history. A drive along the Bourbon Trail provides glimpses of white-water rapids and grazing Thoroughbreds—both great for riding—and even whiffs of mint growing wild along the roadsides, lending the landscape the aroma of a perfect julep.

Start in Louisville

Stroll along the Ohio River to reach the Belle of Louisville steamboat (4th St. at River Rd.; tel. 1 502 574 2992; www.belleoflouisville.org ), where Travis Vasconcelos plays the calliope. "Louisville would not exist if it weren't for steamboats," he says. "The city grew up on the Falls of the Ohio, where the boats had to stop until the water rose high enough to pass."

The Heart of Bourbon Country

The heart of bourbon country lies about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Louisville, where Knob Creek winds through low, cave-pocked hills to join the Rolling Fork River. At this site in 1780, Waddie Boone, a relative to Daniel, established a small distillery, one of the first in Kentucky. Three decades later, in 1811, a farmer named Thomas Lincoln moved into a farm on Knob Creek, not far from the distillery, along with his wife, daughter, and young son, Abraham. That cabin formed some of the earliest lasting memories for our nation's 16th President. Today Knob Creek is better known as the name of one of several boutique bourbons produced along the route that have gained popularity over the past decade. Many aficionados of America's native drink have turned away from mass-produced brands to hand-crafted spirits that better capture the authentic flavor of the place.

Grab a walking-tour map at the Bardstown's Welcome Center (One Court Sq.; tel. 800 638 4877) listing 48 historic buildings. Cross the street for a bite at the Old Talbott Tavern (107 W. Stephen Foster Ave.; tel. 1 502 348 3494; www.talbotts.com ), where bourbon has been served for more than 200 years. Next door is the 1819 Nelson County Jail, once the oldest working jail in Kentucky but now a bed-and-breakfast called Jailer's Inn (tel. 1 502 348 5551, www.jailersinn.com ). At the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History (114 N. 5th St.; tel. 1 502 348 2999; www.whiskeymuseum.com ), learn about whiskey in general and bourbon in particular.

My Old Kentucky Dinner Train

The best meal in Bardstown is on wheels. My Old Kentucky Dinner Train (602 N. 3rd St.; tel. 1 859 881 3463; www.kydinnertrain.com ) departs from the town's stone depot for a 40-mile (64-kilometer) lunch or dinner excursion. The train has three beautifully restored 1940s dining cars and two 50-year-old diesel locomotives. The Eisenhower Car, which in 1969 carried the family of the 34th President during his funeral procession, is supposedly haunted. Fortify yourself with a bourbon on the rocks, then ask any server for ghost stories and a quick, informal tour.

Bourbon Heritage Center

Visit the Bourbon Heritage Center run by Heaven Hill Distilleries (1311 Gilkey Run Rd., Bardstown; tel. 1 502 337 1000; www.bourbonheritagecenter.com ). And don't miss the free museum and a film on bourbon making at Jim Beam's American Stillhouse (149 Happy Hollow Rd., Clermont; tel. 1 502 543 9877; www.jimbeam.com/american-stillhouse ). Visitors can tour the Beam family home and sample the company's wares.

Abe Lincoln's Birthplace

At the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace (2995 Lincoln Farm Road, Hodgenville; tel. 1 270 358 3137; www.nps.gov/abli ), a simple cabin in a green valley, hike through the pasture behind the house to the small brook on the right known as Knob Creek, take off your shoes, and wade among the crawdads and fossil rocks.

Maker's Mark Distillery

In Loretto, tour the Maker's Mark Distillery (3350 Burks Spring Road; tel. 1 270 865 2099; www.makersmark.com ). The brand has only existed since 1953, but the farm that fourth-generation distiller Bill Samuels bought to create his signature bourbon has been a working mill since 1805. "I've taken all the distillery tours and this is the best of them," says a well-traveled bourbon aficionado. "You can see every step from the grinding of the corn to the final bottling."

Run Elkhorn Creek

• Nat Geo Expeditions

Except for tasting the bourbon itself, there is no better way to enjoy the water it's made from than by white-water rafting on Elkhorn Creek. Canoe Kentucky (7323 Peaks Mill Rd., Frankfort; tel. 1 502 227 4492; www.canoeky.com ) offers guided and unguided tours, from relaxing canoe floats to Class II and III raft trips. Nearby is the Buffalo Trace Distillery (1001 Wilkinson Blvd.; tel. 1 502 223 7461), where visitors can tour aromatic wooden warehouses packed with whiskey barrels.

In Georgetown, 19 miles (31 kilometers) east of Frankfort, you'll find historic homes and inns like Blackridge Hall (4055 Paris Pike; tel. 1 502 863 2069; www.blackridgehall.com ). At the center of town, a spring emerges from a cave to form the municipal water supply.

Baptist minister Elijah Craig built a classical school here in 1787 and began making whiskey two years later. According to local tradition, a fire damaged his stock of white oak barrels, but when he saw they were merely charred, he used them to store a fresh batch of corn squeezings. The charcoal worked wonders on the aging process of his whiskey, and bourbon was born—to the delight of generations that followed.

For more information about distilleries and other attractions along the Bourbon Trail, as well as a history of the drink, see www.kybourbon.com . For travel information about the entire state, see www.kentuckytourism.com . As you find your way along the country roads making up this route, keep a map or GPS handy and don't be shy about asking the locals for directions. Otherwise, you could wind up like Daniel Boone, who at one time famously quipped, "I've never been lost, but I was bewildered once for three days."

—Text by Michael Ray Taylor, adapted from National Geographic Traveler

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8 Must-See Stops on the Ultimate Idaho Road Trip

Idaho’s rugged, diverse beauty is accessible from all sides, making a road trip one of the best ways to explore the state. To make your experience on four wheels as simple and pleasant as possible, this road trip welcomes you in the southeastern corner of the state from nearby Salt Lake City and snakes you all the way north into Idaho’s panhandle. Drop the top and prepare for high mountain deserts; deep, jagged canyons; dense, lush forests and lots of cool, fresh mountain water — and plenty of adventure — along this most scenic of routes.

Getting There

From Salt Lake City, take Interstate 84 northwest to Twin Falls, where your Idaho road-trip adventure begins.

See & Do

Perched across the awe-inducing Snake River Canyon lies the I.B. Perrine Bridge — your scenic gateway to Twin Falls. As you cross, watch for BASE (Building, Antenna, Span or Earth) jumpers. These thrill-seekers come from all over the world to load up with a parachute, leap from the bridge and free-fall before pulling their chute and floating to the canyon floor. If you’re ready for some more jaw-dropping views, head to Shoshone Falls (“the Niagara of the West”), which cascade 212 feet into the Snake River. Snap a selfie on the overlook and then hit Dierkes Lake Recreation Area for hiking trails, rock climbing and water activities. When hunger hits, grab a seat on the patio at Elevation 486 , where the impressive dishes are matched only by the spectacular view.

Nearby & Noteworthy

•       Milner’s Gate
•       Koto Brewing Co.
•       Zip the Snake
•       Canyon Springs Golf Course
•       Putters Mini Golf
•       Cloverleaf Creamery
•       Thousand Springs Scenic Byway
•       Bruneau Dunes State Park

From Twin Falls, take I-84 west.

Idaho’s capital city tops all types of lists for livability due to its vibrant arts and culture scene, outdoor recreation opportunities, and flourishing culinary options. Stretch your legs on the Ridge to Rivers Trail System, where you’ll find more than 100 miles of hiking and biking trails offering views of the city below. For a more leisurely stroll, rent a Boise GreenBike to explore the Boise Greenbelt , which winds through downtown and multiple parks along the Boise River. Stop off at the Capital City Public Market or The Boise Farmers Market for fresh, local foods and arts, crafts and more. Grab a bite at one of Boise’s palate-pleasing dining options or a raise a glass of Idaho craft beer or Idaho wine at one of several local breweries and wineries . If you’re staying the night, book tickets to the Idaho Shakespeare Festival (tip: you’ll want to book in advance as performances can sell out quickly) for an unforgettable night of theater under the stars.

•       Basque Museum & Culture Center
•       Freak Alley Gallery
•       Boise Whitewater Park
•       World Center for Birds of Prey

From Boise, take Highway 55 north.

Wrapped around the southern banks of Payette Lake , McCall is a charming mountain town packed with outdoor adventure for any age or level. Spend a day at the lake, where you can rent everything from paddleboards and kayaks to jet boats and pontoons or book a lake cruise . Hike or bike the variety of trails Ponderosa State Park or get your downhill thrills at Brundage Mountain Resort and then catch the sunset with a spectacular lake view at Osprey Cliff Overlook. When it’s time to cool down from all your activity, head straight to Ice Cream Alley .

•       Payette River Scenic Byway
•       Whitewater rafting on the Payette River
•       Lake Cascade State Park
•       Kelly’s Whitewater Park
•       Tamarack Resort
•       Gold Fork Hot Springs
•       Jug Mountain Ranch
•       Locals’ Favorite Hikes
•       Local Breweries

Cambridge & Hells Canyon

From McCall, take Highway 55 north through New Meadows and onto Highway 95 south.

The small town of Cambridge offers access to big adventure in the nearby Hells Canyon National Recreation Area . Stunning Hells Canyon is North America’s deepest river gorge (ever deeper than the Grand Canyon) and a staggering 10 miles wide at some points. Book a half- or full-day jet boat tour or a single- or multi-day whitewater rafting excursion (or a combo trip). Don’t miss an opportunity to take a breathtaking hike or fish for salmon and steelhead. Pro tip: The splendor of Hells Canyon lies 24 miles west from Cambridge, so be sure to load up on gas, ice and snacks as you come through town.

•       Mundo Hot Springs
•       Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
•       Weiser River Trail

From Cambridge, take Highway 95 north through New Meadows.

Lewiston is home to Idaho’s newest wine region (Lewis-Clark Valley AVA), where you’ll find 10 wineries producing award-winning wines. Book a wine tour to experience the area’s best sips and learn the history’s rich viticultural history and then indulge in the distinctive dishes at Mystic Café . A launching point to the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area , Lewiston is an ideal base camp for tours on the Snake River that introduce you to wildlife, historical sites, and more.

•       Northwest Passage Scenic Byway
•       Nez Perce National Historical Park
•       Monastery of St. Gertrude
•       River Dance Lodge

From Lewiston, take Highway 95 north.

Surrounded by miles upon miles of rolling hills and fertile farmland, the charming college town of Moscow is an oasis of art, food and drink with enough hiking and biking to balance it all out. Play a round at the University of Idaho Golf Course or stroll through the garden displays at the University of Idaho Arboretum and Botanical Gardens . Learn the significance of the horse to the Nez Perce at  the Appaloosa Museum and Heritage Center . Take a hike in Idler’s Rest Nature Preserve or bike the Latah Trail . Enjoy an eclectic mix of sandwiches and soups at Kitchen Counter and then top it off with a pint at Hunga Dunga Brewing Co . or a glass of wine at Colter’s Creek Tasting Room.

• White Pine Scenic Byway
• Elk River Backcountry Byway

Coeur d’Alene

From Moscow, take Highway 95 north.

This stop in Idaho’s panhandle area features plenty of chances to get on or in some pristine Idaho mountain water. Spend the day at City Park & Beach on Lake Coeur d’Alene (kore-duh-LANE) — home to sandy beaches, barbecue pits, volleyball and basketball courts and more. After all that fun in the sun, treat your taste buds to some comfort food at Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese . Tame the fiercest of hunger pangs with the seasonal Huckleberry Heaven sandwich and then head to McEuen Park for an evening of music at Life After 5 . Start your next morning off by fueling up with a Cajun-inspired breakfast at Ten/6 . Then it’s off to soar above and among the trees with fantastic views of Lake Coeur d’Alene on a zipline canopy tour . If you have any energy left, plan an evening hike on Tubbs Hill to catch the sunset on a lakeside trail or enjoy a sunset dinner cruise .

• Lake Coeur d’Alene Scenic Byway
• St. Joe River Scenic Byway
• Silverwood Theme Park
• Route of the Hiawatha
• Red Horse Mountain Ranch
• Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes
• Idaho Centennial Trail

From Coeur d’Alene, take Highway 95 north.

Sandpoint hugs the shore of Idaho’s largest and deepest body of water, Lake Pend Oreille (pond oh-RAY), where you’ll find one of the best sunrise spots at City Beach as well as paddleboard, kayak and jet ski rentals. Huddled among the Selkirk, Cabinet and Bitter Root Mountain Ranges, Sandpoint is surrounded by hiking and biking trails for all levels. For a one-stop-shop of ultimate adventure, purchase the Ultimate Fun Pass at Schweitzer Mountain Resort , which gives you a full day of all-you-can trampolining, ziplining, rock climbing and scenic chairlift riding. If you’re cruising into town in August, the Festival at Sandpoint is a must-do. When replenishing fuel stores is critical, Sandpoint delivers. Load up on locally sourced pub fare and a cold one at Baxter’s on Cedar or settle into a martini or classic cocktail served up with unrivaled fare and a waterfront view at the splendid Trinity at City Beach .

• Western Pleasure Guest Ranch
• Wild Horse Trail Scenic Byway
• Pend Oreille Scenic Byway

For more trip ideas, check out the Idaho Roadsider and when you’re ready to hit the road, be sure to download the Idaho 511 app for real-time traffic updates.

Visit Idaho

Published on February 14, 2020

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Bourbon Trail Road Trip

and other cool stuff

• Featured Trip Guides

Created by xfuseme - March 28th 2023

There's a reason that bourbon is historically produced in Kentucky (even though legally it can come from anywhere in the US): the limestone filtered water and locally-grown grains just plain taste better, and the fact that the region has, for most of history, made most of America's bourbon, means that the people there have a deep passion for it, and they also have old-school, time-tested recipes, too. Whether you're a bourbon snob, or you just like drinking, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a must-visit.

United States, Michigan, Shorewood-Tower Hills-Harbert

1501 Green Road, Madison, IN, US

Clifty Falls State Park Campground

Great stop, good hiking and falls

700 Capital Avenue, Frankfort, KY, US

New Capitol Building

Historic stop in the state capitol

202 Wilkinson St, Frankfort, KY, US

Liberty Hall

420 High Street, Frankfort, KY, US

Old Governor's Mansion

215 E Main St, Frankfort, KY, US

Daniel Boone's Gravesite

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).

7785 McCracken Pike, Versailles, KY, US

Woodford Reserve Distillery

Mail: 4089 Iron Works Parkway Gps: 3785 Campground Road, Lexington, KY, US

Kentucky Horse Park Campground

Great place to camp on the trail

400 West Main Street, Lexington, KY, US

Triangle Park

Nice starting point to explore Lexington

369 Thompson Rd, Lexington, KY, US

The Burl Arcade

fun stop with lunch

1200 Manchester St, Lexington, KY, US

Barrel House Distilling co

Also in Lexington is the Barrel House Distillery, which makes small-batch bourbon, as well as moonshine, vodka and rum, which makes it worth a stop. You could easily spend an hour or two here, sampling their beers and boozes and chatting with the owners.

3350 Burk Spring Rd, Loretto, KY, US

Maker's Mark Distillery

After that, check out the Maker's Mark Distillery. It's worth it to buy a bottle here, because you get to dip the top in the iconic red wax yourself! Also, take some time to enjoy the bucolic setting of this distillery.

668 Loretto Rd, Bardstown, KY, US

My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground

Great place with lots of history and right in Bardstown

114 N 5th St, Bardstown, KY, US

Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey

While in Bardstown, head to the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey...so you can learn all about the liquid gold you've been knocking back!

Bardstown Civil War Museum

A good non drinking stop

526 Happy Hollow Road, Shepherdsville, KY, US

Jim Beam Distillery

Once you get to Shepherdsville, visit the Jim Beam Distillery. Since it's the largest maker of Kentucky bourbon, you'll get a different view: that of a larger-scale operation. As one of the largest sellers of bourbon in the world, their tour seems to reflect that in having one of the more interactive tours. The tour guides are very knowledgable and encourage questions.

1267 Green Acres Dr SW, Corydon, IN, US

Indiana Caverns

Cool boat ride experience in a large cavern system

1810 SR 46 East, Nashville, IN, US

Brown County State Park

Often called the little smokies, the views do not disappoint, and nearby Nashville IM is a must stop.

4112 State Road 225 E P.O. Box 327, West Lafayette, IN, US

Prophetstown State Park Campground

An excellent state park (the newest in IN) complete with prairie hiking, a water park and a working farm.

Oak Lawn, Illinois, United States

Even the most enthusiastic bourbon-lover can't just barrel through and sample bourbon at 9 places all in a rush. You won't be able to fully appreciate every sip if you don't take a break to clear your mind and your palate! 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). Eating is important, of course, and luckily, there are tons of local restaurants where you can get a great meal to soak up some of the liquor. 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.

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. A beautiful time of year, however, is mid-September to late-October. You'll avoid most crowds, enjoy off-season hotel prices, and the scenery along Kentucky's rural roads is unsurpassed in autumn. From beautiful fall foliage, to pumpkin patches and farm cider, this is the best time to experience the Bourbon Trail.

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Texas Kids Adventures

Texas Road Trip Through Europe Towns A= Paris, TX; B= Athens, TX; C= Moscow, TX; D= Berlin, TX; E= Vienna, TX; F= London, TX; G= Florence, TX; H= Holland, TX; I= Dublin, TX, J= Italy, TX

Texas has some uniquely-named towns, such as Cut-and-Shoot, Loco, Trout, Oatmeal, Ding Dong, Bacon, Noodle, Tarzan, Salty, Telephone, Energy, Coffee City, Quicksand, Gun Barrell City, and has its own Utopia as well as Uncertain.  

As settlers emigrated to Texas, they brought some European names to pay homage to their mother countries, including Paris, Athens, Moscow, Berlin, Vienna, London, Florence, Holland, Dublin and Italy.   Fortunately for Texans, this makes a fun road trip to explore Texas towns with European names.  Even better, you won’t need a passport.  If you haven’t heard of these town before, it’s probably because most are very small and lost population and industries as larger cities grew. 

The Eiffel Tower of Texas.  Photo credit.

Let’s begin our tour in Paris, Texas , complete with its own 65 foot Eiffel Tower with a red cowboy hat perched on top.  It’s the second largest Eiffel Tower in the world, and is around one-tenth the height of the original at 1,063 feet.  Stop by the Paris Bakery for French pastries as you explore downtown Paris and the Lamar County courthouse.  The Lamar County Historical Museum  has artifacts from the local area, including a blacksmith shop, pioneer kitchen and pioneer cabin.  Kids can stretch their legs at the Paris Downtown Community Park splash park and outdoor musical instruments.  Check out the Paris events including Tour de Paris Bicycle Rally and the Paris Balloon & Music Festival .  

Zipliner above the trees at New York, Texas Zipline Adventures.

Enjoy the rolling hills and piney woods on your road trip journey to Athens, Texas.  It was named by the stepdaughter of a founding father who had a vision that Athens would become the cultural center in Henderson county like the one in Greece.   Athens holds the title of the official “Original Home of the Hamburger”, created in the late 1880s at a downtown Athens café and introduced at the 1904 World’s State Fair in St Louis.  Athens is also known as the Black-eyed Pea Capital of the World. 

The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is a production hatchery for stocking fish into Texas waterways and an educational center to learn about native species and ecosystems.  Visit over 300,000 gallons of indoor and outdoor aquariums to see many native fish, waterfowl, amphibians and alligators.  Learn about ecosystems and fishing at the museum and wetlands trail. 

The East Texas Arboretum & Botanical Society is 100 acres of trees, flowers and wildlife.  The two mile rugged nature trail along spring-fed streams reveal untouched animal habitats and ecosystems.  The handicap-accessible trail is 1/3 of a mile.  Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars.  

Just 15 minutes away, New York, Texas Zipline Adventures offers zipline tours for ages 5 and up.  Zip through the treetops at over 100 feet above the ground.  

Lake Livingston State Park kayaking   Photo credit

Moscow, Texas There’s not much in this small town of less than 200 residents.  Stop by Johnson’s Rock Shop to find gemstones, minerals, petrified wood, and jewelry.  Polk County Memorial Museum is a small museum with history of Polk County with old maps.  Lake Livingston State Park located just 15 minutes away, on Hwy 59 on the way to Berlin.

Berlin, Texas A German settlement from the late 1840s with a cotton gin and gristmill, this town only 3 miles from Brenham and is included in their population numbers.  Berlin was founded in 1860 by German settlers.  There is also a Texas town called New Berlin in Guadalupe county.

Vienna, Texas With a population under 50, this is a tiny town once had a gin and sawmill as immigrants settled along the Navidad River.  When the Navidad flooded in 1940, structures were washed away.

Florence, Texas main street.  Photo credit.

London, Texas London is also known as London Town in the 1880s, and is home to the historic London Dance Hall with live music and dances.    Enjoy the beauty of rolling hills, oak trees and wildflowers as you enjoy the best of the Texas Hill Country in Boerne, Comfort, Fredericksburg and Kerrville area.   Nearby attractions include the Ft. McKavett State Historical Site and South Llano River State Park. 

Florence, Texas This small town established in the early 1850s had a railroad with wheat, cotton and cattle industries which led to a corn mill, blacksmith leather goods production, and eventually a hotel, saloon, flour mill.  Area attractions include lakes and rivers for water recreation and fishing.

Hill country, Fredericksburg, Texas.  Photo credit.

Holland, Texas

Holland is home to the one and only Corn Fest , an annual festival of music, 5K run, parade, and themed contests such as corn eating, corn shucking, corn bobbing, corn seed spitting, corn cob relay, corn hole and the world championship corn cob throw.  While it was cancelled in 2020, this sounds like a shucking good time you won’t want to miss for 2021.   You could leave there as a world champion!  

Dublin, Texas The Official Irish Capital of Texas, Dublin bottled Dr. Pepper for over 100 years.   This small town has plenty to explore including museums, shopping, market days, and homemade cheese and wines.  The Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Celebration includes pageants, parades, craft and food vendors, dog contests and shopping.   Dublin has a monthly Farmers Markets for fresh produce.

Italy Known as the “Biggest Little Town in Texas,” this town was named by the postmaster who thought the climate was similar to Italy.   This settlement from the 1860s had a railroad, five cotton gins, and a cottonseed oil mill.  This old cotton town now has some vintage and antique shopping and dining.

Downtown Italy, Texas

On your Texas Road Trip Through Europe Towns, you can brag to your friends about seeing towns that they probably never knew were in Texas.  You can imagine the hustle and bustle of these towns during the cotton and farming boom, and see the grand buildings that remain.  You will see backroads, woodlands, lakes and rivers, rolling hills, and beautiful scenery along the way.    When given the choice between the interstate and the backroads, always choose the backroads.  

Join our Texas Kids Adventures newsletter of curated travel to reveal kid-friendly places to visit, the best things to do, exciting events, family resorts and trip guides to create family memories.

There’s something here for everyone. Explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail ® experiences and find what you’re looking for in our map below. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour ® is organized into four regions—please toggle through the drop down menu for official groupings.