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Kentucky Crafted Bourbon Trail Tours

The purpose of fun is to have some, so come join us on a kentucky bourbon trail tour.

Mint Julep Experiences has been providing top-notch luxury bourbon trail tours in Bourbon Country for more than 12 years. As the leading tour company for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail ®, we  have given thousands of public and custom tours for tourists and locals alike. Mint Julep takes care of every detail and caters to every need, to create one-of-a-kind bourbon tours.

Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Tours

Mint Julep Experiences will help you learn the art, history and craftsmanship of America’s Native Spirit as you travel through Bourbon Country for guided distillery tours and tastings! We’ll also make a stop for a local lunch along the way.

Custom Bourbon Tours

You’ll work with one of our Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experts to customize your day based on your group’s size, interests and other requests. We’ve tailored tours for all occasions — from birthday celebrations and corporate luncheons to bachelor parties.

Mint Julep Experiences plans the entire adventure, start to finish, so you can relax and leave the rest to us. Offering premium bourbon trail bus transportation, we enrich the experience with knowledgeable drivers, enthusiastic guides and clean and comfortable vehicles.

Elevated Experiences

Our Elevated Experience packages are one-of-a-kind Kentucky bourbon trip, exclusive experiences with some of our best partners. Click below to find out what we have to offer.

Best of Bourbon Country

From name brands to small batch craft, bourbon distilleries are making a splash throughout the Commonwealth! More than 1 million visitors travel to Kentucky each year for the ultimate bourbon experience, and many choose Mint Julep Experiences for all their Kentucky bourbon tour needs.

Kentucky Crafted

Welcome to bourbon country.

Tour Bourbon Country’s dozens of bourbon distilleries big and small, old and new, traditional and innovative. Mint Julep Experiences’ Bourbon Trail Tours give you an immersive experience with Kentucky’s best bourbon distilleries along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and beyond. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® began in 1999 and has since entertained more than 2.5 million guests, expanding year after year.

• WE plan your entire day, start to finish, so you can relax and leave the rest to us.
• WE offer knowledgeable & entertaining bourbon experts to guide and enrich the experience.
• WE are the ONLY dedicated tour company focused on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®.

Start Planning Your Kentucky Bourbon Distillery Tour

Let’s start planning your ultimate Kentucky bourbon distillery tour today! We offer a variety of public tours as well as custom-made experiences that are tailored to your every bourbon desire.

CONTACT AN EXPERIENCE COORDINATOR

Discover Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail: Top Distillery Tours Guide

Exploring kentucky’s bourbon trail: a guide to the best distillery tours.

Welcome to the land where bourbon flows like water and distillery tours are a way of life. In Kentucky, the Bourbon Trail is not just a tourist attraction – it’s a pilgrimage for whiskey lovers seeking to immerse themselves in the rich history and tradition of America’s native spirit. Join us as we take you on a journey through some of the best distilleries along Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail, giving you an insider’s guide to sipping your way through this iconic region. Get ready to raise a glass and discover why Kentucky bourbon is truly one of a kind.

Introduction to Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail and Kentucky’s Distilleries

Kentucky, celebrated as the birthplace of bourbon, boasts a distinguished history and tradition in the distillation of this esteemed American spirit. With over 70 distilleries, Kentucky stands as the unrivaled leader in bourbon production worldwide. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail invites visitors to explore Kentucky’s scenic landscapes, stopping at legendary distilleries to delve into the unique art and science behind bourbon-making. This journey not only offers the opportunity to sample some of the world’s finest bourbons but also to gain insight into the rich cultural heritage that each distillery embodies. These stories range from generations-old family businesses to contemporary facilities employing the latest technological advancements​​.

As of 2024, the Bourbon Trail features 46 stops, including a promotional passport program that rewards enthusiasts who visit all participating distilleries​​. The production of bourbon in Kentucky is deeply intertwined with the state’s natural advantages, such as its fertile soil ideal for growing corn, limestone-filtered water, and a climate that perfectly supports the aging process. These factors, coupled with over two centuries of distilling craftsmanship, have culminated in the distinct flavors of Kentucky bourbon​​.

For those eager to immerse themselves in the world of bourbon, Kentucky offers an unparalleled experience. It’s not just about tasting exceptional spirits but also about discovering the traditions and innovations that have shaped this iconic American industry.

One of the most compelling aspects of touring Kentucky’s distilleries is learning about their time-honored traditions and methods. Many still use traditional copper pot stills and age their whiskey in charred oak barrels, just as they did centuries ago. Visitors can witness firsthand how grain is transformed into liquid gold through fermentation, distillation, and aging processes.

Moreover, these tours offer an opportunity to explore historic properties such as warehouses where aging barrels are stored or even sample rare vintages straight from the barrel. Some tours also provide hands-on experiences like creating your own personalized bottle or blending your own custom bourbon.

Apart from tasting delicious bourbons and gaining an understanding of its production process, visitors can also appreciate Kentucky’s stunning landscapes on these tours. The rolling hillsides dotted with horse farms provide a picturesque backdrop for each stop on the Bourbon Trail.

Whether you’re a seasoned whiskey connoisseur or simply curious about this quintessentially American spirit, exploring Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail is an unforgettable experience. With so many distilleries to choose from, each with its unique offerings and charm, it’s easy to see why this trail has become a must-visit for anyone traveling through the Bluegrass State. So grab your flask and get ready to embark on an epic journey of bourbon discovery!

Overview of Bourbon Town Tours and their services

Bourbon Town Tours is a renowned tour company that specializes in providing unique and unforgettable experiences on the famous Bourbon Trail in Kentucky. With over 10 years of experience, they have established themselves as one of the top tour providers for bourbon enthusiasts from all over the world.

Their tours are designed to offer a comprehensive overview of the history, production process, and tasting of some of the most famous bourbons in Kentucky. Each tour is carefully crafted to showcase the diverse range of distilleries and their distinct flavors, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the rich culture and heritage of this iconic spirit.

One of the highlights of Bourbon Town Tours is their knowledgeable and passionate guides who are experts in all things bourbon. They not only provide interesting facts and stories about each distillery but also share insider tips on how to taste and appreciate different types of bourbon. Their friendly demeanor and enthusiasm make each tour engaging and informative for everyone, whether you are a novice or an experienced bourbon drinker.

The company offers a variety of tours to cater to different preferences and interests. The Classic Tour is perfect for first-timers as it covers three popular distilleries – Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam, and Heaven Hill – providing an excellent introduction to Kentucky’s bourbon scene. For those looking for a more exclusive experience, the Private Tour allows guests to customize their itinerary according to their desired distilleries.

In addition to traditional tours, Bourbon Town Tours also offers unique experiences such as their “Behind-the-Scenes” Tour where guests get an exclusive look at how bourbons are made from start to finish. This hands-on experience gives participants a deeper understanding of the craftsmanship involved in creating this beloved spirit.

To ensure maximum comfort during each tour, Bourbon Town Tours provides transportation via luxurious vehicles equipped with air conditioning for those hot summer days. They also take care of all reservations at each distillery so visitors can sit back, relax, and enjoy the tour without any worries.

Bourbon Town Tours is a must-try for anyone looking to explore the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky. With their exceptional service, knowledgeable guides, and well-crafted itineraries, they provide an unforgettable experience that will leave you with a greater appreciation for this iconic American drink.

The Benefits of a Private Tour Experience

Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail offers a variety of distillery tours, each with its unique charm and history. While group tours are popular among tourists, there is nothing quite like the experience of a private tour. In this section, we will delve into the benefits of opting for a private tour on Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail.

One of the main advantages of a private tour is the personalized attention and flexibility it provides. Private tours are usually limited to smaller groups, allowing for a more intimate experience with the tour guide. This allows you to ask questions and engage in meaningful conversations about the bourbon-making process, history, and culture without feeling rushed or lost in a large crowd. Additionally, private tours can be tailored to your specific interests and preferences, making it an ideal option for those who want to focus on certain aspects or have special requests.

Another benefit of a private tour is the opportunity to explore at your own pace. Group tours often have strict schedules that must be followed, leaving little room for spontaneity or extended stops at areas that catch your eye. With a private tour, you can take your time and fully immerse yourself in each distillery’s ambiance and offerings. Whether it’s sipping on different bourbons or taking photos with friends/family against picturesque backdrops – you have complete control over how long you spend at each location.

Moreover, as most distilleries offer tastings during their tours, having a designated driver becomes crucial when exploring multiple locations along Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail. Private tours allow you to have peace of mind as they provide transportation services throughout the day. This not only ensures everyone’s safety but also eliminates any stress or hassle of navigating unfamiliar roads after sampling various spirits.

For those seeking an elevated experience on their trip along Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail, private tours also offer exclusive access to areas that are usually off-limits during group tours. Some distilleries may open up their barrel rooms or warehouses for private tours, providing a more in-depth look into the aging process and allowing you to sample bourbons straight from the barrel. These behind-the-scenes glimpses are a treat for bourbon enthusiasts and make for an unforgettable experience.

While group tours have their perks, nothing beats the personalized attention, flexibility, and exclusivity of a private tour on Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail. It is undoubtedly worth considering when planning your trip to fully immerse yourself in this iconic American spirit’s culture and history.

Top Distillery Tours on the Bourbon Trail

The Bourbon Trail in Kentucky is a must-visit destination for any whiskey lover. With over 70 distilleries scattered throughout the state, it can be overwhelming to decide which ones to visit. To make your trip planning easier, we have narrowed down the top distillery tours on the Bourbon Trail that you cannot miss.

• Maker’s Mark Distillery Tour in Loretto provides a detailed walkthrough of bourbon production, from the initial grain selection to the final, signature red wax-dipped bottles. This tour concludes with a personalized bottle-dipping experience, allowing visitors to take home a piece of bourbon history​​​​​​.
• At the Jim Beam American Stillhouse in Clermont, guests are immersed in the comprehensive bourbon-making process. This tour highlights the journey from grain to glass, featuring stops at the barrel warehouse and bottling line, and finishes with a tasting of Jim Beam’s varied bourbon expressions, where visitors can blend their own bourbon.
• The Buffalo Trace Hard Hat Tour in Frankfort offers a behind-the-scenes look at bourbon production, including areas of the distillery typically closed to the public. This hands-on tour emphasizes the craftsmanship and dedication required to produce award-winning whiskies.
• In downtown Louisville, the Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery combines historical architecture with cutting-edge technology. This experience delves into Michter’s storied past, dating back to 1753, and includes a tasting of their rare, limited edition, and single barrel bourbons.
• The Wild Turkey Distillery Tour in Lawrenceburg is set against a scenic backdrop and provides insights into the distillery’s unique aging process. The tour concludes with a tasting session that includes various Wild Turkey bourbons and highlights the exclusive Russell’s Reserve expressions.

No matter which distillery tours you choose to embark on during your trip along the Bourbon Trail, each one offers a unique experience that will deepen your appreciation for this beloved spirit. Be sure to book your tours in advance as they tend to fill up quickly, especially during peak season. Cheers to exploring Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail!

– Maker’s Mark Distillery Tour

The Maker’s Mark Distillery Tour is a must-visit for any bourbon lover on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Located in Loretto, Kentucky, this historic distillery has been producing its signature red wax-sealed bottles since 1958.

Upon arrival at the Maker’s Mark Distillery, visitors are greeted with the sight of the iconic red buildings and lush green surroundings. The tour begins with a short video that provides an overview of the distillery’s history and unique production process. From there, guests are taken on a guided walk through the grounds where they can see every step of how Maker’s Mark bourbon is made.

One of the highlights of the tour is seeing firsthand how each bottle is hand-dipped in their signature red wax. This method has remained unchanged since the brand’s inception and adds a personal touch to each bottle. Visitors also get to witness the bottling process in action and learn about the various grains used in creating their distinctive flavor profile.

As part of the tour, guests have the opportunity to visit one of only three operational cooperages left in America. Here, they can watch skilled coopers craft new barrels by hand using traditional techniques. The importance of barrels in bourbon production cannot be overstated as they contribute significantly to its taste and color.

Another unique aspect of this tour is that visitors can customize their own bottle by choosing from various labels and dipping it themselves in hot wax. It’s a great way to take home a personalized souvenir from your trip to Maker’s Mark.

At the end of your tour, you’ll be treated to a tasting session where you can sample several expressions of Maker’s Mark including their flagship bourbon, Maker’s 46, and limited-edition releases. Knowledgeable guides will walk you through each tasting note and answer any questions you may have about their products.

In addition to its impressive production facilities, Maker’s Mark also has beautiful grounds that are perfect for exploring after your tour. You can take a walk through the gardens, visit the gift shop for some unique souvenirs, or grab a bite to eat at Star Hill Provisions, their on-site restaurant.

The Maker’s Mark Distillery Tour is an immersive experience that offers visitors a glimpse into the rich history and unique production process of this beloved bourbon brand. Whether you’re new to bourbon or a seasoned connoisseur, this tour is not one to be missed on your journey along Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail.

– Woodford Reserve Distillery Tour

The Woodford Reserve Distillery, located in the heart of Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail, offers visitors an immersive and educational experience that showcases the rich history and craftsmanship behind one of America’s most beloved spirits. From its picturesque grounds to its world-renowned bourbon, a tour of this distillery is a must for anyone looking to fully immerse themselves in the culture of Kentucky bourbon.

The tour begins with a warm welcome from knowledgeable and passionate guides who lead visitors through the historic buildings that make up the distillery. The first stop on the tour is the Visitor Center, which features interactive exhibits detailing the history and production process of Woodford Reserve bourbon. Here, visitors can learn about the unique techniques used at Woodford Reserve, such as their use of copper pot stills and their commitment to using only local ingredients.

Next, guests are taken to see where all the magic happens –the fermentation room. Here, they can witness firsthand how yeast transforms grains into mash before it is distilled into bourbon. As you walk through this room filled with sweet aromas and bubbling vats of mash, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of just how much care and precision goes into every bottle of Woodford Reserve.

One highlight of the tour is visiting Warehouse C –the oldest aging warehouse at Woodford Reserve–where barrels upon barrels of bourbon are patiently maturing. Guests will have the opportunity to sample some whiskey straight from these barrels during this portion of the tour, giving them a taste (literally) of what makes Woodford Reserve so special.

After exploring Warehouse C, guests are led outside for a stroll through Versailles’ limestone-filtered water spring –a key ingredient in crafting Woodford Reserve’s smooth flavor profile. Along this scenic walkway lies one final treat: The Labrot & Graham Garden Tour featuring 500 feet worth stunning gardens showcasing native flora while offering breathtaking views throughout your journey.

The tour concludes with a tasting session where visitors can sample different expressions of Woodford Reserve, from the classic Distiller’s Select to the limited-edition Master’s Collection releases. This is also a great opportunity to pick up some unique gifts and souvenirs at the distillery gift shop.

The Woodford Reserve Distillery tour offers an unforgettable experience that combines history, education, and of course, plenty of delicious bourbon. Whether you’re a seasoned bourbon enthusiast or new to the world of whiskey, this tour is sure to leave you with a newfound appreciation for Kentucky’s signature spirit.

– Jim Beam American Stillhouse Tour

If you’re looking for an immersive and educational experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, then a tour of the Jim Beam American Stillhouse is a must. Located in Clermont, Kentucky, this iconic distillery has been producing some of the world’s most beloved bourbon since 1795.

The tour begins with a short video that takes visitors through the history of Jim Beam and its family legacy. From there, guests are led into a replica of the original stillhouse where they can see how bourbon was made over 200 years ago. As you walk through the stillhouse, you’ll get a sense of the traditional methods used to create bourbon and how it has evolved over time.

Next up is the fermentation room, where visitors can witness firsthand how yeast interacts with grains to produce alcohol. The knowledgeable guides will explain each step of the process and answer any questions you may have. It’s fascinating to see how even small changes in temperature or environment can affect the end product.

After learning about fermentation, it’s time for everyone’s favorite part – the tasting! Guests are invited to sample several varieties of Jim Beam bourbon, including their famous white label and limited edition releases. The guides will teach you how to properly taste and appreciate bourbon while sharing interesting facts about each one.

But that’s not all; no visit to Jim Beam would be complete without visiting their barrel warehouse. This impressive structure holds over 22,000 barrels aging to perfection. You’ll learn about how different types of barrels contribute to the flavor profile of bourbon and why they’re stored in certain conditions.

The tour concludes with a visit to their gift shop where you’ll find everything from personalized bottles to souvenirs and merchandise. And if you’re feeling hungry after all that sampling, stop by Fred’s Smokehouse for some delicious barbecue paired perfectly with your favorite Jim Beam cocktail.

A tour at Jim Beam American Stillhouse provides an excellent balance between history, education, and of course, delicious bourbon. It’s a perfect stop for both novices and connoisseurs alike and a must-visit on your Kentucky Bourbon Trail journey.

– Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour

Buffalo Trace Distillery, located in Frankfort, Kentucky, is one of the oldest and most iconic distilleries on the Bourbon Trail. Founded in 1792 by Hancock Lee and originally known as Old Fire Copper (later changed to George T. Stagg), this distillery has a rich history of producing some of the finest bourbon in the world.

The guided tour at Buffalo Trace Distillery takes visitors through the entire process of making bourbon – from grain to bottle. The tour begins with a short video introduction about the history and production methods of Buffalo Trace Distillery. Visitors are then taken to see their famous “Bourbon Pompeii”, where remnants of old fermenters and equipment can be seen preserved in concrete.

Next, visitors are led through the aging warehouses where they can witness thousands of barrels stacked high, slowly maturing into bourbon. The guide will explain how various factors such as temperature, humidity, and location within the warehouse can affect the flavor profile of each barrel.

After exploring the aging warehouses, visitors are taken to see the bottling line in action. Here they can observe how each bottle is filled, labeled, and packaged before being shipped off to stores around the world.

One highlight of this tour is getting to visit Warehouse H – also known as “Warehouse X”. This warehouse was specifically designed for experimental whiskey production and houses over 3 million gallons of aging whiskey experiments! Visitors get to sample some unique experimental bourbons that may never be available for purchase outside of this tour.

The final stop on this tour is at Buffalo Trace’s tasting room where visitors get to sample several different types of bourbon including their flagship brand – Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. For those who prefer something sweeter, there’s also an opportunity to taste their popular Bourbon Cream liqueur.

In addition to their standard tour options, Buffalo Trace offers specialized tours such as their Hard Hat Tour which takes visitors behind-the-scenes to areas not usually included in the regular tour. They also offer a Ghost Tour for those interested in the distillery’s supernatural history.

A visit to Buffalo Trace Distillery is a must for any bourbon lover exploring Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail. With its rich history, beautiful grounds, and delicious bourbon, it’s no wonder why this distillery has become such a popular destination for tourists from all over the world.

Other Experiences Offered by Bourbon Town Tours: Wine Tasting and Historic Tours

Apart from the traditional bourbon distillery tours, Bourbon Town Tours also offers a variety of other experiences for those looking to explore Kentucky’s rich history and culture. These include wine tasting and historic tours, both of which offer unique perspectives on the state’s past.

Firstly, Bourbon Town Tours offers wine tasting experiences at some of the most renowned wineries in Kentucky. The rolling hills and fertile soil make this region ideal for growing grapes, resulting in some exceptional wines. Visitors can choose from a wide range of wineries such as Talon Winery, Wildside Winery, and Elk Creek Vineyards. Each winery has its own unique charm and visitors will have the opportunity to sample different types of wines including reds, whites, and rosés. Expert guides will educate guests on the history of winemaking in Kentucky and provide insights into the various production processes. This experience is perfect for anyone looking to expand their palate beyond bourbon or simply wanting to try something new.

In addition to wine tasting, Bourbon Town Tours also offers historic tours that take visitors back in time to learn about Kentucky’s fascinating past. These tours are designed to showcase the state’s rich cultural heritage through visits to historic sites such as Old Fort Harrod State Park and My Old Kentucky Home State Park. Guests will have the chance to step into a bygone era as they explore these well-preserved landmarks with knowledgeable tour guides who bring history alive with their storytelling.

One highlight of these historic tours is a visit to Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill where visitors can immerse themselves in Shaker culture while admiring the beautiful architecture and craftsmanship of this 19th-century community. Another must-see stop is Bardstown – known as “The Most Beautiful Small Town in America” – where guests can stroll along cobblestone streets lined with charming shops and historical buildings.

These additional experiences offered by Bourbon Town Tours provide an excellent opportunity for tourists to immerse themselves in the culture and history of Kentucky. Whether it’s sipping on a glass of local wine or stepping back in time at a historic site, these experiences are sure to leave visitors with a deeper appreciation for the state and its people.

Bourbon Town Tours offers more than just distillery tours – they provide a well-rounded experience that encompasses all aspects of Kentucky’s heritage. From indulging in fine wines to exploring historic landmarks, there is something for everyone to enjoy on these unique tours. So why not add these options to your itinerary and make the most out of your visit to the beautiful Bluegrass State?

How to Plan

Planning a trip to explore Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail can seem overwhelming, with so many distilleries to choose from and different options for tours. However, with some careful planning and consideration, you can create an itinerary that will give you the best experience on the trail.

• Research Distilleries: The first step in planning your bourbon trail adventure is to research the various distilleries along the trail. Each one offers a unique experience and has different tour options. Look into their history, production methods, and any special events or tastings they may offer.
• Decide on Tour Options: Once you have a list of distilleries you are interested in visiting, it’s time to decide on tour options. Most distilleries offer basic tours that cover the production process and end with a tasting. Some also offer more in-depth tours that include access to areas not open to the public or specialized tastings. Consider your budget and preferences when choosing which tours to take.
• Create an Itinerary: After deciding on which distilleries to visit and which tours to take, it’s time to create an itinerary. Take into account distance between each stop and plan accordingly so you aren’t spending too much time driving between locations. Be sure to also factor in lunch breaks or other activities along the way.

4.Watch for Special Events: Keep an eye out for any special events happening during your planned trip dates as these can add another level of excitement and interest to your journey. Many distilleries host festivals or themed events throughout the year that could enhance your experience.

5.Book Reservations: Some of the more popular distilleries require reservations for their tours due to high demand. Be sure to check their websites beforehand and make reservations if necessary.

6.Consider Transportation Options: Driving yourself is certainly an option for exploring the Bourbon Trail, but keep in mind that alcohol consumption is involved, so having a designated driver is essential. Alternatively, there are tour companies that offer transportation and guided tours along the trail, allowing you to fully immerse in the experience without worrying about driving.

7.Pack Appropriately: Depending on the time of year you plan to visit, it’s important to pack appropriately. Kentucky can have unpredictable weather, so be sure to bring layers and comfortable shoes for walking through distilleries.

By following these planning tips, you’ll be able to create a well-organized and enjoyable trip along Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail. Remember to also leave some room for spontaneity and unexpected discoveries – after all, that’s what makes a journey truly unforgettable.

Discover the heart and soul of bourbon country with Bourbon Town Tours. Experience exclusive tours that offer a deep dive into the rich history, culture, and, of course, the exquisite taste of America’s native spirit. Whether you’re a bourbon aficionado or new to the world of whiskey, our expert guides will ensure an unforgettable journey through the most iconic distilleries and hidden gems of bourbon country. Ready to embark on an adventure of a lifetime? Book your tour today and let Bourbon Town Tours show you the true spirit of bourbon.

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Enjoy amazing tours along the kentucky bourbon trail with a great team of expert guides..

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Bourbon and Distillery Tasting Tour (Cincinnati and NKY)

Cincinnati's Best Bourbon Tasting Experience!

Quick Details

• Calendar Availability: Saturday
• Hour Glass Duration: 4 Hours , 5 Hours

The Original and Premier Cincinnati Distillery Tours

Looking for something a little harder than the samples offered on our Cincinnati brewery tours? The premier bourbon and distillery experience is perfect for those with refined tastes.

We will tour and sample at two distilleries and one bourbon bar. Distilleries include Second Sight Spirits, Boone County Distilling, Wooden Cask will be our bourbon bar stop!

• Tour starts at New Riff Distillery
• Check-in is 15 minutes prior to event time (check in between 11:15-11:20, 11:30am sharp departure)
• As always with alcohol we want you to make good decisions and be safe, so we have partnered with the Hyatt Regency Hotel to offer you 10% off your room subject to availability just for booking your tour with us.

Book your Cincinnati distillery tour with us today.

Related Bus Tours

• Hour Glass 4 Hours , 4.5 Hours
• Clock 1:30 pm
• Calendar Sunday

Bourbon, Brews and a Winery Too!

Back by popular demand! Get a little bit of everything you love! We will tour a distillery, a winery and a brewery!

Kentucky Bourbon Adventure (PRIVATE TOUR INQUIRY ONLY)

Join us on an adventure to the heart of Bourbon Country in beautiful Kentucky! We are very lucky to live so near to the heart of American Bourbon Country and we want you to join us! This is an inquiry for a PRIVATE event, the public event is listed as such.

• Hour Glass 3.5 Hours , 4 Hours

Cincinnati Winery Tour-Cincy Wine Wagon

Sample a selection of wines from two Urban Wineries, Skeleton Root and Revel OTR and one local Wine Bar (see calendar for details).

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 the best Kentucky distillery tours like Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Evan Williams, Buffalo Trace, Jim Beam, and more.

The Kentucky Bourbon distilleries listed below are grouped within each region and then ranked for their tour and bourbon quality.   The majority of the bourbon 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.

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 .

Now, time to talk about the distilleries…

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 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 1 Kentucky bourbon distillery, make it this one. It was the hands-down favorite (on currently my 3rd trip) along Kentucky’s 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 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 “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, 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.

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. 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 more Kentucky bourbon trail tours and tastes, so check back for updates.

The next two bourbon 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!

Executive Services Group

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(859) 344-6800

[email protected], tourwithusky, bourbon tours.

Following the growing popularity of bourbon in the Cincinnati area, we recently launched a new division of Executive Services Group: TOURWITHUSKY . We specialize in bourbon tours in the Northern Kentucky area, especially the B-Line: a network of local distilleries, restaurants, and bourbon-themed bars! You can try one of our packages, or customize your own! The best part of all: we use the same drivers you know and love from ESG!

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Local KY:   859.344.6800

Local OH:   513.322.0159

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Serving the Tri-State

Welcome to The B-Line®! Northern Kentucky's self-guided bourbon tour.

The B-Line® is comprised of 7 Craft Distilleries - all of which are also on The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® - 9 Bourbon Bars, all of which must have at least 100 bourbons in stock - and 9 Bourbon-centric Restaurants. All 25 stops are located throughout Covington, Newport, Independence, Burlington, Sparta, Augusta, and Maysville, Kentucky.

HOW TO DO THE B-LINE: Pick up a Line Guide (your passport) at any B-Line stop, or get the online version on your phone, check in at 2 distilleries, 2 bars, and 2 restaurants and we'll send you a free gift.

Who Exactly is on The B-Line®?

Choose which of the seven Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® Distilleries – New Riff Distilling, Boone County Distilling Co., Neeley Family Distillery, The Old Pogue Distillery, Second Sight Spirits, Augusta Distillery, and Pensive Distilling Co. – you’d like to visit. Or go to all 7 for a wealth of unique bourbon experiences! 

Visit some of the nine bourbon-centric bars, all with a culture of their own: The Globe Covington, Rich’s Proper Food and Drink, Wiseguy Lounge, Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar aka OKBB, Smoke Justis, Knowledge Bar, and Revival Vintage Bottle Shop – all in Covington, Ky. – Prohibition Bourbon Bar in Newport, Ky. and Three Spirits Tavern in Bellevue, Ky.  

Finally, try the nine amazing restaurants cultivating the freshest tastes in bourbon culinary delights – Bouquet Restaurant, Libby’s Southern Comfort, Coppin’s at the Hotel Covington, Lisse Steakhuis – all in Covington, Ky. – The Purple Poulet and Pompilio’s in Newport, Ky., the Beehive Augusta Tavern in Augusta, Ky,  Caproni’s Restaurant in Maysville, Ky., and Tousey House Tavern in Burlington, Ky.

We welcome you to the edge and beginning of the “Bourbon State” — Kentucky. Our state is the epicenter of Bourbon Culture & History. You enter it after crossing the original Bourbon Line, the Ohio River, which transported the first bourbon throughout the U.S. 

We’re also a short B-Line away from the heart of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. Create your own unique bourbon experience, starting on The B-Line®. Let us help you “find your sipping point.

See how to do the line and earn free B-Line swag!

Join our mailing list for updates on how to do the line

50 E. River Center Blvd.  Suite 1100 Covington, KY 41011 859-261-4677

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Inquiries: [email protected]

The B-Line supports responsible bourbon enjoyment. Must be 21 to participate and always enjoy your bourbon like a true Kentuckian, responsibly.

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The Kentucky Bourbon Trail: How To Create The Perfect Bourbon Trail Tour

Are you are bourbon drinker? Whether you enjoy bourbon or not, experiencing the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is an adventure you don’t want to miss.

Kentucky is the bourbon capital of the world, with new bourbon distilleries popping up each year. With so many different options, from the classic Kentucky Bourbon Trail to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, it is easy to spend a week exploring bourbon country.

This post will show you how to create your ideal Bourbon Trail Tour by highlighting tips and giving a sample itinerary. Afflilates links are present in this post, meaning if you choose to purchase anything from them a small commision goes to keep this free site up and running. 

What Is The Kentucky Bourbon Trail 

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail was designed to draw tourists to Kentucky by highlighting Kentucky’s fine bourbon. It is a registered trademark of the Kentucky distillers, therefore to be a part of the official trail, the distillery must be a member of the Kentucky distillers’ association. Buffalo Trace is not a member; therefore, not on the bourbon trail. 

Many distilleries offer custom tours, bourbon tastings, and public tours. Tours typically start on the hour and last an hour. 

Where is the Kentucky Bourbon Trail 

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail spans across the bluegrass state, with the official starting point in Louisville, Kentucky. The majority of the distilleries are in the north-central portion of the state. It is the official starting point because the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center is here.

You can start the trail and any distilleries; each one has a bourbon trail guide. Another popular starting point is Bardstown, as it is smack in the middle of Bourbon Country. We recommend overnighting here or in Louisville.

How Many Days Should I Plan For The Official Kentucky Bourbon Trail 

There is no set answer to this question because it all depends. It depends on how many distilleries you wish to visit if there are other attractions or activities you want to do, and how much time you have.

Since we are from Cincinnati, we typically spend two nights and get to 6 distilleries. If you get an early start, you may fit in one or two more in. Alot depends on how you like to travel as well. You can go fast and furious, not opt to do the tour, or you can travel at a slower pace enjoying tours, campus walks, and roadside attractions.

If you wish to hit all the disillieries along the trail I would recommend a full week to fully enjoy your experience. 

Tips Before Create Your Bourbon Trail Tour

• A distillery tour is often required in order to sample the bourbon. Many places now offer a sampling only tour that is not as long as the distillery tours. 
• Many distillieries require a reservation. Book online or call to ensure your spot. 
• All bourbon tours are roughly 45 minutes to an hour-long. Plan your day accordingly and allow driving time between distilleries.
• Most distilleries close at 5 pm with the last tour starting an hour before close or earlier. Be sure to check on the distilleries’ website to see when they offer their last tour.
• Tours will cost you between $20-$35 a person, very few distilleries offer free tours.  There are options to have behind the scenes tours that can cost a little more and need to be set up in advance.
• Dress for the tours. You do spend time outside on each tour so dress accordingly.
• Distillery tours usually happen on the hour. Look up each distillery for tour times prior to hitting the road.
• Don’t forget to make time for lunch or bring snacks with you.
• It can be cheaper to buy your bottles of bourbon elsewhere. Most distilleries have to sell to distributors and in order for the distillery to sell their bourbon in their own gift shop, they have to buy it back from their distributor. Every time the bourbon changes hands there is a tax, so expect to pay a little more in the gift shop.
• Even if you don’t enjoy bourbon, the tours of the distilleries are fascinating.

Plan A Unique Bourbon Trail Experience

Many distilleries offer an opportunity to bottle your own bourbon. While the price reflects the experience, you will leave with an incredible souvenir. 

A few distilleries that offer the bottle your own bourbon experience are: 

• Angel’s Envy
• Heaven Hill Distillery 

Learn to create craft bourbon cocktails from mixologists with your favorite bourbon. Sign up for this unique experience, and you may find your new favorite drink. 

A few distilleries that offer a unique bourbon cocktail experience are:

• Bardstown Bourbon Company 

Barrel thieving is another popular experience that allows guests to taste three products pulled directly from barrels. Barrel thieving is typically paired with a tour of the facility. 

Sign up for a barrel thieving tour at the following distilleries: 

• Green River 

An Itinerary For A Two  Nights and Three Days On The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Tour 

 The wake-up call will need to be early to get a fair amount of distilleries under your belt. That means arriving at the first distillery when they open at 10:00 am.

Remember that you need to be at your last distillery by 4 pm since that is when the last tour will leave! Expect a 90-minute drive to get to your first distillery if you are hitting the bourbon trail from Cincinnati.

This itineray is serving as your guide. Feel free to switch out distilleries to reflect those that are a priority to you. Spend more time at your favorites, only do tastings, stop for lunch and make this trip your own. 

Tip:  Check each distillery for pandemic protocols, hours, and tour reservations. Each distillery is different. 

The First Stop: Buffalo Trace Distillery 

Ironically the first stop on the bourbon trail is a distillery that isn’t on the official trail.  Buffalo Trace  is a famous distillery offering classic bourbons such as Blanton’s, Eagle Rare, and Pappy Van Wrinkle. It has quickly become one of my favorite distilleries to visit because they don’t charge to tour, and their grounds are beautiful. 

Buffalo Trace is a great spot to start your adventure. Be sure to get your picture with their famous buffalo mascot!

Budget Tip: I like to do the distillery tour at Buffalo Trace since it is free. I then pick different types of tastings and tours at other distilleries. 

Address : 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY 40601

Stop Number Two: Castle and Key Distillery

Built-in 1887,  the former E.H. Taylor distillery (Old Taylor Distillery) has been restored to a the beautiful Castle and Key Distillery .   While their bourbon is aging Castle and Key serves up wonderful spirits and has a phenomenal gin. 

Castle and Key is located only 15 minutes from Buffalo Trace. It is  great stop if you have non-bourbon drinkers in your party.

Budget Tip : There is a free self-guided tour of the Castle grounds which includes access to the Botanical Trail, Springhouse, Taylorton Station, Counter 17 (walk up bar), and the Boiler Room which is now the gift shop. 

  Address: 4335 McCracken Pike, Frankfort, KY 40601.

Stop Number Three: Woodford Reserve Distillery 

Only six minutes down the road from Castle and Key is the historic distillery of Woodford Reserve. Tucked away in the hills of Kentucky, Woodford Reserve offers visitors a variety of unique tasting and tour options.  

Snacks are available for purchase here, which I highly recommend, especially if you don’t feel like swinging through a drive-thru or going to a sit-down restaurant. 

Budget Tip : Complimentary Mocktails are served at the Cocktail Bar for designated drivers and those under 21 years old. 

Address:  7855 McCracken Pike Versailles, KY 40383

Roadside attraction: daniel boone’s grave.

A quick unique roadside attraction is the grave of Daniel Boone. Now far from Buffalo Trace is the Franklin Cemetary, the final resting place to this American legend. 

Address:  Frankfort Cemetery 215 E. Main St., Frankfurt KY 40601

The next stop is Wild Turkey. It is roughly a half-hour drive into the heart of bourbon country. The rolling hills dotted with horse farms make this a scenic tour of Kentucky’s countryside.

Stop Four: Wild Turkey Distillery 

Wild Turkey offers the standard tours you will see at most other distilleries. However, if Bubba is still there, request him as your tour guide. He is absolutely amazing and incredibly knowledgeable! He will teach you everything you ever wanted to know and beyond about bourbon and the industry.

Address:  1417 Versailles Road, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342

Stop Number Five:  Four Roses Distillery 

After three hours of tours, a good amount of time driving this is likely going to be your last distillery of the day. That is if you even make it here depending on how your opted to structure your day. 

 Four Roses offers a variety of tours and has a Visitor Center in Lawrenceburg. They offer a guided flight tasting which is perfect for those looking to skip out on a full tour and enjoy fine Kentucky bourbon. 

Address: 1224 Bonds Mill Rd, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342

Where To Overnight Along The Kentucky Bourbon Trail

The beautiful small town of Bardstown is the ideal spot to overnight. It is a quaint little town that offers some fun unique accommodations, restaurants, and shops.  Check out the Jailer’s Inn and the Old Talbott Tavern for something out of the ordinary.

There are a variety of Airbnbs and cabins scattered throughout the trail for those looking for a more space. 

The next morning its time to rise and shine and drink more bourbon.  Find yourself a good donut at Hadorn’s Bakery and then it is off to Heaven Hill.

Day Two Along The  Kentucky Bourbon Trail Tour

Stop one: heaven hill distillery.

The Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience is a must while visiting the Bardstown area. Heaven Hill Distilleries provides visitors an immersive American Whiskey experience. Offering educational tastings that bring the history bourbon to life. 

Heaven Hill also operates The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience found along Whiskey Row in the heart of downtown Louisville. Celebrating the legacy of Evan Williams, it features guided tours, educational Bourbon tastings, an artisanal distillery, and handcrafted cocktails at On3. 

Address: 1311 Gilkey Run Rd., Bardstown, KY 40004

The Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience is a must while visiting the Bardstown area. Heaven Hill Distilleries provides visitors with an immersive American Whiskey experience. They are offering educational tastings that bring the history of bourbon to life. 

Address:  1311 Gilkey Run Rd., Bardstown, KY 40004

Stop Two: Willett Distillery

This craft distillery is along the Craft Bourbon Trail and is known for its Kentucky Rye Whiskey. Their small size makes the tour more personal, going into great depth about their product.

Willett Distillery  offers tasting and distillery tours, but reservations are mandatory. 

Address:  1869 Loretto Rd, Bardstown, KY 40004

Stop Three: Abby of Gethsemani

A quick stop between distilleries is to the Abby of Gethsemani to pick up some bourbon fudge and bourbon balls made by the Trappist Monks. The fudge is out of this world, so buy more than one container! The Monks support themselves by making homemade goods. Be sure to check out their hours on their  website .

Stop Four: Limestone Branch Distillery

Another stop along the craft bourbon trail is Limestone Branch Distillery. Take a guided tour to gain insight on how the smaller operations make their products. 

 Our guide was a riot and taught us about how Stephen Beam started the distillery. Lo and Behold! Mr. Beam showed up and signed bottles of bourbon for the few guests in the distillery!!! That made this stop forever memorable!

Address: 1280 Veterans Memorial Hwy, Lebanon, KY 40033

Stop Five: Maker’s Mark Distillery 

Maker’s Mark Distillery is by far one of the prettiest distilleries on the trail. The black buildings with red trim set the stage for a bourbon experience like non-other. Come inside the distillery for a step-by-step tour highlighting the distillation process. Pre-pandemic, the tour even allowed visitors to dip their fingers and sample the mash while brewing!!

 Then open your pocketbook because the tour lets out in the gift shop. For a unique souvenir, buy a little bottle of makers in the gift shop and go dip it in the red wax yourself!! It is the perfect way to commemorate your adventure along the bourbon trail. 

Address:   3350 Burks Spring Rd, Loretto, KY 40037

Louisville: Overnight On The Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Are you looking for an overnight with plenty of entertainment, good food, and a great nightlife scene? Louisville is precisely the place you want to overnight. Many travelers along the bourbon trail like to make Louisville their home base after taking in horse farm after horse farm in between the distilleries. 

Louisville is a lively city full of trendy eateries, bourbon bars, and live entertainment. Louisville is home to the Frazier Museum, which is the official starting point of the Bourbon Trail. Here you can pick up your official Bourbon Trail Passport and other merchandise. 

A few of our favorite hotels include the Omni Louisville , the 21 C Hotel and the Grady Hotel . 

Tip:  One of our favorite restaurants in Louiseville is Harvest. A farm-to-table restaurant is open for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Make a reservation. 

Booking.com

Stop One: Evan Williams Distillery 

This is conveniently located in downtown Louisville and will make a quick first stop for your day. Unless by this time you have had your fill of bourbon and are ready to find a mint julip experiences.

Stop Two: Bulleit Distillery 

Located just outside the heart of Louisville is Bulleit Distillery. The distillery tour will require you to hop aboard a shuttle to the distillery. There is a short tasting afterwards.  Bulleit does have the warehouses and you will get to take a peek in along with the lab, the offices, and a barrel repair workshop. The giftshop does sell Bulleit Bourbon and cockatils are available. 

Stop Six: Jim Beam Distillery

The James  B. Beam Distilling Co. has been the Birthplace of Bourbon for over two centuries. With such a rich history of bourbon booking a tour will not disappoint.

Jim Beam offers a variety of tours including one that teaches you how to create special bourbon cocktails. 

Address: 5 26 Happy Hollow Rd. , Clermont, KY 40110

The End Of The Road

This is where I would wrap up my third day along the  Kentucky Bourbon Trail Tour before heading back to my home. Don’t forget to collect plenty of bottles to bring back home to your home bar. 

If you are considering adding in more days to your Bourbon Trail Tour consider adding in these distilleries. 

• Rabbit Hole Distillery 
• Angel’s Envy Distillery 
• Town Branch
• Wilderness Trail Distillery
• Old Forester 

 A few popular attractions in Louisville include, the Louisville Slugger Museum, Church Hill Downs, and Colonel Sanders’ Grave.

A fun little town to stop in on the way home is in La Grange, Kentucky . Where the trains roll right now the middle of the main street!

Creating Your Own Kentucky Bourbon Trail Tour

Bourbon Trail Guide

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Cindy Ladage

The beautiful buildings pull me in!

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The B-Line – Northern Kentucky's Bourbon Tour

You’re on a bourbon-country-bound collective, headed to Northern Kentucky via The B-Line. There’s no convoluted maps to read. No set order of events or requirements for entry. Just a mish-mash of distilleries, bars, and restaurants who are here to help you find your sipping point.

Find Your Sipping Point in Northern Kentucky

Imagine this… an experience centered around five Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® Distilleries: Boone County Distilling Co . , Neeley Family Distillery , New Riff Distilling , The Old Pogue Distillery  and Second Sight Spirits . Add five bourbon-centric bars, all with a culture of their own, and five amazing restaurants cultivating the freshest tastes in bourbon culinary delights and you’re on the The B-Line . On the very edge and beginning of the “Bourbon State,” Kentucky, and the very epicenter of Bourbon Culture & History after crossing the true Bourbon Line, the Ohio River. A short B-Line away from the heart of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and a place to create your own unique bourbon experience.

Do The B-Line, Get Bourbon Swag Upload a picture of yourself with your completed guide and submit the redemption form at meetNKY.com/redeem to earn free B-LINE swag like a bourbon glass, t-shirt, trucker hat, whiskey stones and more!

Visit Two of Each to Get the Swag To Complete: Collect stamps from at least two distilleries, two bars, and two restaurants.

The B-Line Distilleries

The B-Line Bars

Bourbon Haus 1841 –  A new addition to a thriving Bourbon scene in NKY, the Bourbon Haus 1841 boasts some of the most robust Bourbon flight offerings in town and a perfect patio to enjoy them and the sights of Mainstrasse in Covington, KY. Learn more .

Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar –  This charming bar in Covington’s Mainstrasse boasts more than 600 Whiskeys including 450 Bourbons, a plethora more Ryes and a dedicated staff crafting your perfect cocktail. Wonderful outdoor patio in the heart of Covington. Learn more .

Prohibition Bourbon Bar –  Located at the Newberry Bros. Coffee, the Prohibition Bourbon Bar proudly offers the most robust collection of whiskies in the world all served up in a relaxing and friendly environment full of true Southern hospitality. Learn more .

The Globe –  The Globe’s location in the core of the downtown Covington business district and its new twist on cocktail culture has made it a popular addition to the community. This charming neighborhood bar has some serious bartender credibility and whiskey knowledge to share. Learn more .

Wiseguy Lounge –  A tip of the hat to the days of secret speakeasies and passwords, Wiseguys, above Goodfellas Pizza is a perfect place to enjoy a carefully crafted cocktail or Bourbon flight. Learn more .

The B-Line Restaurants

Coppin’s at Hotel Covington   – Food and Beverage menus at Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar are designed to encourage sharing and camaraderie, while offering an inclusive atmosphere for the transient and single diner. Coppin’s unique culinary position represents influences from Covington’s Northern and Southern neighbors highlighting local craft beers, cider and sodas along with wine and cocktails on draft. Seating options are ideal for social gatherings and intimate experiences. Learn more .

Bouquet Restaurant –  Bouquet Restaurant is an upscale farm-to-table bistro opened in 2007 by Stephen Williams, one of the top chef owners in NKY. Bouquet’s menu is constantly evolving to utilize the best products from over fifty farmers and purveyors and has a strong offering of Bourbon. Learn more .

Chandler’s On Market –  In the heart of charming Maysville, Chandler’s is the perfect stop for a bourbon bite and sip after visiting the historic sites of where Bourbon was Born. Learn more .

The Purple Poulet –  Charming Southern bourbon bistro inspired by the cuisines of Charleston and New Orleans with an infusion of Kentucky comfort. Owner/chef, Rick Zumwalde, boasts a dedication to hospitality and fine Bourbon offerings. Learn more .

Tousey House Tavern –  Escape the hustle and bustle of the city to this one-of-a-kind setting in the heart of historic Burlington, Kentucky. Operated by generations of the Burlington, Wainwright family, this tavern offers Southern cuisine done fine and many Bourbon pairings and Bourbon events. Learn more .

Frequently Asked Questions

• How Do I Do The B-Line Over a Long Weekend? See itinerary .
• How Do I Do The B-Line Over Three Days? See itinerary .
• How Do I Do The B-Line Over Four Days? See itinerary .

Drive Safe – Call for a Ride Use promo code TheBLine on Lyft or 3SEO on Uber for safe ride discounts while doing The B-Line!

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Sip Your Way Through Northern Kentucky’s Bourbon Tour

With the arrival of all things fall comes an overwhelming desire to switch my spirit of choice from gin to bourbon. Bourbon embodies this season for me, which is why our recent trip to explore the Northern Kentucky bourbon trail couldn’t have been more aptly timed. And if you’re heading to Covington and Newport—bordering cities in the far reaches of Northern Kentucky—I’m going to tell you just where you can go for the best bourbon in Cincy and beyond, distilleries and bars all along The B-Line®.

I also created this handy Google Map of all The B-Line stops so you can bookmark the link and use it on the go.

This project is in partnership with meetNKY. All opinions are ours exclusively.

About Northern Kentucky’s The B-Line

I don’t need to tell you that bourbon and Kentucky are synonymous, but did you know that the Cincinnati area has its own bourbon scene on the Kentucky side of the river? The B-Line is a self-guided tour of some of Northern Kentucky’s best bourbon-fueled and spirit-soaked spots in Covington, Newport, Ludlow, Maysville and beyond.

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association, of course, has its widely-known Kentucky Bourbon Trail. We’ve tackled this in full, too—we completed the original trail before it expanded to include more than a dozen distilleries. All of the Northern Kentucky distilleries on The B-Line are also members of the KBT Craft Trail , so you can get passport stamps as you go.

And once you complete a visit to two distilleries, two restaurants and two bars along The B-Line, you can submit your stops to the visitors bureau and redeem for some fun bourbon swag .

What makes The B-Line so doable is its accessibility from Cincinnati. Nine bridges connect the states across the Ohio River, and the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is just 15 minutes from Covington and Cincy in Florence. In fact, while I drove up and back from Tennessee—around five hours—I sent SVV home on a flight from Cincy to Nashville and extended my own stay for the local tennis masters!

Where to stay along The B-Line

While you could find a place to stay anywhere in Northern Kentucky and be an easy drive to The B-Line stops, making your base in Covington makes the most sense thanks to its central locale and many bars and restaurants that are an easy walk or short drive away. On this trip to Cincy, we stayed in Covington —Northern Kentucky’s largest city—in the most delightful converted building. Right off Covington’s main commerce corridor, Madison Avenue, is the Pickle Factory , a boutique lodging option that debuted in 2021 with plenty of personal and local touches.

The building has been around since the 1800s and has lived many lives: as a soda pop operation, the African American Odd Fellows Hall, a pickle factory. Today, it’s an eight-suite boutique hotel in Covington that was the perfect place for us to stay during our three-day trip to Kentucky. Each room is uniquely designed, and the property is more like an Airbnb in that you have contactless check-in and a keypad entry to both the building and your individual suite.

There were pickles everywhere, and I couldn’t get enough of this theme! There were pickles on the walls, pickles in the hallways, even pickles painted on the barrel at the entrance of the alley that led to the Pickle Factory.

Which distilleries to visit in Northern Kentucky

The distilleries along The B-Line are spread out from Boone County up to Covington and back down the river to Augusta and Maysville—around 70 miles in length if you were to drive the route straight through. My ideal tempo on a bourbon trip is touring a distillery visit or two a day, then parking ourselves in a walkable area to explore more of the region’s restaurants and bars.

While some of the bigger distillery operations in Cincy like New Riff are open six days a week, many of the smaller ones only offer tours on weekends, so plan your trip to Northern Kentucky accordingly.

New Riff Distilling

When it comes to Northern Kentucky bourbon, New Riff is usually the name people are most familiar with. In its decade of operation, New Riff Distilling has won myriad awards and expanded distribution to several states. We’ve visited New Riff on multiple occasions, but on this particular visit the flow of a matured operation was obvious. The distillery opened in 2014 and has gone through several upgrades since then—including a $3.5 million renovation earlier this year—so even though we’d been before, it was a whole new experience and seamlessly elegant from start to finish.

On this visit, we did New Riff’s Bonded Tour, which is offered every day they are open, and was a fun and new way to experience the distillery. You taste along the tour at various points as you’re simultaneously learning both the history of the brand and the bourbon-making process. The tour ends in the upgraded tasting room where you get a few last samples before you leave.

Old Pogue Distillery

Old Pogue Distillery in Maysville is the hardest distillery tour in Kentucky to nab a spot on, and after visiting, I see why: It may be a big name, but it’s still a small, family-owned operation with limited spots on each of the tours. This is one you need to book far in advance. Why? Well, I’ll tell you: In 1876, Old Pogue become Kentucky’s third registered distillery. Today, fifth- and sixth-generation family members carry the torch using the same formula and process.

The hour-long tour starts in the Greek Revival-style home of the Pogues, then continues to the small distillery where they only distill once a year. You’ll finish up with a tasting in the main house. Old Pogue was one of the more scenic distilleries I’ve ever visited and truly felt like you were being invited into a family’s legacy as opposed to being tourists dropping into a nearly 150-year-old bourbon empire.

Tours are only available on Fridays and select Saturdays by appointment, but the Old Pogue Experience—a tasting room and bourbon history museum—in downtown Maysville has expanded hours from Tuesday through Saturday.

Augusta Distillery

Twenty minutes up the road from Old Pogue is the town of Augusta. And the very day we happened to be visiting Augusta Distillery , I received a dedicated newsletter from Garden & Gun titled “This Bourbon Was Judged the World’s Best” all about Augusta earning the title of best overall bourbon at San Francisco World Spirits Competition in a field of 503 entrants, immediately followed by the American Distilling Institute naming its single-barrel the Best Craft Bourbon. Color me impressed!

And while sure, awards aren’t everything, I immediately saw the vision of the founders when we popped in for a high-proof tasting and a tour guide showed us plans for the distillery’s future. The expansive brick warehouse, which offers a more limited visitor experience at the moment due to renovations, eventually will have a glass-enclosed still, a sprawling courtyard, a bistro that’s a sister to the ever-popular Beehive Tavern and even pickleball courts.

Second Sight Spirits

When I tell you I’ve done a whole lot of distillery tours—more than 50 in the past decade alone—then take my word for this: Second Sight Spirits is something special. From the founders’ stories to the theatrical flair with which they deliver the tour to the thoughtful circus-themed details woven throughout the space, this Ludlow distillery made me swoon.

Founders Rick Couch and Carus Waggoner have been friends since childhood, and they both fell into a passion for designing and building sets for Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. By chance, they learned the art of distilling and built a still from scratch-made parts. Many years and hours of learning later, their distillery in Kentucky opened in 2014. The tour is fascinating in itself just to learn about the distillery’s many props and accessories they hand-crafted.

The Second Sight Spirits tour lasts between an hour and 90 minutes and concludes with a tasting. On weekend mornings, you can arrive early and grab a coffee or pastry in the distillery bar before your tour.

Pensive Distilling

Newport sits adjacent to Covington, another Northern Kentucky city that rests along the Ohio River. One of the newest spots to join the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour and The B-Line, Pensive is a micro-distillery and restaurant in Newport that I dropped into for a drink on my final day in Kentucky.

With Derby horse racing as their muse and as a reboot from the pandemic-era casualty of 27 Bar and Kitchen, Pensive Distilling Company serves spirits distilled and bottled right on the premises, including bourbon, apple pie moonshine and vodka. They also make a mean barbecue sauce out of their product if you can get your hands on some!

Where to drink bourbon in Covington and Newport

Of course, you can only squeeze so many distillery visits into a single day, but if you’re staying in Covington or Newport, there are plenty of bourbon bars to visit in the after hours. These were our personal standouts.

Revival Vintage Bottle Shop

At Revival Vintage Bottle Shop in Newport, visitors have the unique opportunity to taste flavors that don’t exist in stores anymore, as owner Brad “Dusty” Bonds has been collecting vintage spirits from the forgotten basement collections of families for the last 10 years. This bottle shop has varieties from across eras that boggle the imagination once you start thinking about it. Fancy a curaçao from 1975? He’s got that. How about a Heaven Hill from 1982? You can taste that too.  

Expertly curated from dusty closets and garages, the selections are for sale in full bottles but also, crucially, available as samples to taste at affordable prices. And even if you’re not in the market to take home a $500 relic with you, it’s worth perusing his shelves to see the impressive collection and artful bottles that line the store’s shelves.

Revival has grand plans to move into a new larger space next door to North by Hotel Covington in the coming year, and I can’t wait to visit the next iteration of this absolute gem, complete with a full bar that will enable you to taste cocktails made with alcohol from before, among other things, the atomic bomb.

Prohibition Bourbon Bar

We walked into Prohibition in Newport, and it felt like entering a secret club only the bourbon elite of Northern Kentucky know of. There were all the regulars, of course, and they could spot a newcomer from a mile away; we knew everyone on a first-name basis by the time we left. But what makes this unassuming bar even cooler is it lays claim to the largest collection of bourbons and ryes in the world .

The owners are also are very active in fundraising for the local animal rescue SAAP (Stray Animal Adoption Program), including hosting bourbon raffles. The bar is attached to their Newberry Brothers Coffee shop, which boasts a pastry and coffee pop-up every third Sunday, and it’s only open on Friday and Saturday nights so reservations are strongly encouraged.

Wiseguy Lounge

If you want to hit several locations on The B-Line in one fell swoop, take an Uber to Covington’s charming Mainstrasse and start your bar crawl at Wiseguy Lounge . On the second floor above Goodfellas Pizzeria, this cocktail lounge is a speakeasy at heart and taps into that jazzy 1920’s vibe.

Fancy a second round? Juniper’s is just around the corner—and with more than 180 gins from around the globe, it’s a great spot to reset before dinner at Lisse Steakhuis across the street.

Other Boozy Attractions in Northern Kentucky

If bourbon bars aren’t your thing, you’ll still find plenty to whet your palate in Northern Kentucky. In addition to cocktail bars galore, we unearthed some other fun alternatives: Covington and Ludlow, in particular, have several great breweries like Braxton and the circus-themed Bircus Brewing Company if beer is more your vibe.

You can see a full list of bourbon stops in Northern Kentucky via The B-Line’s site .

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Love bourbon based cocktails! Looks like a wonderful trip.

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Traveling the Kentucky Bourbon Trail? Check out the 9 newest distilleries on the trail

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail just keeps getting longer and longer.

As the commonwealth's bourbon industry continues to boom, more and more distilleries keep popping up along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail's Craft Tour. The Kentucky Distillers' Association has added nine new distilleries to the tour in the past two years alone, bringing the grand total to 47 bourbon destinations on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

In other words, if it's been a couple of years since you've traveled the trail ― you've got some catching up to do.

Here's a quick look at the nine newest distilleries along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Augusta Distillery

207 Seminary Ave., Augusta, augustakydistillery.com

Augusta Distillery sits on the limestone banks of the small Kentucky river town that it's named for in Northern Kentucky. The distillery only releases Kentucky single barrel, cask strength, unfiltered bourbons, which are aged a minimum of eight years. Buckner’s 13-year won Worlds Best Bourbon at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition . Distillery guests have the option for a hands-on barrel experience where they thieve and taste a variety of bourbons straight from the barrel.

The Bard Distillery

5080 Highway 175 South, Graham, thebarddistillery.com

Thomas Bard, co-founder of The Bard Distillery , is a direct descendant of William Bard, who founded Bardstown, Kentucky, in 1780 with his brother. Bard's ancestors later settled in Muhlenberg County in 1823, just a few short miles from the site of The Bard Distillery, and the family has lived on that same land for more than two centuries. Thomas and Kim Bard purchased an enormous, century-old art-deco-style abandoned school in 2015 for the distillery. When visitors tour the distillery, they'll learn about the spirits, walk the grounds, and learn about the massive renovation that is currently underway. Cocktails are also available on-site.

Castle & Key Distillery

4445 McCracken Pike, Frankfort, castleandkey.com

Castle & Key is arguably the most beautiful stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour. The building or rather, castle, was originally constructed in 1887 and its architecture draws upon Irish, Scottish, Greek, Italian and English influences. Guests are encouraged to grab a cocktail at the bar and wander the stunning gardens. Castle & Key is known for its gin, and it released its highly anticipated first bourbon in 2022.

Copper & Kings

1121 E. Washington St., Louisville, copperandkings.com

This music-inspired distillery in Louisville’s Butchertown neighborhood made a name for itself initially with its award-winning American brandy. Copper & Kings released its first bourbon this year, which is a blend of five, 10- and 15-year bourbons and then aged in one of its own apple brandy barrels. The distillery’s rooftop bar and restaurant has one of the best views of downtown Louisville as well as an eclectic cocktail menu.

Fresh Bourbon

377 E. Main St., Suite 100, Lexington, freshbourbon.com

With the creation of a unique, four-grain mash bill with a signature grain called honey malt, Fresh Bourbon is making its own path in a traditional industry. In the tasting room, the distillery staff aims to "guide each guest down their own journey with America's Native spirit," whether that's neat or through a craft cocktail. This unique bourbon experience begins with a sensory component and later it guides visitors through making their own old-fashioned. Fresh Bourbon is among the first Black-owned distilleries in Kentucky.

Log Still Distillery

225 Dee Head Road, New Haven, logstilldistillery.com

The Dant family has deep roots in Kentucky bourbon, and this distillery was founded by J. W. “Wally” Dant. He runs it with his cousins Lynne E. Dant and Charles D. Dant. Log Still Distillery is home to the Monk’s Road bourbons and gins, and it anchors a stunning outdoor entertainment campus complete with an amphitheater, wooded walking trails, a train experience and a 12-acre outdoor fishing lake. The complex also has an upcoming farm-to-table restaurant, 47 & Poplar, that’s expected to open soon.

Pensive Distilling Co.

720 Monmouth St., Newport, pensivedistilling.com

Located in a historic building Monmouth Street in Newport, this distillery and restaurant combines the tradition of distilling with modern recipes. On Pensive Distilling Co.'s bourbon tour distillery, guests will learn about Newport's rich history of bootlegging, take a walk through its distilling process and sample single barrel bourbons. The distillery currently sells 100 proof bourbon, 80 proof bourbon, apple pie moonshine and vodka.

RD1 Spirits

1170 Manchester St., Suite 190, Lexington, rd1spirits.com

RD1 Spirits aims to answer "what else can bourbon do?" by exploring what happens when unique wood staves are added to certain barrels to finish aging the whiskey. At the RD1 Tasting Room and Gift Shop, guests begin a sensory-focused tasting journey starting with the company's 98-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon. From there, visitors transition to three wood-finished pours and can taste the difference. In addition to this $12 experience, RD1 offers a full cocktail bar.

Whiskey Thief Distilling Co.

283 Crab Orchard Road, Frankfort, whiskeythief.com

Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. in rural Franklin County is new to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, but this hidden gem on a 127-acre working farm in rural Franklin County has been making bourbon for more than a decade. Whiskey Thief makes single-barrel bourbon using single-batch distillation. Just as the name suggests, it's known for experiences that allow guests to "thieve," or rather, sample bourbons straight from the barrel.

Features columnist Maggie Menderski writes about what makes Louisville, Southern Indiana and Kentucky unique, wonderful, and occasionally, a little weird. Sometimes she writes about bourbon, too. Say hello at [email protected] or 502-582-4053. Follow along on Instagram and Twitter @MaggieMenderski.

Call Now: (502) 817-3647 — (888) 491-3919

Kentucky Bourbon Trail Tours

Kentucky Bourbon Trail Distillery Tours

Bourbon is the only spirit unique to the United States, and nearly all of it—95%, per the Kentucky Distillers Association—is produced in Kentucky. Learn the history of how bourbon was created and hear stories from the people who were there. A visit to a Kentucky bourbon distillery will enlighten you on the process of bourbon production and explain why it has inspired passion, pride, and even poetry among Kentuckians.

Note: Our service is for Transportation only

of Kentucky

Nine (9) distilleries comprise the Kentucky Bourbon Trail: Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Heaven Hill, Four Roses, Town Branch, Woodford Reserve, Evan Williams, and Bulleit. Further distilleries are available in a customized tour, depending on your preferences. Limestone Branch, Buffalo Trace, Barrel House, Willett, Barton 1792, Corsair, MB Roland, New Riff, The Old Pogue, Silver Trail, and Wilderness Trail are among these.

We offer both public and private Kentucky Bourbon Trail Distillery tour packages departing from Cincinnati and Louisville in order to satisfy the specific requirements of each client.

Private Kentucky Bourbon Trail Distillery Tour

Choose Between the I-65 South or I-64 East Kentucky Bourbon Distillery Tour Packages

Please Note

The below rates include customary gratuity of 20%

Admission fees are determined by the distilleries and are not included in our package prices. (All prices are subject to change without notice)

Prior to booking your transportation order, we strongly advise contacting the specific distilleries you wish to visit in order to secure advanced reservations and checking on tour availability. This is especially true during peak season. Links to each of the distilleries can be found in step 1 above.

Restaurant/lunch can be substituted for one (1) distillery on any tour.

Any additional hour or fraction thereof for service over the estimated hours for each tour above will be calculated at the next corresponding hourly rate for each tour.

Any cancellations that are made within 48 hours before the service date is subject to a 50% cancellation fee, and is at the discretion of management.

THESE RATES NOR SERVICE AVAILABILITY WILL APPLY TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL PERIOD EACH YEAR.

Hours of Operation

Hours of operation are from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM eastern time, 7 days a week, with exception of the following major holidays:

Thanksgiving

4th of July

South Kentucky

Bourbon trail distillery tours, luxury sedan – 4 passenger.

Three Stops

Chevy suburban – 6 passenger.

Luxury Shuttle – 13 Passenger

East Kentucky

Transportation Options

From one-stop hops to complete tour packages, make sure your journey is safe and comfortable by taking advantage of transportation options.

See the best of Kentucky with our friends at Mint Julep Experiences, the leader in Southern, luxury travel. Their team takes the hassle and worry out of your trip planning with their dedicated experts handling the curation of the entire itinerary and transportation.

The team at Pegasus has the expertise you need to help you create your perfect Kentucky day! Take Pegasus and leave the planning in their capable hands.

Family owned & operated since 2011, Kentucky Bourbon Boys is in the business of Bourbon, and making people happy! Let them show you around Kentucky’s Bourbon Country on  one of their fully custom and private experiences.  

When visiting the Lexington area, we highly recommend Central Kentucky Tours. Allow them to guide you between distillers and other landmarks throughout Central Kentucky along the way.

Set sail for adventure when you book your excursion on the Bourbon Boat.

Experience the thrill and excitement of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail ® by bicycle! It’s no easy feat—but experienced cyclists will appreciate the challenge (and beauty) of biking through Kentucky’s world-famous rolling hills.

With 15+ years of industry expertise, Mint Julep Experiences offers unparalleled access to iconic distilleries and emerging Bourbon experiences. Tailored single-day or multi-day journeys along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, curated by experts, ensure an immersive adventure for both enthusiasts and newcomers. Enjoy VIP transportation for safe, luxurious travel and savor every sip and sight along the Bourbon Trail™ and beyond!

Day long public tours are perfect for smaller groups or people who want to mingle with others throughout their Bourbon tour experience. Pegasus Distillery Experiences craft their itineraries to include a wide variety of tours and tastings to make each one its own unique curated experience. Click below to start planning your perfect Kentucky day!

This Private 3-Distillery Tour takes guests on the Bourbon tasting experience of a lifetime!  The Tour includes two distillery tastings and tours, a tasting-only experience at a third distillery, a southern cooked meal at a local restaurant, and private transportation with an experienced guide. You choose the distilleries, and the Kentucky Bourbon Boys team will handle the rest! 

Out-of-state Bourbon explorers can arrive at any airport in Kentucky—but we recommend touching down at Louisville International Airport, Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport, or the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Airport.

All three airports have nearby distilleries, so touch down and you’re on your way to savoring the world’s most celebrated spirits on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail ® .

While there are many guided transportation options available, many opt to self-drive the Kentucky Bourbon Trail ® so they can enjoy it at their own pace, on their own time.  Travel times  between distilleries range from a few minutes to a few hours, offering stunning views of Thoroughbred farms and rolling hills along the way.

If you choose this option, be sure to plan ahead and understand how alcohol affects your BAC by utilizing the tools on our  Responsibility page .

Nothing is more important than your safety while enjoying the Kentucky Bourbon Trail ® tour. The transportation providers above are the best way to plan travel to and from distilleries; however, guests in need of on-demand rides can utilize Lyft or other ridesharing services, where available.

Lyft offers safe rides to patrons traveling in most Kentucky Bourbon Trail ® communities. While drivers are abundant in Louisville and Lexington, wait times in rural areas can be long and unpredictable. Guests are encouraged to keep this in mind and use the app’s scheduling function to plan ahead.

We want our visitors to have the utmost confidence when they’re traveling in and around our distilleries, that they will get from A to B(ourbon) safely. That’s why we have developed operational guidelines that we ask all transportation companies to abide by. We believe that our partnering transportation companies listed on this page uphold the highest standards of excellence, making your trip the best that it can possibly be.

Click below to see the best practices adopted by our membership and partners.

More Experiences

• Kentucky Bourbon Trail®
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• Make It a Double
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Choose Your Destination

• Bourbon Distilleries

Horse Farms

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Sightseeing

Ready to book a public tour.

Use our easy online booking tool to find tours visiting your favorite Kentucky bourbon distilleries.

Shop public tours

Contact Mint Julep

Call us today at 502-538-1433 or email [email protected] .

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Food + Bourbon Experiences

Experience Louisville through the creations of top Kentucky chefs. From progressive evening dining experiences to boozy brunches to behind-the-scenes viewing of Secrets of Bluegrass Chefs. This is Food + Bourbon country!

Personalized & Premium Custom Tours

Work with an Experience Coordinator to hand-craft a one-day or multi-day custom itinerary. Custom Tours may include behind-the-scenes exclusive access, straight-from-the-barrel tastings, cocktail mixology classes, cooking demos and more. Allow us to exceed your expectations with a luxury travel experience!

Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Tours & VIP Transportation

We combine deep expertise, long-term partnerships and complete hospitality services to help you experience the richness of Bourbon Country with distillery tours and premium tastings.

2024 Bourbon Tours Now Available for Booking

Explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® in 2024 on a guided tour, visiting three distilleries in the day. Transportation included so you can enjoy the experience!

Secrets of Bluegrass Chefs Elevated Experience

Secure your tickets to be part of a live TV audience as you watch a taping of “Secrets of Bluegrass Chefs” at the Kitchen Theater at Paristown. 2021 dates now available for booking through July, with limited tickets and seating capacity.

Progressive Dinners, Boozy Brunches and more

Experience Louisville through the creations of top Kentucky chefs. From progressive evening dining experiences to boozy brunches to behind-the-scenes viewing of Secrets of Bluegrass Chefs.

Work with an Experience Coordinator to craft a one-day or multi-day custom personalized itinerary. Custom Tours are available 7-days a week and give guests exclusive access not available on public tours.

Distillery tours, horse farm visits, Cooperage tours, food tours and more through the Bluegrass State.

2024 Bourbon Tours Now Available

Secure your tickets to be part of a live TV audience as you watch a taping of “Secrets of Bluegrass Chefs” at the Kitchen Theater at Paristown.

Custom Tours

Tailor made itineraries that take you to distilleries, horse farms and more with the help of our experience experts for any size group.

Public Tours

Pre-planned itineraries for crafted Kentucky tours to distilleries, horse farms, breweries, landmarks and foodie experiences.

A fleet of luxury vehicles with professional drivers to take you where you need to go. Transportation options for all group sizes.

Experiences

Distilleries

Tour bourbon distillers and taste a variety of craft spirits

Visit stud farms that are home to Derby winners, nurseries with foals, or training facilities

Discover the best local restaurants or go inside kitchens of artisan food makers

Barrel Selects

Select your own barrel, taste the notes and bottle to take home

See the State through historic landmarks, colorful murals and charming places

Breweries/ Wineries

Find your new favorite beer or wine, paired with tours and tastings

Immerse Yourself

Kentucky bourbon trail® tours and more.

From handcrafted custom tour itineraries to public tour offerings, Mint Julep Experiences is Kentucky’s premier destination management company for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, legendary horse farms, historic Kentucky landmarks and the Commonwealth’s rich culinary scene.

Based in Louisville, the Mint Julep Experiences team of bourbon experts, veteran tour guides and city concierges do it all to help you explore the living history of Kentucky in comfort and style. Regional transportation through Louisville, Bardstown, Lexington, Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati, Nashville, Franklin and more!

Southern Hospitality with a Twist of Mint

Kentucky’s Most Trusted Tour Provider

Best Guided Drinking Tours in America

As one of Conde Nast Traveler’s “Best Guided Drinking Tours in America,” the one-of-a-kind, family-owned tour company offers transportation and event planning services for hassle-free ventures for any group size, including corporate outings and V.I.P. excursions with transportation.

“Our tour with Mint Julep made our day so relaxing and carefree”

“I can’t imagine how our time could have been any better.”

“I did this for my husband but ended up loving every minute and learning to enjoy bourbon!”

“Every member of our group agrees that this was one of the best times we have ever had!!”

Similarly, in the realm of health and personal care, navigating the world of pharmaceuticals requires an expert touch. While Kentucky offers a deep dive into history and bourbon, medications like generic Viagra have their own intricacies. It’s important to approach such medications with knowledge and understanding, particularly when it comes to potential side effects. Just as one would trust a tour guide to show the hidden gems of a region, it’s imperative to consult medical professionals to guide one through the potential benefits and drawbacks of any medication.

“The Mint Julep KY Bourbon Trail Experience was one of the BEST vacations that our group of 10 have ever been on.”

“If you want to see the Bourbon Trail but don’t have to work about planning, coordinating, or driving, then go with Mint Julep!”

“This group should come with a warning label, something to tell that a person will lose a week of work being distracted by happy memories and planning future trips back.”

“I HIGHLY, highly recommend Mint Julep Tours when looking to book a bourbon trail trip.”

“Unreserved 5-star review for our experience with Mint Julep Tours. If a sixth star was possible Phil and his tour would deserve it.”

“Leaving the driving to someone else is the only way to go!”

“Informative, engaging and just plain FUN!”

15 Years of Excellence & Counting

Certificate of excellence hall of fame.

2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023

Showing our Local Pride & Support

Member of many fine kentucky organizations.

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New Riff Distillery in Newport, Kentucky.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail's Newest Entry Point Is Cincinnati

February 1, 2018 –––––– Shannon Eblen , , , ,

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Old Overholt Reaches for Its Roots With Its Latest Release

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