Curator’s statement
Napa is to wine as Kentucky is to bourbon. If you are a bourbon fan like I am, there is no place better than making a pilgrimage for bourbon tasting on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Bourbon tasting on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is excellent for many occasions, including a milestone birthday such as a 50th birthday, a bachelor party, corporate retreat or celebration, or just because you love bourbon.
This is your guide to bourbon tasting on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
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Where to stay in Kentucky
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Things to do in Kentucky
Getting there: Getting to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
To get to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, you must fly into Louisville, Kentucky’s Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF).
How many days do I need for bourbon tasting?
You should expect a bourbon tasting tour to last a whole day, approximately nine hours. You should expect to be able to do three distilleries in a nine hour/day time span.
It’s up to you on your tolerance to determine how many distilleries you want to visit.
What days should I schedule my bourbon tasting?
Typically, I recommend a Thursday–Sunday trip. Of course, weekends will be more popular. You may encounter smaller crowds for weekdays, and some tour operators even offer discounts for Sunday through Thursday. If you can make it happen, it may be wise to try a Sunday to Wednesday or Thursday. This way you can do distillery tours every other day.
What areas should I go to for bourbon tasting on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail?
The trail is divided into four areas:
Area #1 - Louisville/Downtown — Distilleries include:
Kentucky Artisan (Jefferson’s)
Buzzard’s Roost (Tasting room)
Area #2 - Frankfort Area Distilleries:
Wild Turkey (Check if it is still under construction)
Area #3 – Lexington Area
Area #4 – Bardstown Area:
Can’t decide which regions or you want to visit different distilleries in different regions. Not problem. You can mix and match them where possible. For example:
Louisville + Bardstown
Louisville + Frankfort
Louisville + Frankfort + Lexington
Frankfort + Lexington
It’s best to select a region, then narrow it down to your favorite or top five distilleries, then a tour operator will help with narrowing it down to three, based on availability.
Why use a tour operator to book your bourbon tasting on the Kentucky bourbon trail?
The tour operators I work with have the inside information. You can try to do it yourself, but you’ll have to find a driver and you’ll spend all your time determining which distilleries have availability and reservations. It’s best to let the professionals handle the details. Using a trusted tour operator, will provide a car, driver and assistance with reservations for tours and tastings.
The ideal itinerary for your bourbon tasting on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail?
It depends on how much bourbon you want to taste…
Day – 1 – Arrive and relax. Check out downtown Louisville and what it has to offer
Day – 2 – Take a 3-distillery tour and taste some bourbon
Day – 3 – If you don’t want to take a break from a distillery tour, there are options:
Golf and Bourbon — Play a round of golf during the day. End the day with a distillery tour and tasting
Bullets, Barbeque and Bourbon – Shoot clays at the Jefferson Gun Club, have BBQ lunch, tour a distillery to end the day
Guided horseback tour — Take a guided horseback tour through a 400+ acre nature preserve, followed by a tasting at a distillery
If you are leaving on a late Sunday flight or wrapping up, you can start your day with brunch and then visit two distilleries and be at the airport by 4 pm. A half-day of activities.
Day 4 – Do another 3-distillery tour or head home
Day – Head home
Plenty of options to cross off bourbon tasting on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail from the bucket list. The best way is to allow me to plan the trip through my trusted Kentucky bourbon tour operators. If you are ready to book your trip to bourbon tasting on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, fill out the form below and I will get back to you.
A note from Robert
Golf and Bourbon – Play a round of golf during the day, end the day with a distillery tour and tasting
Bullets, Barbeque, and Bourbon – Shoot clays at the Jefferson Gun Club, have BBQ lunch, tour a distillery to end the day
Guided horseback tour – Take a guided horseback tour through a 400+ acre nature preserve, followed by a tasting at a distillery
Places to eat & drink in Kentucky
610 Magnolia — If you are a fan of celebrity chefs. This is Edward Lee's restaurant that specializes in Southern fare
Lobby Bar & Grill at The Brown Hotel - Home of the famous hot brown
Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse — Another restaurant of celebrity chef Edward Lee, serving modern Korean food
Let's talk about customizing this itinerary for you. Or, about other destinations.
Travel Advisor
Robert Huie
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This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to Kentucky. Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out Robert Love's guide, 3-Days on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.