Your guide to drinking, eating and exploring kentuckys. The kentucky bourbon trail i feel like i have to add a disclaimer before i go any further because i know i have some schoolage kids following along too. The kentucky bourbon trail treats visitors to a tour and taste experience at 10 kentucky distilleries where worldfamous kentucky bourbon is made. Jul 30, 2017 kentuckys bourbon trail, with its rolling hills, drop dead gorgeous drives, excellent bars and restaurants and worldclass distilleries, has all the trappings of a memorable boozethemed vacation. Take a tour through american history along the kentucky. The official online store of the kentucky bourbon trail tour. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Although the trail has no official starting point, youll want to start in louisville, one of the most vibrant cities in kentucky. Though bourbon can be produced anywhere in the united states, the majority of the worlds favorite brands are still being made in kentucky much the same way they have always been.
Jul 07, 2017 the kentucky bourbon trail i feel like i have to add a disclaimer before i go any further because i know i have some schoolage kids following along too. Customized kentucky bourbon trail tours mint julep tours. While seated in a comfortable van, one of our welltrained guides will provide you with bourbon knowledge and historical background as it pertains to the distilleries. They allow our guest to park here, even though you are not a guest. The kbt is an invaluable resource for anyone wanting to head to the source and see craftsmanship in. As we are currently operating under restrictions due to covid19, please allow additional shipping time. The kentucky distillers association, a 9yearold, nonprofit organization that promotes, protects and elevates the commonwealths signature bourbon and distilled spirits industry, is seeking a. Susan reigler, awardwinning former restaurant critic and travel writer for the louisville courierjournal, is the author of the complete guide to kentucky state parks and coauthor of the kentucky bourbon cocktail book.
However, the bourbon itself is just a small part of the kentucky bourbon trail which stretches for roughly 60 miles, from louisville to lexington and down to bardstown. In the kentucky bourbon cocktail book, joy perrine and susan reigler provide a readerfriendly handbook featuring more than 100 recipes including seasonal drinks. Today the kentucky bourbon trail includes eight distilleries in the bluegrass state, some of whose brands and bourbonmaking secrets are more than 200 years old. While it is possible to see every distillery if you spent a week in bourbon country, getting to every wonderful bourbon experience that can be had from a chocolate shop with the best bourbon balls to every stop on the urban bourbon trail is a little ambitious. Makers mark, jim beam, four roses, wild turkey, heaven hill, and woodford reserve. Public bourbon tours on the kentucky bourbon trail mint. Sep 07, 2016 but even before bourbon growth took off, the kentucky distillers association, a trade organization, founded the kentucky bourbon trail in 1999. Kentucky bourbon trail golf weekend fat guys guide to golf, beer, wings, and life kentucky bourbon trail once now twice. Complete a region and receive an exclusive kentucky bourbon trail craft tour region challenge coin at your last distillery stop.
Upon visiting your first distillery, pick up one of the bourbon trail passports for free and carry it with you at all times. Kentucky bourbon trail craft tour frankfort 2020 all you. The kentucky bourbon trail is an attraction that celebrates the heritage of kentucky bourbon, bringing to life the people, places, and. Kentuckys bourbon trail, with its rolling hills, drop dead gorgeous drives, excellent bars and restaurants and worldclass distilleries, has all the trappings of a memorable boozethemed vacation. The kda has registered the phrase kentucky bourbon trail as a protected trademark. Apr 24, 2017 lexington kentucky is within easy driving distance of nine working distilleries including four roses, wild turkey and buffalo trace.
Six main distilleries are on the trail, between versailles and elizabethtown, a distance of some 75 miles. All nine distilleries on the trail are listed inside, with a page to have your passport stamped upon your visit, as well as a place for some note taking. Bed and breakfast inns along the kentucky bourbon trail. Lee buckner, owner of travel the trail and an executive bourbon steward, will be involved in the planning of every tour in kentuckys bourbon country. Public bourbon tours on the kentucky bourbon trail mint julep. Kentucky bourbon trail craft tour frankfort 2020 all. Louisvilles urban bourbon trail links the worldclass bourbon bars serving the countrys only native spirit in its gateway city. Kentucky bourbon trail itinerary theres nothing better than a good ol classic. But there is more to the kentucky bourbon trail than just distillery tours and bourbon tastings. Bourbon in the bluegrassmarriott griffin gate pickup you do not have to stay here, but this is our public tour pickup spot.
Want to leave the driving and planning to someone else. This is my brother and i kentucky bourbon trail trip video. Bourbon trail lexington ky bluegrass extended stay. See all 2 kentucky bourbon trail tours on tripadvisor. Follow up a good days ride with bourbon samples from kentuckys oldest and most reputable distilleries. Lee buckner, owner of travel the trail and an executive bourbon steward, will be involved in the planning of every tour in kentucky s bourbon country. When you visit kentucky today, you can travel the kentucky bourbon trail and visit six different distilleries of the world famous kentucky bourbon. To further their mission, in 1999 the kda formed the kentucky bourbon trail and ever since its been helping educate consumers on the history, process and experience of. See how we celebrate americas only native spirit in its birthplace. In the kentucky bourbon cocktail book, joy perrine and susan reigler provide a readerfriendly handbook featuring more than 100 recipes including seasonal drinks, afterdinner bourbon cocktails, derby cocktails, and even medicinal toddies. Distilleries on the kentucky bourbon trail courierjournal. Threeday trailblazer group tour pegasus distillery experiences. Bourbon whiskey is a distinctly american product with its roots planted deep in the limestoneenriched soil of kentucky.
We recommend booking kentucky bourbon trail tours ahead of time to secure your spot. My uncle and his daughter planned a tour of 3 distillaries woodford, red roses and buffalo trace met the tour bus at embassey suites 1801 newton pike, lexington ky nickolas guide and maximo guide in training for me and the wife. See how bourbon whiskey is made on the kentucky bourbon trail. Grab a copy of your own kentucky bourbon trail passport. You can check out the most famous by trekking the kentucky bourbon trail, an experience that gives visitors a firsthand look at the art of crafting bourbon, along with lessons about the rich history of the spirit. There are nine distilleries on the kentucky bourbon trail map and the association offers a passport book to keep track of your visits. We start our bourbon in the bluegrass tour at approx. Bourbon trail driving map kentucky bourbon trail map. You can unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email.
Remember there is no wrong way to experience the kentucky bourbon trail and the kentucky bourbon trail craft tour, as long as you. Bourbon in the bluegrass marriot griffin gatelexington area. A complete guide to the kentucky bourbon trail california. Bourbon trail kentucky bourbon trail map of ky trails. Once you have completed all 4 regions of the kentucky bourbon trail craft tour, you will receive a stave tray to display all of your challenge coins, and an official kentucky bourbon tasting glass. Theres a reason the kentucky bourbon trail makes a crooked smile around its crown jewel, louisville. Your support will go a long way in helping tour operators worldwide get back on. If you love bourbon, your life will not be complete without a trip along the kentucky bourbon trail between louisville and lexington. The second tour available is the kentucky bourbon trail craft tour. I recommend that you plan at least two days to make the trek, but definitely feel free to take longer to appreciate the beauty of central kentucky. The kentucky bourbon trail was published in 2009, and since then, the kentucky bourbon trail tourist attraction has grown to include 10 of the states largest and most famous distilleries along with members of the new kentucky bourbon trail craft tour. Your journey on the kentucky bourbon trail begins and ends wherever youd like.
The first is the kentucky bourbon trail tour, which includes nine more wellknown distilleries such as bulleit, evan williams, four roses, heaven hill, jim beam, and makers mark to name a few. Make your way to it if you never have, it was a blast. Meet the kentucky distillers preserving unparalleled tradition through centuries of dedication, care and craftsmanship. Bourbon tourism is skyrocketing, with nearly 2 million visitors from all 50 states and.
Here are all the reasons to hit up the trail and yes, those. But even before bourbon growth took off, the kentucky distillers association, a trade organization, founded the kentucky bourbon trail in 1999. The kentucky bourbon trail is an attraction that celebrates the heritage of kentucky bourbon, bringing to life the people, places, and events that signify the bourbon industry. Producing of the worlds bourbon, louisville offers the best of both whiskey worldsbluegrass farms and distilleries by day, and a hip cityscape to sip through all night. Thanks in part to the general popularity of cocktails and the marketing efforts of the bourbon industry, there are more brands of bourbon and more bourbon drinkers than ever before.
Sip, stroll and savor your way across the bluegrass on this 18 distillery adventure. Thats because the state is world famous for its bourbon distilleries, dozens of which dot the rural landscape. The kda closed for a time due to prohibition but was brought back to life in 1935 to pick up where they had left off. Use our interactive maps to plan a route that works for you. Exclusive bourbon merchandise, flasks, glassware and apparel for kentuckys native spirit. The kentucky bourbon trail craft tour has experienced some exciting changes. If you choose to drive yourself, youll need to book tours in advance and. There are certainly other books on kentucky bourbon country, and kentucky has several excellent web sites on the bourbon trail which we had used to plan our trip, but this book will get you all worked up about heading out to sample kentuckys best, is a very nice start to any trip there, and a nice conversation starter once you get home. Another year, another milestone for the kentucky bourbon trail adventure. Kentucky bourbon trail by berkeley scott, hardcover. A record 11,757 people visited all six distilleries on the kentucky bourbon trail tour in 2011, far surpassing the previous mark of 9,402 set in 2010, the kentucky distillers association announced today. Awaken your senses and explore the birthplace of bourbon as you embark on a selfguided journey to discover the story inside every bottle on the kentucky bourbon trail and the kentucky bourbon trail craft tour. Best distilleries to visit on the kentucky bourbon trail. The kentucky bourbon trail book kentucky bourbon trail shop.
A oneofakind, fully supported, authentic and visually stunning experience. Your allinclusive ticket to the kentucky bourbon trail we plan your day on the kentucky bourbon trail from start to finish transporting you to three different kentucky distilleries and grabbing lunch at a local restaurant. Sep 19, 2019 if you love bourbon, your life will not be complete without a trip along the kentucky bourbon trail between louisville and lexington. Kentucky bourbon trail 2020 all you need to know before you. Kentucky bourbon trail 2020 all you need to know before. The easiest way to experience 10 of the most celebrated bourbon distilleries in kentucky is by taking four or five days to follow the kentucky bourbon trail. The kentucky bourbon trail book from contains nearly 200 vintage photographs of the bourbon industry, past and present, making it an essential companion for bourbon enthusiasts as they visit the kentucky bourbon trail distilleries. The kentucky bourbon trail is basically like vegas, except instead of swimming pools, theyve got distilleries, and almost every one of them welcomes visitors to. The kentucky bourbon trail is a definitive tourist destination in the.
Though i may mention alcohol in this blog, it is strictly meant to give you a better understanding of the local culture and history. Times are tough for the travel community right now. Plan a unique trip to bourbon country with one of our suggested itineraries. This book offers a look back at some of the pioneers of whiskey distilling, the distilleries that have come and gone, and the history of those brands. If you have a group of less than 8 it is less expensive to book a public tour than. Jan 04, 2017 grab a copy of your own kentucky bourbon trail passport.
As this is the most popular distillery on the ky bourbon trail, it is highly recommended to book a reservation for a tour two days in advance. The kentucky bourbon trail sometimes informally shortened to the bourbon trail is the name of a program sponsored by the kentucky distillers association kda to promote the bourbon whiskey industry in kentucky. Visitors can explore and even cycle kentuckys official bourbon trail, a collection of 10 distilleries producing the best bourbon in america. The book s introduction explains how the use of specific spirits and ingredients, glassware, and special. In 1999, the kentucky distillers association formed the kentucky bourbon trail tour to give visitors a firsthand look at the art and science of crafting bourbon, and to educate them about the rich history and proud tradition of kentuckys signature spirit. Lexington kentucky is within easy driving distance of nine working distilleries including four roses, wild turkey and buffalo trace. Wild turkey, jim beam, markers mark, woodford reserve, four roses bourbon and breakfasts sip and slumber. Kentucky bourbon trail itinerary kentucky bourbon trail. Unique kentucky barware kentucky bourbon trail shop. The kentucky bourbon trail tour is an institutional experience that keeps people coming back for more year after year. Kentucky has spent the last 200 years preparing for your visit. Below, find more information about the associations membership as well as a list of the distilleries included on the kentucky bourbon trail and the trails craft tour, as of 2016. For the true fans journey to all 10 of kentuckys legendary bourbon trail. Kentucky bourbon trail tour shatters passport record frankfort, ky.
Sip, stroll and savor your way across the bluegrass on this 18. Groups of all sizes choose mint julep experiences to plan oneday and multiday excursions on the kentucky bourbon trail. This book offers a look back at some of the pioneers of whiskey distilling, the distilleries that have come and gone, and the history of those brands that carry on the. Sep 30, 2016 below, find more information about the associations membership as well as a list of the distilleries included on the kentucky bourbon trail and the trail s craft tour, as of 2016. By working with one of our experience coordinators, you can pick your favorite destinations to visit or take our expert advice to craft a perfect day. Albert schmid, author of the gourmandaward winning the kentucky bourbon cookbook this book brings the experience of bourbon under one cover, offering the reader a tour guide including what is to be learned at a given distillery, where to stay, cuisine to sample locally, and additional historical sites that give a flavor of the community. The kentucky bourbon cocktail book by joy perrine, susan.
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