Bourbon has become synonymous with Kentucky, a distinction the Bluegrass State wears like a badge of honor. In celebration of the statewide industry, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail was established in 1999 and currently comprises dozens of distilleries. In fact, Bourbon is the USA’s only native spirit.
The trail will take you through the sweeping, bucolic landscape of Horse Country — not to mention a number of strategic stops for food and adult beverages — so set aside a few days to enjoy it. (Drink responsibly, have a designated driver, and cheers!)
Use this spirited itinerary as your guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Start: Louisville
The gateway to the Bourbon Trail, Louisville is Kentucky’s largest city and a great place to whet your palate with a craft experience or two. Have an Old-Fashioned — Louisville’s official cocktail of choice — at Seven Cocktails + Bourbon.
Louisville’s Whiskey Row, a thriving distillery district through the 1920s, has seen a revitalization in the 21st century with the addition of new residents. Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., once the second-largest distillery in the state, reopened in 2015 after shuttering in 1917. And Angel’s Envy opened its doors in 2016 serving award-winning bourbon and rye.
On the food side of the equation, you’ll have your pick of top-notch restaurants over in the “NuLu” district along East Market Street, where the restaurant scene is positively hopping. Start with a cocktail at Porch Kitchen & Bar (located at Louisville Marriott Downtown) before moving onto Galaxie for an out-of-this-world dining experience and live music at the adjoining OUTERspace venue.
Late night you’ll want to claim a pingpong table and a grass-covered bench at Garage Bar for a nightcap coupled with a little friendly competition.
Stop 1: Bardstown
Distance from Louisville: 41 miles
Drive time from Louisville: 55 minutes
Though not even an hour from Louisville, a visit to Bardstown feels akin to time travel, with its stately Victorian houses, horse-drawn carriages, and old-fashioned saloons, some dating back to the 18th century.
Founded in 1780, the town is touted as the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” Its most prominent resident is the circa-1935 Heaven Hill Distillery. For a more intimate experience, visit Willett, a family-owned operation located along a natural spring.
Stop 2: Versailles
Distance from Bardstown: 48 miles
Versailles (pronounced “ver-say-elles”), Kentucky, has long been integral to the thoroughbred horse industry, but Woodford Reserve put it on the global map. The distillery also offers one of the most polished tour and tasting experiences this side of the trail. And the approach to the grounds — located among rolling hills and horse farms aplenty — is breathtaking, too.
Just three miles down the road from Versailles, in a revived limestone castle that housed Old Taylor Distillery in the 1800s, you’ll also find Castle & Key Distillery.
Stop 3: Frankfort
Distance from Versailles: 15 miles
Kentucky’s capital city is also worth a stop on your distillery tour. While it is one of the smallest state capital’s in the union, Frankfort is full of charm and natural beauty on the shores of the Kentucky River. Visit the world-renowned Buffalo Trace Distillery. The oldest continuously operating distillery in America, Buffalo Trace is not only a National Historic Landmark but has won more than 1,000 awards. Those with kids in tow will appreciate the onsite playground and walking trails.
End: Lexington
Distance from Frankfort: 26 miles
In eastern Kentucky, Lexington provides a very different scene than that of Louisville, even though just 80 miles of interstate separate the two.
Home to the annual Keeneland horse races in April and October — a “Lex” staple since 1936 — the state’s second-largest city also lays claim to the University of Kentucky, lending it a college-town feel and a hearty dose of character.
That also means that, distilleries aside (the town has five), there’s a growing brewery scene, thanks in part to the evolution of the Brewgrass Trail.
With punny names like Shotgun Wedding (a dark-brown ale), Country Boy Brewing is a fan favorite, though there’s rarely an empty seat at West Sixth Brewing, Mirror Twin Brewing Co. or Ethereal Brewing on weekends either.
Bourbon aficionados occupy the plush booths at Belle’s Cocktail House, where more than 100 bourbons populate the playlist.
Foodies flock to the concept-driven restaurants cropping up around town, like Country Club, which specializes in smoked meats. And urban art lovers dig the Lexington Mural Project with its dozen of installations, like a 60-foot-tall, rainbow-colored depiction of President Abraham Lincoln on the back of The Kentucky Theatre.
You’ll have a blast on this road trip, but if you’re stopping by the distilleries above, always make sure to bring a designated driver.
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