How to Best Enjoy Your “Spirit” Guide on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Now that the weather is getting nicer, you might be thinking of ways to get out of the house. Whether you are looking for a little day trip or a several-day vacation, The Kentucky Bourbon Trail might be the trip for you. 

What Makes Bourbon a Bourbon?

The thing that makes bourbon distinct from other whiskeys is how it is manufactured and aged. All whiskey is a type of spirit that is made from fermented grain and then aged in a barrel. However, the type of grain and barrel can make a world of difference. Here are the stipulations for making bourbon:

• Must be at least 51% corn
• Must be made in the United States
• Aging must take place in a new, charred barrel
• Whiskey cannot be distilled higher than 160 proof
• It cannot enter the barrel at higher than 120 proof
• It must not enter the bottle higher than 80 proof

Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail

All the distilleries on the trail are within 110 miles of Louisville, Kentucky with most of them landing between Louisville and Lexington. There are 18 distilleries on the Bourbon Trail as of 2019 according to Wikipedia:

• Angel’s Envy Distillery in Louisville
• Bardstown Bourbon Company in Bardstown
• Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville
• Bulleit Frontier Experience at the Stitzel–Weller Distillery in Louisville
• Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville

• Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg
• Heaven Hill Visitor Center in Bardstown
• Jim Beam American Stillhouse in Clermont
• Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse in Louisville
• Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown
• Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto
• Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery in Louisville
• Old Forester Distilling Co. in Louisville
• O.Z. Tyler Distillery (now Green River Distilling Co.) in Owensboro
• Rabbit Hole Distillery in Louisville
• Town Branch Distillery in Lexington
• Wild Turkey Distillery in Lawrenceburg
• Woodford Reserve Distillery near Versailles

Bourbon Trail Passport

The Bourbon Trail Passport is a “passport” you can pick up at your first distillery with a place for a stamp and your personal notes on each distillery. If you collect all the stamps, you can get an official Bourbon Trail tasting glass.

How Long Will You Need?

If you live in Kentucky or Cincinnati, Ohio, you could take a day trip and visit one or two distilleries on this list. However, to hit all 18 you will need a few days. Most tours last an hour, so you will have to plan your driving time between distilleries. Fortunately, most distilleries offer tastings without the full hour tour and are grouped together, but remember to drink responsibly.

Stuck inside on a rainy day? No worries, check out our destination book article to travel from the comfort of your couch. 

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